Introduction: Why Fugitive Emissions Matter More Than Ever
Across the globe, industries face growing pressure to control fugitive emissions—small but persistent leaks of hazardous gases from process equipment. These emissions contribute to environmental pollution, regulatory violations, product loss, and serious safety risks in hydrogen, ammonia, VOC, and petrochemical applications.
Governments and industries are responding with stricter standards like ISO 15848-1 and API 641, while plant operators adopt LDAR (Leak Detection and Repair) programs and demand proven sealing solutions from their valve suppliers.
At Mascot Valves, we approach fugitive emissions not just as a compliance checkbox—but as a design challenge we solve with precision-engineered stem seals, bellows bonnets, and rigorous in-house testing.
Understanding the Problem: What Are Fugitive Emissions?
Fugitive emissions are unintended leaks of gases or vapors from pressurized equipment due to imperfect sealing. These emissions often escape through valve stems or body joints—and are difficult to detect until they become safety or compliance issues.
Typical Causes of Fugitive Emissions:
Stem packing degradation.
Inadequate stem finish or alignment.
Thermal cycling and vibration.
Packing relaxation over time.
Exposure to hydrogen or VOCs with high diffusivity.
Emission Control Standards: ISO 15848 & API 641
To reduce fugitive emissions, two major valve industry standards have become benchmarks:
ISO 15848-1: Defines test methods for valve stem packing and body seals under temperature cycling, stem actuation, and helium leak measurement. Class “A” is the tightest leakage class.
API 641: Focuses on emissions from quarter-turn valves under defined cycling and pressure conditions. Often used in oil & gas and refinery environments.
Mascot Valve Design Solutions
AtmoSafe™ Live-Loaded Packing
Our proprietary AtmoSafe™ packing system is designed specifically for fugitive emission reduction:
Live-loaded using Belleville washers to maintain consistent gland force over time.
Improved stem surface finish to minimize friction and wear.
Low-friction stem movement reduces actuation torque and leakage risk.
ISO 15848-1 Class A qualified for all control valve models.
AtmoSafe™ is available on GFlo, VFlo, EFlo, and DiskFlo control valves.
Bellows Sealed Bonnet: Zero-Leakage Stem Isolation
For extreme applications—especially toxic, volatile, or cryogenic fluids—our GFlo globe valve can be supplied with a bellows sealed bonnet:
Single-ply or multi-ply SS316L, Inconel, or Hastelloy C bellows
Fully welded construction to isolate the stem from process fluid
Integrated secondary AtmoSafe™ live-loaded packing for fail-safe security
In-House Testing & ISO 15848-1 Compliance
Mascot operates an internal fugitive emissions test lab, where we perform:
Type testing to ISO 15848-1 (including thermal cycling, stem actuation, and helium leak detection)
Testing at both ambient and elevated temperatures
Validation of both packing-only and bellows-sealed configurations
Routine project-based testing to ISO 15848-2 for customer-specified valves
Predictive Engineering & Actuation Strategy
Fugitive emissions aren’t only about packing—they’re about whole-valve system stability. At Mascot, we integrate sealing solutions with actuator design to prevent vibration, over-travel, and stem misalignment.
High-thrust pneumatic actuators with strong throttling stiffness
Smooth, stable stroke cycles that maintain seal integrity
Use of proprietary sizing software and CFD tools to prevent erosion or wire-drawing
Where Mascot Makes the Difference
Mascot’s emission-reduction solutions are used across:
Hydrogen systems
Ammonia line
VOC service in chemical and refining
Specialty gas handling
Oxygen and cryogenic services
Why Mascot: Speed, Value & Environmental Trust
With fugitive emission risks rising—and compliance costs growing—choosing the right valve partner has never mattered more.
ISO 15848-1 Class A, AtmoSafe™, and bellows sealed designs
In-house testing, custom engineering, and fast delivery (3–4 weeks)
Materials like Inconel, Hastelloy, and SS316L offered as standard
Contact Us
Contact Mascot’s engineering team to discuss your application—we’ll match you with the right valve, trim, and seal configuration to meet your goals.
