SUBCATEGORIES
Disco Check Valves
Gestra Check Valves
Lift Check Valves
Ball Check Valves
Foot Valves
Axial Check Valves
Threaded Check Valves
Choosing the Right Check Valve: A Technical Overview
The selection of the optimal check valve depends on a variety of factors: medium, pressure, temperature, installation location, and desired tightness. Our overview helps you identify the appropriate valve type for your project.
Valve Type & Keywords |
Operating Principle & Ideal Application |
Typical Materials & Pressure Ranges |
Special Advantages & FERGO Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Disc Check Valve Compact • Metal Sealing |
Axially guided disc, opened by spring and flow pressure. Ideal for high pressures (up to PN40), steam, gases and clean liquids. |
Body/Disc: Stainless steel (1.4408/CF8M). |
|
|
Ball Check Valve (Ball Non-Return Valve) For viscous media • Low pressure drop |
Ball lifts during flow; rolls back during backflow. Ideal for viscous, particle-laden or aggressive media. |
Body: Ductile iron (GGG40) or Stainless steel (1.4408). |
|
|
Threaded Check Valve Easy installation • For smaller nominal diameters |
Often as spring or disc valve. Direct installation in threaded pipelines. Ideal for building services, laboratories, mechanical engineering and systems with internal threads. |
Body/Disc: Stainless steel (1.4301/1.4408) or Brass. |
|
|
Flanged Check Valve Industrial standard • Robust connection |
As ball or dual plate wafer type. Connection via flange. Standard for industrial pipelines, large nominal diameters (DN50+) and fixed installations. |
Body: Ductile iron (GGG40), Stainless steel cast. |
|
|
Foot Valve Suction line protection • Pump protection |
Special check valve with strainer at suction pipe end. Prevents pump from running dry. Essential for pump systems, wells and tanks. |
Materials: Depending on medium (Brass, Stainless steel, Plastic). |
|
Technical Deep Dive: Materials and the Right Sealing Compound
The longevity and safety of your check valve are largely determined by material selection. At FERGO, we rely on proven standards and offer customized solutions.
Housing Materials:
- Stainless Steel (1.4408 / AISI 316 / CF8M): The first choice for corrosive media, chemicals, seawater, and high hygienic requirements (food, pharmaceuticals). Offers excellent resistance and durability.
- Ductile Iron (EN-GJS-400-15 / GGG40): The economical and extremely robust standard for water, steam, oils, and gases in general industry. Often with corrosion-protective coating.
- Brass: Commonly used for threaded check valves in building services and for neutral media like water and compressed air in smaller nominal sizes.
Sealing Materials (Seat Seal):
- Metallic (Metal-to-Metal Seat): Used in disc check valves for the highest temperatures and pressures where elastomers are no longer suitable.
- FKM/Viton: Offers excellent chemical resistance to oils, fuels, and many chemicals. Temperature resistant up to approx. 200°C.
- NBR (Nitrile): The standard elastomer for water, air, hydraulic oils, and moderate media. Good price-performance ratio.
- EPDM: Ideal for hot water, steam (up to 120°C), alkalis, and oxygen-containing media. Frequently used in HVAC technology.
Your Partner FERGO: Expertise, Availability, and Service
At FERGO, we understand that a check valve is more than just a component – it is a safety element for your entire plant.
- Technical Consultation: Our experts help you select the optimal type, material, and sealing compound for your medium and process conditions.
- Standards and Certifications: Our valves comply with common industry standards (DIN, EN, ANSI). Upon request, we supply with 3.1 material certificates per EN 10204.
- Fast Delivery: Hundreds of items, including common check valves, are available from stock and are often delivered the next working day.
- Custom Solutions: For special requirements – whether special materials, pressure ratings, or connections – we develop a tailored solution together with you.
Do you have a specific challenge in your plant? Contact us. Together we will find the perfect check valve for maximum safety and reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions – Non-Return Valves
- Forward flow (normal direction): System pressure lifts the flap or disc off its seat against gravity or spring tension, allowing unrestricted flow through the valve
- Reverse flow or pressure drop: As soon as flow velocity drops to zero or backpressure exceeds forward pressure, the flap or disc returns to the closed position – under its own weight (gravity closure) or assisted by a return spring – sealing the valve and preventing any reverse flow
- Pump protection: Prevents reverse rotation of pump impellers and motor damage caused by backflow when the pump stops
- Water hammer prevention: Fast-closing designs (especially dual plate valves with spring return) close before reverse velocity builds up, eliminating destructive pressure surges
- Contamination prevention: Stops dirty or contaminated media from flowing back into clean supply lines or process circuits
- System integrity: Maintains pressure in downstream sections of a pipeline when upstream equipment is shut down or fails
- Wafer Check Valves (Single Flap – RK100 series) – Inter-flange wafer body for installation between PN10/16/25/40 flanges per EN 1092-1 form B / DIN 2632/2633. Single hinged flap (disc) on a hinge pin. Body: stainless steel 1.4408 or galvanised steel 1.0619; Flap: SS 1.4408/1.4581; Spring: SS 1.4571 (optional return spring); Seat: NBR, EPDM, PTFE, FKM/Viton, or metal. Sizes DN32–DN300; max. 16 bar; temp. up to +200°C (PTFE seat) or +300°C (metal seat). The standard choice for general industrial backflow prevention.
- Dual Plate Check Valves (RF200 / RF202 series) – Two spring-loaded half-disc plates on a central shaft, closing simultaneously from the centre outward. Wafer body for installation between PN10/16 flanges per EN 558-1 series 16. RF200: GGG40 ductile iron body, CF8M flaps, SS316 shaft & spring; NBR (max. 80°C) or EPDM (max. 120°C) vulcanised seat; epoxy coating 150 µm RAL 5015. RF202: full SS CF8M body and flaps, SS316 shaft & spring; NBR or EPDM vulcanised. Both: DN50–DN300, PN10/16, max. 16 bar. Fast spring-assisted closure minimises water hammer – ideal for high-flow, large-diameter pipelines.
- Threaded Check Valves (RK104 series) – BSP / Rp female thread connection. Body: brass. Seat: NBR, EPDM, or PTFE. Sizes DN10–DN100. The compact, cost-effective solution for smaller installations, instrumentation lines, and utility connections where flanged installation is not required.
Single-flap wafer check valve (RK100):
- One full-bore disc hinged on a pin at the top of the body, swinging fully open to one side on forward flow
- Closes under gravity (without spring) or spring-assisted return
- Without spring: Slower closure – the disc must wait for flow to reverse before gravity pulls it shut; suitable for lower-flow lines where water hammer risk is low; must be installed horizontally with hinge pin horizontal, or vertically with upward flow
- With return spring: Faster closure before flow fully reverses; reduces water hammer; allows vertical installation with downward flow
- Good for: general industrial backflow prevention, clean and mildly contaminated media, DN32–DN300
- Two spring-loaded half-disc plates on a central shaft, each covering half the bore; they open symmetrically outward and close simultaneously from the centre inward
- Spring-assisted closure is intrinsic to the design – the plates close very rapidly as flow decelerates, before any reverse velocity can develop
- Key advantage: Dramatically reduced water hammer compared to single-flap designs; the compact, lightweight plates have low inertia and close in milliseconds
- Shorter face-to-face than single-flap (per EN 558-1 series 16): saves installation space, especially at large DN
- Good for: high-flow pipelines, pump discharge lines where water hammer is a critical concern, DN50–DN300, horizontal and vertical installation
- NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber) – Temperature range −10°C to +80°C. Good resistance to mineral oils, hydrocarbons, petroleum products, neutral aqueous media, and sewage. The standard seat for water, gas, oils, caustic solutions, and wastewater. Not suitable for hot water above 80°C, steam, or oxidising chemicals.
- EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) – Temperature range −40°C to +120°C. Excellent resistance to hot water, steam, mild acids, alkalis, and ozone. Not compatible with mineral oils, hydrocarbons, or petroleum products. Preferred for drinking water, hot water circuits, chemical applications, and food processing. Standard seat for RF200/RF202 dual plate valves in water service.
- PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) – Temperature range −10°C to +200°C. Universal chemical resistance – suitable for the broadest range of aggressive media including acids, alkalis, solvents, and oxidising agents. Lower elastic recovery than elastomers; requires a return spring to ensure reliable sealing. The choice for aggressive chemical media where NBR and EPDM are not compatible.
- FKM / FPM (Viton) – Temperature range −10°C to +180°C. Superior resistance to fuels, mineral oils, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, and concentrated acids. More chemical-resistant than NBR at elevated temperatures. Preferred for oil & gas, chemical dosing, and fuel handling applications.
- Metal seat – Temperature range −10°C to +300°C. For abrasive media where elastomers would wear rapidly, high-temperature applications beyond elastomer limits (steam, thermal oil), and media containing coarse particles. Bi-directional metal sealing available. A return spring is always required with metal seat construction.
Wafer single-flap check valve (RK100):
- Horizontal installation – Standard orientation; fit with hinge pin axis horizontal (arrow on body pointing in flow direction). Gravity-close models work correctly; the flap swings down under gravity to close. Leave 1–2 pipe diameters of straight pipe on each side to minimise turbulence.
- Vertical installation – upward flow: The flap hangs vertically when closed (gravity-aided); works with and without return spring. Flow direction must be upward (arrow pointing up).
- Vertical installation – downward flow: Without a return spring, the flap would remain open under its own weight → a return spring is mandatory for downward vertical installation. The spring holds the flap closed when there is no forward flow.
- The spring-loaded dual plate design is inherently suitable for both horizontal and vertical installation in either flow direction, as spring force – not gravity – is the primary closing mechanism
- Standard recommendation: install with the hinge shaft axis horizontal in horizontal pipelines
- Always ensure the flow direction arrow on the valve body matches the intended flow direction before tightening flange bolts
- Provide at least 1–2 pipe diameters of straight pipe upstream and downstream of the valve to ensure fully developed flow and minimise turbulence at the seat
- Fit flange gaskets that do not protrude into the bore and interfere with flap movement – use correctly sized gaskets per the valve's flange standard (PN10/16/25/40)
- Check that the flap swings freely before tightening the flange bolts to final torque
The key factor is how quickly the valve closes relative to flow deceleration:
- Single-flap without spring (gravity closure): Slowest closure – the flap waits for flow reversal before gravity pulls it shut. Highest water hammer risk on fast-stopping pump systems. Only acceptable where flow velocities are low and pump inertia is high (slow deceleration).
- Single-flap with return spring (RK100 + spring): The spring begins closing the flap as forward flow decelerates, before reversal occurs. Significantly reduced water hammer vs. gravity closure. The correct choice for most general industrial pump discharge lines at moderate flow velocities.
- Dual plate check valve (RF200 / RF202) with spring: The fastest-closing design in the FERGO range. The two lightweight spring-loaded half-discs have very low inertia and close symmetrically from the centre in milliseconds as flow decelerates – well before any reverse velocity develops. This is the industry-standard solution for water hammer prevention on large-diameter pump discharge lines, high-velocity pipelines, and critical process systems where pressure transients must be minimised.
Stainless steel 1.4408 / CF8M (AISI 316):
- Full corrosion resistance against aggressive media, acids, alkalis, chlorinated water, seawater, and environments where iron contamination is unacceptable
- Max. temperature +200°C (PTFE seat), +300°C (metal seat)
- Required for: chemical processing, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, drinking water, marine and offshore applications
- Available in all three subcategories: RK100 wafer single-flap, RF202 dual plate SS, and RK104 threaded (brass body for threaded range)
- Lower cost option for neutral, non-aggressive aqueous media where full stainless steel is not required
- Suitable for: general water service, HVAC, utilities
- Not suitable for: corrosive media, food contact, or high-temperature service
- Robust and economical body material for water, wastewater, and general utility service
- CF8M (SS) flaps and SS316 shaft/spring ensure corrosion-resistant wetted internal parts despite the cast iron body
- Epoxy-coated exterior (150 µm, RAL 5015 blue) for corrosion protection
- Preferred where cost efficiency is important and the medium is water, sewage, or non-corrosive industrial fluid; DN50–DN300, PN10/16
Within the broader check valve family, the fundamental distinction is closure element type. FERGO carries two distinct product lines:
This category – Non-Return Valves (flap-type):
- Single-flap wafer (RK100): One hinged disc swinging on a pivot pin; full bore when open; gravity or spring closure; wafer inter-flange body; DN32–DN300; ideal for general industrial backflow prevention
- Dual plate (RF200/RF202): Two spring-loaded half-discs; fast closure; water hammer reduction; wafer inter-flange; DN50–DN300; ideal for pump discharge lines
- Threaded single-flap (RK104): Brass body with BSP thread; DN10–DN100; for smaller installations
- Piston (lift) check valves: A piston or guided disc lifts axially off the seat on forward flow and returns under spring force; compact axial construction; good for vertical pipelines; lower flow capacity than flap types; suited for steam, compressed air, and high-pressure applications
- Nozzle (axial/silent) check valves: Streamlined disc guided axially in the flow path; very fast spring closure; minimum water hammer; suitable for high-pressure, high-velocity gas and liquid service
- Ball check valves: A ball lifts off the seat on forward flow; good for viscous media and slurries; simple construction
- Disc (Disco) check valves: Compact, axial spring-loaded disc; short face-to-face; widely used in chemical and process piping
- Foot valves: Check valve with strainer installed at the suction end of a pump intake pipe; keeps the suction line primed