Soft seated ball valves fire tested to API 607, which refers to fire testing for soft seated quarter turn valves. Is there a API standard for metal seated valves? Fire testing standards have had a turbulent history in the last years...: in 2005, API issued the 5th edition of its standard n° 607 as identical to ISO 10497 of 2004, which was applicable to industrial valves in general, even if API title mantained the reference to "Soft-seated Quarter-turn" ones (!); the 2010 editions, instead, differ in a few lesser details, but officially stand as two separated standards again (and API title changed into "Fire Test for Quarter-turn Valves and Valves Equipped with Nonmetallic Seats"... simple, isn't?). In my opinion, metal seated valves may be considered fire safe by design, provided that materials are properly selected, dimensions and tolerances correctly choosen and realized, etc... and the valve design itself is sufficiently proven-in-use. But sometimes a test certificate is easier to obtain than Customers reasoning (about the above aspects); so, some Manufacturers applied the API "Soft-seated" procedure to metal seated valves too, perhaps complying with stricter acceptance criteria (no visible leakage before, during and after the fire, for example)

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