Heavy cast-body non-return valve with a bolted, slotted strainer cover, fitted at the foot of a centrifugal pump suction pipe. The published specification for the type is IS 4038:1986, covering screwed ends 25 to 150 mm and flanged ends 50 to 450 mm.
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A foot valve is a non-return valve with an integral strainer, fitted at the foot of a centrifugal pump's suction pipe to keep the pump primed and to stop debris entering the impeller. The published specification for the type is IS 4038:1986, Foot valves for water works purposes, which covers screwed-end valves from 25 to 150 mm and flanged-end valves from 50 to 450 mm, in both swing and lift patterns.
The valve photographed is the heavy cast pattern: a domed, slotted strainer cover bolted to the body, and a plain end with wrench flats, finished in a black protective coating. Under IS 4038 a swing-type valve up to 150 mm has a single disc and larger sizes preferably two semi-circular discs, while the lift type is recommended only up to 100 mm. The standard's disc facings are vegetable-tanned leather, leaded tin bronze, or natural or synthetic rubber reinforced with cotton canvas, and the strainer is grey cast iron or galvanised steel.
These are low-pressure pump-suction components, not pressure-retaining valves. IS 4038 requires a seat test at 0,2 MPa (2 bar) and a housing test at 0,6 MPa (6 bar), each held for two minutes with no leakage or permanent distortion, and it specifies flanges machined flat, without a raised joint face. A foot valve is not a substitute for a rated check valve on a pump discharge, and the strainer free area must be large enough that the valve does not throttle the suction and cause the pump to cavitate.
When ordering, state the nominal size; the end connection - screwed or flanged, with the thread form or the flange standard and drilling; the body material and disc facing required; the liquid and its temperature; and the strainer slot size. Confirm the body material with the supplier: this catalogue line is described as carbon steel, whereas IS 4038 specifies grey cast iron FG 200 for the housing of a foot valve of this pattern, and the two are not the same material.
| Function | Non-return valve with an integral strainer, fitted at the foot of a centrifugal pump suction pipe to keep the pump primed and stop debris entering the pump |
|---|---|
| Reference Specification for the Type | IS 4038:1986 (reaffirmed 2005), Foot valves for water works purposes - flanged and screwed end, swing and lift type, for use with centrifugal pumps |
| Size Range (IS 4038) | Screwed end 25 to 150 mm; flanged end 50 to 450 mm. Nominal sizes 25, 32, 40, 50, 65, 80, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400 and 450 mm. The nominal size refers to the bore of the waterway |
| Disc Arrangement (IS 4038) | Swing type up to 150 mm has a single disc; sizes above 150 mm preferably have two semi-circular discs. Lift type is recommended up to 100 mm only |
| Materials (IS 4038 Table 1) | Housing, seat and discs: grey cast iron FG 200 to IS 210. Hinge pins and disc guides: high-tensile brass HT 2 to IS 320 or stainless 04CrNi10 to IS 6603. Strainer: grey cast iron or galvanised steel to IS 277. Disc faces: vegetable-tanned leather, leaded tin bronze LTB 2, or natural or synthetic rubber reinforced with cotton canvas |
| Test Pressures (IS 4038) | Seat test: hydrostatic 0,2 MPa (2 bar) for 2 minutes, no leakage and no permanent distortion. Housing test: hydrostatic 0,6 MPa (6 bar) for 2 minutes. These are low-pressure pump-suction components |
| Flange Face (IS 4038) | Flanges machined flat, that is, without a raised joint face |
| Marking (IS 4038) | The manufacturer's name or trade-mark and the size and type of the valve are cast on it |
| Body Material as Catalogued | Carbon steel |
| Construction of the Unit Photographed | Cast body with a domed slotted strainer cover bolted on through four studs, a plain end with wrench flats, and a black protective coating |
