In October, Smith Flow Control (SFC) celebrated 25 years of providing engineered safety systems for hazardous valve operations in the oil & gas and chemical processing industries. Since its inception in 1985, SFC has had a great deal of influence in the implementation of safety guidelines for valve operation in the oil & gas industry. The company is responsible for introducing the coded-card linear-key concept, developing modular key-operated interlocks that regulate operating procedures on host process equipment. Typical applications include every form of valve (including motorised and instrument valves), switches, vessel closures, access guards, pressure and temperature sensing systems and rail/road/sea tanker loading systems. SFC’s solutions in hazardous processes reduce the scope for operator error and ensure safe continuous plant operation. SFC continues to be managed by its founders, who remain committed to providing quality assured safety products that protect lives and prevent accidents by eliminating human error. Smith Flow Control Specifically developed a coded-card key interlock system to ensure the total isolation of pig trap vessels. These key interlocks mechanically prove their ‘closed and isolated’ status that enables venting and draining of pig trap vessels before the opening of closures for loading or unloading operations. These principles have been adopted by UK pipeline regulators, operating companies and integrated into international standards such as API (American Petrochemical Institute) and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
