NFPA provides tools to improve the reliability of fluid power components

NFPA has been instrumental in developing standards tools for assessing the reliability of fluid power components. These standards can be used to:

• benchmark current levels of reliability and measure improvement and
• provide customers with reliability data they can use in designing and maintain their machines.

The following standards have been published:

• For Hydraulics – Recommended Practice NFPA/T2.12.11-2-2007 provides guidelines for assessing the reliability of hydraulic components by testing and reporting for components used in fluid power systems. Specific requirements for assessing the reliability of the components are contained in annexes for the following components: accumulators; hydraulic cylinders; hydraulic filters; hydraulic pumps and motors; and hydraulic valves. The standard provides:
• general requirements for reliability testing;
• statistical methods for assessing reliability;
• an example of reliability calculations; and
• annexes with specific test guidelines and threshold level criteria for each component listed above.

To purchase NFPA/T2.12.11-2-2007, Hydraulic fluid power components – Assessment of reliability by testing, click here.

ISO has also published ISO/TR 19972 1:2009, Hydraulic fluid power — Methods to assess the reliability of hydraulic components — Part 1: General procedures and calculation method, which lists a number of methods that can be used to assess the reliability of hydraulic components, including several that do not require testing.

• For Pneumatics – The ISO 19973 series, titled Pneumatic fluid power — Assessment of component reliability by testing, was published in 2007 and currently consists of:
• Part 1: General procedures
• Part 2: Directional control valves
• Part 3: Cylinders with piston rod
• Part 4: Pressure regulators

All of the parts of ISO 19973 are available for purchase from NFPA’s online store.

All of these parts are currently under revision, and a new Part 5 for non-return, shuttle, dual pressure, one-way adjustable flow control and quick-exhaust valves, is in development. International round robin test programs were conducted to verify the procedures specified in these International Standards.

For more information about the NFPA documents, contact Carrie Tatman Schwartz, (414) 778-3347. For more information about the ISO documents, contact Karen Boehme, (414) 778-3345.