The short answer
For a pipeline valve, ask for evidence that ties the exact valve to its manufacturer, materials and tests: a material certificate traceable to heat numbers, a pressure-test report for the serial number, and the shipping documents. Fire-safe, fugitive-emissions, sour-service and third-party inspection evidence are needed only where the datasheet or project specification calls for them.
Evidence matrix
| Document | What it shows | When to request |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer's declaration or certificate of conformity | The maker states the valve meets the named standard and order | Commonly requested |
| Material certificate (EN 10204 type 3.1) | Material test results, validated by the manufacturer's inspection representative independent of production | Commonly requested for pressure-containing parts |
| Material certificate (EN 10204 type 3.2) | The same, also validated by the purchaser's inspector or an independent inspector | Only when the specification calls for it |
| Pressure-test report | Shell and seat tests performed, test pressures and results, by serial number | Commonly requested |
| Dimensional and visual inspection report | Face-to-face, end and marking checks | Often requested |
| Fire-type-test certificate (e.g. API 607) | The valve design passed a fire type test | Only when fire-safe is specified |
| Fugitive-emissions type-test certificate (ISO 15848-1) | The design's stem and body seal emissions class | Only when an emissions class is specified |
| Sour-service material compliance (ISO 15156) | Materials meet the H2S requirements specified | Only for sour service |
| Third-party inspection release | An independent inspector witnessed tests or reviewed records | Only when inspection is agreed |
| Packing list, commercial invoice, certificate of origin, bill of lading | What shipped, its value, origin and transport | Every shipment |
A type-test certificate covers a design, not each valve. Check that the offered valve's design, size range and class fall within it.
Checking the package on arrival
- Serial numbers on the valve match the test reports
- Heat numbers on certificates match the markings on body and bonnet
- Nameplate size, class and materials match the datasheet
- Every deviation has a written approval from the responsible engineer
Back to the pipeline valve procurement guide, or see the RFQ specification checklist.
Sources
External facts on this page come from these sources, each read on 15 October 2026. Regulations change; requirements for your vehicle are confirmed during quotation and clearance. This guide is not legal or financial advice.
- EN 10204 inspection document types 3.1 and 3.2 (explainer) — Project Materials (secondary source)
- API STD 598: Valve Inspection and Testing, 11th edition (Feb 2023) — American Petroleum Institute webstore
- API STD 607: Fire Test for Quarter-turn Valves and Valves Equipped with Non-Metallic Seats, 8th edition (Oct 2022) — American Petroleum Institute webstore
- ISO 15848-1:2015 (Amd 1:2017): Industrial valves — fugitive emissions type testing — International Organization for Standardization
- ISO 15156-1:2020: Materials for use in H2S-containing environments — International Organization for Standardization