The terms we have become familiar with are “Certified Low-Leaking Valves” and “Certified Low-Leaking Valve Packing Technology” as defined by the EPA in consent decrees. In more current consent decrees, new valves entering will be required to be certified as “Low E Technology”. A “Low-E Valve “is defined as:
“A valve (including its specific packing assembly) or valve packing for which the manufacturer has issued a written warranty that it will not emit fugitives at greater than 100 ppm, and that, if it does so emit at any time in the first five years, the manufacturer will replace the valve; provided however, that no valve shall qualify as "Low-E" by reason of written warranty unless
(i) the valve (including its specific packing assembly) either:
(a) first was tested by the manufacturer or a qualified testing firm pursuant to generally-accepted good engineering practices for testing fugitive emissions and the results of the testing reasonably support the warranty; or
(b) is as an Extension of another valve that qualified as "Low-E";
(ii) A valve (including its specific packing assembly) that:
(a) Has been tested by the manufacturer or a qualified testing firm pursuant to generally-accepted good engineering practices for testing fugitive emissions and that, during the test, at no time leaked at greater than 500 ppm, and on Average, leaked at less than 100 ppm; or
(b) Is an Extension of another valve that qualified as ‘Low-E’.”
This current definition of Low E Valve Technology adds test documentation to this requirement. Manufacturers have offered this warranty without supporting test data. Today there are reputable packing and valve manufacturers that can meet these low emission level requirements and documentation to assist valve manufacturers in achieving Low E requirements.
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