Jerguson® Series 20™: API 624 Low-Emission Ballcheck Gage

Apr 15, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Aug 13

Check out this Jerguson Series 20™ Liquid Level Glass Gage, equipped with 77BL Safety Ballcheck Valves and Spring Washers, headed to a refinery in the Midwest.

The Jerguson 70BL and 70XL Series Valves

Jerguson No. 70BL and 70XL Series Valves are designed for use with flat glass gages, instrument piping, and other applications requiring a rugged, lightweight valve. Pressure and temperature ratings run to 600 lb. ANSI flange standards or manufacturer's ratings.

The "lightweight" designation is worth noting specifically - not every application calling for a safety ballcheck valve also calls for the heaviest-duty valve body available. For instrument piping and flat glass gage applications where a rugged but lighter valve is the better fit, the 70BL and 70XL lines are built for exactly that niche, rather than requiring a heavier valve designed for a different service class.

Now API 624 Certified for Low Emissions

The Jerguson Series 70BL safety ballcheck valves are now API 624 Certified for Low Emissions. This certification means the valve has been tested against API 624's specific requirements for fugitive emissions performance - mechanical cycling, thermal cycling, and strict leakage limits measured in parts per million.

For the full breakdown of what API 624 testing actually involves and why it matters for facilities managing environmental compliance, see our detailed article on API 624 and LDAR compliance.

Spring Washers on This Installation

This Series 20 gage was also equipped with spring washers - the same component we've covered separately, which maintain bolt tension as gaskets settle over time, particularly valuable on gages that are hard to access for routine retorquing. For the full explanation of how spring washers work and when they're recommended, see our article on spring washers for transparent and reflex glass gages.

Why This Combination Matters for Refinery Applications

Refineries operate under some of the strictest fugitive emissions compliance requirements of any industry, making low-emission certified valves a standard specification rather than an optional upgrade. Pairing an API 624 certified valve with spring washers on the same installation reflects a facility thinking about both emissions compliance and long-term maintenance interval together, rather than addressing each concern separately.

Applications

This combination is well suited for:

Refining: Facilities subject to strict EPA and state-level fugitive emissions regulations
Instrument Piping Applications: Where a rugged, lightweight valve is preferred over heavier-duty alternatives
Any Facility Specifying Flat Glass Gages: Requiring both low-emission compliance and extended maintenance intervals