Knowing whether a valve is open or closed is essential for safe operations in industrial systems. Whether you’re working in oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment, manufacturing etc, correctly identifying valve position helps prevent accidents, leaks & equipment failure.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to confirm the position of the most common industrial valve types:
- Ball Valves
- Gate Valves & Globe Valves
- Butterfly Valves
- Check Valves
- Actuated Valves
By the end, you’ll be able to verify valve position safely and confidently without turning anything you shouldn’t.
1. Ball Valves :
Ball valves are the easiest valves to read.
Handle parallel to the pipe → ON (Open)
Flow can pass through.
Handle perpendicular to the pipe → OFF (Closed)
The flow is blocked.
Most ball valves use a T-style lever that physically points in the direction of flow when open. It’s one of the clearest visual indicators in any industrial valve.
2. Gate Valves & Globe Valves :
There are two ways to check :
1. Direction of Rotation
This applies to both gate and globe valves.
- Top of wheel moves left → opening
- Top of wheel moves right → closing
Most valves follow this convention, but rare exceptions do exist so always check for arrows or markings on the valve body.
2. Look at the Valve Stem
Many gate and globe valves use a rising stem.
- Stem raised up → ON (Open)
- Stem lowered → OFF (Closed)
Some handwheel valves don’t show stem movement.
In that case, the only way to confirm is to gently turn the valve to see whether it is at the open or closed limit.
3. Butterfly Valves :
Butterfly valves use a rotating disc.
If it has a lever :
- Lever parallel to pipe → Valve ON (Open)
- Lever perpendicular → Valve OFF (Closed)
If it has a gearbox:
Look at the open/close indicator on the gear operator.
4. Check Valves :
Check valves do not have handles and cannot be manually turned on/off.
They work automatically:
- Flow allowed in one direction (ON)
- Flow blocked in the opposite direction (OFF)
To confirm correct installation, always check the arrow on the valve body, which shows allowable flow direction.
5. Actuated Valves :
Since actuated valves often don’t have manual levers, the best ways to confirm position are:
The actuator’s position indicator
Most actuators have an OPEN/CLOSED indicator or a mechanical flag.
Control system feedback
In industrial facilities, valve position is shown on the PLC, DCS, or SCADA interface.
Flow measurement
For critical systems, downstream flow meters confirm whether the valve is actually passing flow.
Some actuated valves do include a manual override (handwheel or lever), but this is not used for normal operation.
Final Thoughts
Once you know what to look for, identifying valve positions becomes easy even for complex valve types. Understanding these mechanisms helps prevent leaks, system damage, and safety issues in any industrial environment.
If you’re looking for industrial valves for oil & gas, petrochemical, water treatment, or power applications, Elite Flow Control offers a full range of high-quality: