Guidelines for
Manual Operation
of Valves
Standard Practice
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This MSS Standard Practice was developed under the consensus of the MSS Technical Committee 306 and the
MSS Coordinating Committee. The content of this Standard Practice is the result of the efforts of competent and
concerned volunteers to provide an effective, clear, and non-exclusive specification that will benefit the industry
as a whole. This MSS Standard Practice is intended as a basis for common practice by the manufacturer, the
user, and the general public. The existence of an MSS Standard Practice does not in itself preclude the manufac-
ture, sale, or use of products not conforming to the Standard Practice. Mandatory conformance is established
only by reference in a code, specification, sales contract, or public law, as applicable.
Unless otherwise specifically noted in this MSS SP, any standard referred to herein is identified by the date of
issue that was applicable to the referenced standard(s) at the date of issue of this MSS SP.
In this Standard Practice all notes, annexes, tables, and figures are construed to be essential to the understanding
of the message of the standard, and are considered part of the text unless noted as "supplemental". All appendi-
ces appearing in this document are construed as "supplemental". Supplemental" information does not include
mandatory requirements.
U.S. customary units in this Standard Practice are the standard; metric (SI) units are for reference only.
Any part of this Standard Practice may be quoted. Credit lines should read `extracted from MSS SP-91,
2009 with permission of the publisher, the Manufacturers Standardization Society. ' Reproduction
prohibited under copyright convention unless written permission is granted by the Manufacturers
Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry Inc.
Copyright ©, 1984 by
Manufacturers Standardization Society
of the
Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
Printed in U.S.A.
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
FOREWORD
The handwheels or handles provided with manually actuated valves are designed so that reasonable effort
exerted by the operator(s) is sufficient to actuate. However, operability of manually controlled valves is dependent
on many factors, such as fluid pressure and temperature, location of valve in relation to operators, desired speed
of operation, physical capabilities of operators, ambient conditions, and frequency of operation. The purchaser,
based upon anticipated on-site conditions, should therefore evaluate suitability of valves with manual actuators.
This document was prepared to assist users in establishing actual requirements relative to valve operation. Most
valves can be provided with actuators suitable for specific service conditions, regardless of severity, when
conditions are defined.
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
0 PURPOSE........................................................................................................................................ 1
1 SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................. 1
2 DEFINITIONS ................................................................................................................................ 1
3 OPERATOR’S ABILITY TO APPLY FORCE .............................................................................. 2
4 MULTIPLYING FACTORS ........................................................................................................... 2
5 ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................. 2
6 VALVE OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC CURVES ................................................................ 5
TABLE
FIGURE
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
Guidelines for Manual Operation of Valves
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operation of manually actuated valves as affected 2.9 Available Handwheel Torque A product of
by the valve operator’s input. the handwheel rim force multiplied by the
handwheel radius (handwheel diameter divided by
2. DEFINITIONS 2), or if a capstan handwheel, spoke forces
multiplied by the length of one spoke, measured
2.1 Manual Actuator A device requiring manual from the center of the handwheel less 1 1/2 inches
force to provide the torque and/or thrust required to (38 mm).
operate a valve, including levers, T-levers, T-chain-
levers, handwheels, chainwheels, worm gear/spur 2.10 T-Chain-Lever or Chainwheel Torque The
gear/traveling nut units, and manual override units product of the total pull force exerted by the
on power actuators. operator multiplied by the chainwheel radius
(effective chainwheel diameter divided by 2) or
2.2 Manual-Impact Device A hammerblow multiplied by the effective T-chain lever length.
handwheel or chainwheel device that momentarily
2.11 Normal Operating Conditions This refers to
increases the breakloose seating and unseating
the conditions experienced by one operator when
torque capability of handwheels or chainwheels by
attempting to apply force to an actuating device.
the application of impact forces.
Normal conditions are with the manual actuator at
2.3 Power Actuator A mechanism for actuating waist level and the plane of rotation of the lever,
valves using other than manual input to apply force handwheel, or chainwheel located vertically or
or energy, such as pneumatic, electric, and horizontally, with temperature at 700F (200C), good
hydraulic units. footing, and with no space restrictions.
2.12 Momentary Force If an operator must apply a
2.4 Operator Person or persons who apply manual
high force to a manual actuator to cause a valve to
force to an actuating device. A typical operator is
break loose, but may exert relatively lower forces to
one who is capable of exerting approxiamately 150
continue actuation of the valve, the initial high force
pounds of force (670 N) on a lever with an effective
is referred to as a momentary force.
length of 12 inches (300 mm) at waist level. If the
intended operators or the system requirements
differ, specific information should be obtained from
the valve supplier.
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
2.13 Short-Term Force The force an operator 3.2 Figures Figures 1, 2, and 3, represent
could be expected to exert on an actuating device operator capabilities as related to manual actuator
for a small portion of the total valve travel such as dimensions and are not intended to cover all
for seating and unseating. possible valve service and differential pressure
conditions. Information presented in these figures
2.14 Uniform Force The force that an operator must be tempered to account for operating
could be expected to exert for a period of up to 5 conditions in Section 3.1.
minutes. May be used on certain valves that require
an operator to exert a relatively constant force on an 3.3 Chainwheels No figure is included for
actuating device throughout the valve travel. chainwheel size vs. force input capability, as the
input to a chainwheel depends upon operator weight
2.15 Long-Term Force The force an operator and is not related to chainwheel size alone.
could be expected to exert on an actuating device
for extended periods of time. 4. MULTIPLYING FACTORS
2.16 Valve Operating Characteristics Forces 4.1 Input Factors As indicated in Section 3.1,
developed on the valve stem, hence the actuator, certain factors affect the ability of an operator to
during the closed-open-closed operating cycle are apply force to an actuating device. A list of these
indicated in terms of: factors is provided in Table 1 along with a multiplier
that may be used in conjunction with Figures 1, 2,
2.16.1 Torque A turning moment developed on and 3. To use, refer to the applicable Figure as
stems of valves such as quarter-turn ball, plug, determined by the actuating device, locate the
and butterfly or on the stem nuts of globe or gate operator force input capability and multiply this
valves. input capability by the factor given in Table 1 for
2.16.2 Thrust Axial force developed on valve the position factor. Multiply that result by the
stems, such as globe or gate valves. smallest factor found for all other input
considerations.
2.17 Net Mechanical Advantage A multiplying
factor for gearing that includes both the gear ratio 4.2 Mechanical Advantage Depending on the
and the efficiency of the device. torque or thrust necessary to operate the valve, the
operator input force may be amplified, typically
3. OPERATOR’S ABILITY TO APPLY FORCE through the use of gearing. In these cases, the force
capability is multiplied by the appropriate net
3.1 Discussion The selection of manual actuators
mechanical advantage of the gearing.
on valves should take into consideration the ability
of operators to apply adequate force to the device. 5. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
This ability is dependent upon several factors, such
as: In addition to the multiplying factors provided in
Table 1, other factors contribute to the limitations of
a) Space available and position of the device to manual valve operation. These include:
which force is applied.
5.1 Speed of Operation Manual operation may
b) Operator’s physical strength, weight, and actuate a valve too slowly in an emergency
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
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Note: Data displayed in Figures 1 thru 3 is based upon combined test data furnished
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by several valve manufacturers for typical operating input force capabilities.
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
5.2 Sudden, Unexpected Forces Sudden, Factors affecting specific valve characteristic curves
unexpected forces can be encountered on quarter- include:
turn valves which may develop high dynamic forces
at certain angles of opening at high-flow velocity. a) Direction of flow, particularly in valve styles
which may be sensitive to flow direction, such
The ability of an operator to apply force to a manual as globe or offset-disc butterfly.
actuating device is dependent upon the operator’s
ability to react to the force requirement. Given a set b) Pressure drop, flow medium and/or flow rate,
of operating conditions, a maximum capability to which affect the amplitude of the curves.
apply force exists for each operator. However, if the
force is unexpected and sudden, such as to allow c) Valve size, since curve shape and amplitude
little time for reaction, the operator’s ability to for a valve style may change as the size factors
respond is hampered. of various valve components change.
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
Note:
(1) Single seated globe valves
6
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MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-91
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A large number of former MSS Practices have been approved by the ANSI or ANSI Standards, published by others. In order to maintain a single source
of authoritative information, the MSS withdraws its Standard Practices in such cases.
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MSS IHS
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