ASME now lists B16.34-2025 for Valves鈥擣langed, Threaded, and Welding End. For a new industrial valve RFQ, writing only 鈥淎SME B16.34鈥� is no longer enough. The buyer and supplier should agree on the edition, product scope, pressure-temperature basis, material group, examination, testing, and marking before comparing price.
Quick buyer verdict
Do not reject an existing quotation only because it cites an earlier edition. First ask the project engineer which edition governs the contract. For new 2026 inquiries, state the required edition explicitly and request a deviation list.
Six RFQ fields to lock before quote comparison
| RFQ field | What the buyer should state | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Governing edition | ASME B16.34-2025 or project-approved edition | Prevents silent assumptions between specification, quotation, and purchase order. |
| Valve construction | Cast, forged, or fabricated; flanged, threaded, welding-end, wafer, or flangeless | B16.34 scope is broad; the offered construction must still be identified. |
| Rating basis | Class, design pressure, design temperature, material group | The class number alone does not define suitability at operating temperature. |
| Materials | Body, bonnet, trim, bolting, seat, packing, and any sour-service requirement | A generic body grade does not complete the material specification. |
| Examination and testing | Required NDE, shell/seat testing, witness or hold points, and certificates | Standard compliance does not automatically include every project inspection. |
| Marking and documents | Nameplate data, heat traceability, MTCs, drawings, test reports, deviations | The document package must be priced and scheduled with the valve. |
What B16.34 does鈥攁nd does not鈥攔eplace
ASME describes B16.34 as covering pressure-temperature ratings, dimensions, tolerances, materials, nondestructive examination requirements, testing, and marking for specified metallic valve constructions. It is an important common basis, but it does not by itself choose the correct valve type or define every project requirement.
A gate valve RFQ may also cite API 600 or another applicable product standard. A ball valve, check valve, globe valve, plug valve, or butterfly valve may require a different product standard and service-specific clauses. The project piping code, datasheet, purchase specification, and jurisdictional requirements still need to be checked together.
A better RFQ sentence
Gate valve, NPS 8, Class 600, flanged ends, ASME B16.34-2025 basis, project datasheet and applicable product standard. Supplier shall confirm body/bonnet/trim/bolting materials, pressure-temperature rating at design conditions, NDE scope, shell and seat test basis, marking, document package, lead time, and all deviations.
For available constructions, review 91色情片鈥檚 gate valve range and industrial valve range. Send the service medium, size, class, temperature, end connection, materials, test requirements, and document list with the inquiry.
Quote comparison matrix
| Supplier reply | Status | Buyer action |
|---|---|---|
| Edition, rating, materials, testing, documents, and deviations are explicit | Green | Continue technical and commercial comparison. |
| Says 鈥淎SME B16.34鈥� but does not identify edition or rating basis | Yellow | Request a clarified datasheet before approval. |
| Claims compliance without material, testing, or traceability details | Red | Do not compare price as technically equal. |
Final takeaway
The 2025 edition is a useful trigger to clean up new valve RFQs. The strongest inquiry does not merely name a standard: it maps the standard to the actual valve construction, service conditions, evidence, and purchase documents.