EN161 Gas Valves

EN161 Gas Solenoid Valves

With auto reset and manual reset safety shut off

Solenoid valves for Natural Gas EN161 Approved are typically used with either threaded 1/4 to 2" BSP thread or DN65 to DN300 with PN16 flange. Common function is 2/2 way normally closed (automatic reset closed with power off) also known as slam shut valves or gas safety shut off valves or as 2/2 way Manual Reset (Electrical power keeps valve open, power off valves closes and will only open when power reapplied and manually reset into open position allowing engineer to check pilot light flame is lit before main gas supply is open).

You cannot legally buy or install a normally open or failsafe open gas valve, as in any emergency the valve MUST automatically close when electrical power is removed, i.e. if the fire brigade arrive to put out a fire they will turn the electrical power off before spraying water or entering a building. Also a power cut or power failure would mean the building would fill with gas and create an explosive and dangerous environment.

Standard gas safety shut off valves are generally rated 0 to 200 mBar (0.2 Bar) however higher pressure gas valves can be obtained that are rated from 0 to 360mBar or even 0 to 6 Bar, including explosion proof gas safety shut off valves with ATEX coils for zone 2 & 22, closed position feedback switches to confirm by electrical signal that the valve is shut (closed) and valves suited for coke and biogas applications.

Common voltage is 230vAC 50Hz which is the UK mains power supply, however 110vAC, 12vDC or 24vDC are also available but typically there will be a delivery time for these uncommon types.

All Solenoid valves used for Natural Gas Domestic or Commercial applications must be EN161 Gas Board Approved and installed by a registered Gas Safe Installer. It’s become as ingrained over the past 17 years that no one looks at your boiler unless they’re CORGI registered. Until now, but from 1 April 2010, CORGI will no longer manage the scheme and the new GAS SAFE REGISTER will come into action.

Why the change? The CORGI scheme has been running for the last 17 years, but has recently been reviewed and re-tendered by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and subsequently won by Capita Group. As the CORGI brand is owned by the company this could not be used, therefore the HSE established and now own the GAS SAFE REGISTER as the new brand and trademark.

What will change?

• Gas Safe Register is the only scheme approved by the HSE
• Gas installers wanting to undertake gas work will need to be on it
• As of 1st April CORGI cards can no longer be used
• CORGI will continue as a technical service only
• All stationery, logos and vans with the CORGI logo will have to be changed
• All issued gas safety certificates containing the CORGI logo remain valid until their expiry and can be issued until 31st March 2010

What does it mean for us? We will now need to raise awareness of the new scheme to minimise confusion and the possibility of bogus engineers taking advantage of the unfamiliarity.

All of our Gas Safe Solenoid Valves listed below are EN161 Approved and ideally suited for the very low MilliBar Natural Gas or Propane Pressures normally associated with Mains Gas Supply. However we do offer Gas solenoid valves that can cope with gas pressures up to 6 Bar. See below some of our special purpose Gas Solenoid Valves.

There are 2 main types of Gas EN161 Approved Solenoid valves:

1. Normally Closed (Auto Reset) - Gas Solenoid Valve stays closed with electrical power to open, as it is illegal to use a gas solenoid valve that stays open with power to close, as a power supply failure will render the valve into the open position.
2. Manual Reset - Gas Solenoid Valve stays closed if power is supplied the valve it will only open if manually lifted (reset) into the open position with power on. For safety reasons upon power failure the valve will automatically close and will stay closed even if power is reapplied. So for example if the boiler pilot light has extinguished the main gas solenoid valve cannot reopen automatically and fill the room with gas. An engineer will inspect the system and confirm it is safe before manually reopening the valve.

Please find below the most commonly used EN161 Natural Gas and Propane EN161 registered solenoid valves and motorised gas valves.