Valve locks are a type of industrial safety lock designed to ensure that equipment using valves is fully shut off and remains in a safe state. By locking the valve, accidental start-ups that could lead to injury or even death are prevented, while also serving as a visible safety warning.
As valve locking devices become more widely adopted, their real-world effectiveness has drawn increasing attention. Let’s take a closer look at their practical applications.
In recent years, China has placed growing emphasis on production safety. The use of valve locks has significantly improved equipment reliability, effectively preventing accidents caused by human error.
The benefits of valve locks are evident. A valve lock works mainly by clamping the valve handwheel. One end of the lock is connected to the valve cover bolt, with the chain linked in the middle by a pin. The chain wraps around the handwheel, and both ends are secured with threaded pins. This configuration keeps the handwheel firmly fixed to the valve cover, making it impossible to open the valve unless the joint is intentionally loosened. During maintenance or operation, the joint can simply be released to allow the valve to open or close.
Valve locks are most commonly used on normally open or normally closed valves, as well as on valves that require adjustment during maintenance. A single device can secure two valves at once, reducing the risk of accidents caused by malfunction or misoperation.
Proven in Practice
Practical use has shown this method to be effective and material-saving. Valve locks are already widely applied in many power plants with excellent results. They are extensively used during commissioning and maintenance work, helping prevent human error and ensuring safe, stable operation.
Pipeline valves are vital auxiliary components in power plant systems. Since some valves must remain open and others closed, proper locking is essential to avoid misoperation. For this reason, valve locking devices are primarily applied to normally open and normally closed valves, but they can also be used temporarily to prevent accidental handling by both operators and non-operators.