Table 15-3.--Color Codes for Valve Handwheels
Color Code
Valve Handwheels
Black
Access fittings
Blue
Fresh water
Red
Firefighting equipment
Freon and lithium bromide
Purple
Yellow
Fuel and lube oil
Standard gray (dark)
High-pressure air
Grange
Hydraulic
Yellow-green (chartreuse)
Tan
Low-pressure air and salvage air
Brown
Moroethanolamine
French gray (light)
Light green
Oxygen
Green
Saltwater
White
Steam
under operating conditions. There are many
commercial types and forms of packing and gasket
CAUTION
material. The Navy has simplified the selection of
NEVER use low-pressure packing in place
packing and gasket materials commonly used in naval
service. The Naval Sea Systems Command has
of high-pressure packing; however, some
prepared a packing and gasket chart (Mechanical
high-pressure packing may be used to repack
Standard Drawing B0153, Rev 9). This chart shows the
low-pressure steam valves.
symbol numbers and the recommended applications of
all types and kinds of packing and gasket materials. A
The following examples show the kind of
copy of the chart should be located in all engineering
information you can get from the packing and gasket
spaces.
chart.
A four-digit symbol number identifies each type of
Suppose you are required to repack and install a
packing and gasket. The first digit indicates the class
valve in a 300-psi saturated steam line. By referring to
of service with respect to fixed and moving joints. For
the packing and gasket chart, you will find several
example, if the first digit is 1, it indicates a moving joint
materials that are suitable for repacking the valve:
(moving rods, shafts, valve stems, and so forth). If the
first digit is 2, it indicates a fixed joint (such as a flange
Symbol 1103
Asbestos rod, braided, plain
or a bonnet). The second digit indicates the material of
Symbol 1104
Asbestos rod, braided, wire
which the packing or gasket is primarily composed.
insertion
This may be asbestos, vegetable fiber, rubber, metal,
and so on. The third and fourth digits indicate the
Symbol 1430
Metallic, flexible
different styles or forms of the packing or gaskets made
Notice that the first digit is 1 in each case, to indicate
from the material.
that the packing is suitable for a moving joint.
Practically all shipboard packing and gasket
To install a valve, you will need suitable gaskets.
problems can be solved if the correct material is selected
In this case, the first digit will be 2, indicating that the
from the listings on the packing and gasket chart.
gasket material is suitable for fixed joints. By referring
to the packing and gasket chart, you will find that you
can use any of the following gasket materials:
15-21