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A pressure reducing valve is instead designed to work continually and incrementally, helping to keep outlet pressure always down to the required level. PRVs feature in many kinds of water installations, including domestic, workplace, industrial and commercial plumbing systems. PRVs are effectively multi-functional - by lowering outlet pressure and flow rate, they also help reduce excessive water consumption and plumbing noise.

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A pressure reducing valve is used for lowering and regulating water or air pressure between the upstream (inlet) and downstream (outlet) sides. We will discuss their workings in more detail a little later. In summary though, for a typical water installation:

By contrast, a pressure relief valve refers to a typically automated failsafe device. These are normally designed to offer a path of least resistance in case system pressure rises above a safe maximum, allowing a volume of water/steam to escape suddenly and directly to an outdoor runoff. For sealed plumbing systems, you might see them referred to as blow-off valves. This type of mechanism often needs to be checked and reset after venting.

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There are several key benefits of using a pressure reducing valve in domestic, industrial or commercial water installations. These include:

Many types of buildings and water installations may benefit from using a PRV, particularly if the current system shows signs of excessively high pressure. In a typical plumbed water system, these may include:

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A PRV BSP fitting is short for British Standard Pipe, a technical standard for screw threading on plumbing pipes and connections. It tends to demote a standard screw-fit male-to-female pipe fitting and a range of standard sizes for both pipe threading and pipe/fastener dimensions.

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PRVs work by converting high water pressure at the valve inlet nozzle to lower pressure at the outlet. In the UK, mains supply pressure can vary widely, from 1bar to 20bar or more. It may also fluctuate during periods of higher or lower usage in a given area.

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Tekmar 563Manual

They work using an attached collar-style fastener that fits over various diameters of hard copper pipe, plastic, and soft tubing runs. The sleeve or ferrule of a compression fitting slides over the pipe, and then a nut is placed over this arrangement which helps to clamp down the fitting around the joint.

There are various types of pressure reducing valves and PRV connections available to buy online in the UK and elsewhere. Among the most common PRV types and connection standards are:

Pressure reducing valves are commonly known as PRVs. They sometimes share this acronym with pressure relief or release valves, but it is important to differentiate between the two. For clarity, the latter are frequently labelled SRVs (safety release valves) or PSVs (pressure safety valves). In this guide, PRV means pressure reducing valve.

Similarly, the gradual degradation of components such as diaphragms and springs can lead to leakage through the valve in long-term use. This will greatly reduce the overall effectiveness of a pressure reduction valve, and so it is generally recommended to get them properly checked every couple of years in daily use.

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PRV compression fittings are models designed with popular and easy-to-install compression-type joints. These are among the fastest and handiest ways to join ducting or supply pipes together with other components.

What is a pressure reducing valve? This guide is designed to provide a comprehensive answer to this question alongside covering the PRV basics. We will offer a simple explanation of how they work, their common applications and functions, and the benefits of using pressure reducing valves in home or industrial installations.

If you already have a PRV installed, any of the above could be an indication that it is underperforming or failing, and perhaps overdue for maintenance or replacement. Blockages of the valve mechanism in a PRV can be caused by debris build-up over time, although most high-quality models will include a built-in stainless-steel mesh to help reduce this.

Pressure reducing valves help to regulate these fluctuating mains pressures, keeping them down to an appropriate level during times when they might otherwise build too high. PRVs lower incoming water pressure to a consistent and manageable level via a spring-loaded piston and diaphragm arrangement.

This type of PRV connection is generally most associated with non-copper fittings, including brass, stainless steel, PVC, galvanised and screwed iron.

We will also cover some of the various PRV connection types available to buy online. By the end of the guide, you should be familiar with the correct definition of a pressure reducing valve, have a clear idea of what they do, and know how to shop for different models and connection fittings.