Had a 10-year-old hydraulic valve block crack on me during a pressure test yesterday

I was doing a routine annual inspection on a bank elevator in Springfield, and the main valve block just split open when I hit the test pressure, spraying fluid everywhere. I had to shut down the system, clean up a huge mess, and order a whole new assembly from the manufacturer. Has anyone else seen a failure like that on a unit that wasn't even that old?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina1476d ago

Yeah, "wasn't even that old" got me. I used to think 10 years was solid for a valve block, but I've seen a few fail right around that mark from casting flaws you just can't see. The metal fatigue builds up slow until a pressure test finds the weak spot.

the_emery6d ago

You're right, @nina147, a good pressure test at year eight can save a lot of trouble later.