A ball check valve – also called a ball non-return valve – automatically prevents backflow in pipelines without auxiliary power. Fergo supplies it in stainless steel 1.4408 and ductile iron GGG40, from DN15 to DN500, with flanged connection (PN10, PN16, ANSI Class 150) or BSP socket. More than 60 variants are available from stock.
A ball check valve can decide in seconds whether your plant suffers damage: when the pump stops and back pressure builds, the medium starts to flow backwards. In wastewater plants, water supply systems and industrial processes, uncontrolled backflow can damage pumps, contaminate media and cause unplann...
A ball check valve – also called a ball non-return valve – automatically prevents backflow in pipelines without auxiliary power. Fergo supplies it in stainless steel 1.4408 and ductile iron GGG40, from DN15 to DN500, with flanged connection (PN10, PN16, ANSI Class 150) or BSP socket. More than 60 variants are available from stock.
A ball check valve can decide in seconds whether your plant suffers damage: when the pump stops and back pressure builds, the medium starts to flow backwards. In wastewater plants, water supply systems and industrial processes, uncontrolled backflow can damage pumps, contaminate media and cause unplanned downtime.
The ball non-return valve prevents exactly that – automatically, with low maintenance and reliably even with contaminated or solids-laden media. Fergo offers versions in stainless steel 1.4408 and ductile iron GGG40 with face-to-face lengths to EN 558-1 series 48 and flange drillings to EN 1092-2 – as part of our full range of check valves and industrial valves.
What is a ball check valve – and how does the ball design work?
A ball check valve is a self-acting non-return device in which a free-moving ball opens or blocks the flow. When the medium flows in the forward direction, the ball is pushed sideways off its seat and the bore stays open. If the pressure drops or the flow reverses, the ball returns to its seat by gravity or spring force and seals tightly.
Self-cleaning ball – the advantage with solids-laden media
The ball has no hinges, corners or pockets where solids can lodge. With every opening cycle the medium flushes the sealing face clean – the valve is effectively self-cleaning. This is what sets the ball principle apart from classic swing and lift check valves, whose moving parts can jam with sludge, fibres or granulates. That is why the ball non-return valve is the first choice wherever the medium carries particles.
Ball non-return valve in stainless steel 1.4408 or GGG40 – which version?
The choice of material determines service life, operational safety and total cost. For non-aggressive, watery or mechanically loaded media, ductile iron GGG40 (RB105 series) is the economical choice. As soon as corrosion, hygiene or aggressive media are involved, stainless steel 1.4408 (RB106 series) is the way to go.
Ductile iron GGG40 (RB105 series) – the robust all-rounder
- Typical applications: wastewater, sewage plants, irrigation, cooling water
- Nominal sizes: DN50 to DN500
- Operating pressure: up to 16 bar (PN16)
- Temperature range: -20 °C to +80 °C
- Ball: aluminium with NBR coating – abrasion-resistant and self-cleaning
- Connection: flange to EN 1092-2, face-to-face EN 558-1 series 48
- Standards: ANSI Class 150 on request
Stainless steel 1.4408 ball check valve (RB106 series) – for demanding conditions
- Typical applications: chemical, food & beverage, pharma, seawater
- Nominal sizes: DN15 to DN300
- Operating pressure: up to 16 bar (PN16)
- Temperature range: -20 °C to +80 °C
- Ball: steel with NBR coating (PTFE and Viton on request)
- Connection: flange DIN PN16 and BSP female thread
- Feature: all wetted parts in 1.4408
Choosing the right connection, installation and seal
It is not the purchase price that makes a wrongly selected valve expensive, but the follow-up costs. Three parameters drive the choice: connection type, installation position and seal material.
Connection types at a glance
- Flange PN10 / PN16 (DIN EN 1092-2): for fixed pipelines, standard bolt circles, direct replacement
- Flange ANSI Class 150: for plants to the American standard
- BSP socket (female thread): compact for smaller sizes, fast installation
Installation position: Fergo ball check valves can be installed horizontally and vertically (flow upwards). Always follow the flow arrow on the body – it indicates the mandatory direction of flow.
Seal material
- NBR: standard for water, oils, fats; up to +80 °C
- PTFE: for aggressive media, acids and alkalis; up to +150 °C
- FKM / Viton: for hydrocarbons and higher temperatures; on request
- EPDM: for hot water and watery solutions; special configuration
Our chemical resistance tool helps you check the right seal material for your medium quickly.
Protection against water hammer in pumping stations
In pumping stations the ball non-return valve prevents backflow when the pump stops, reducing the water hammer that can damage pipelines and fittings. The ball closes automatically by gravity or spring force – no control signal and no auxiliary power required. In systems with high flow velocities the effect can be further decoupled with rubber expansion joints.
Ball check valves in industry
Every industry has its own requirements. Our ball check valves are built for tough industrial duty:
- Wastewater & sewage: GGG40 valves with NBR ball; the self-cleaning design prevents jamming
- Chemical & process: stainless steel 1.4408 with PTFE or Viton coating for aggressive media
- Water supply & pressure boosting: reliable backflow prevention without external energy
- Food, beverage & pharma: stainless steel body, smooth internal surfaces, good flushability
- Mining & minerals: abrasion-resistant ball without guide geometry for slurries
- Pulp & paper: residue-free opening with fibrous suspensions
An upstream Y-strainer additionally protects the sealing face from coarse solids.
Why Fergo for your ball non-return valve?
Fergo supplies ball check valves from stock, with full standards coverage and technical advice – so planners and operators can order without follow-up questions.
- More than 60 variants from stock
- Standards coverage: EN 1092-2, EN 558-1 series 48, DIN PN10/16, ANSI Class 150
- Product configurator: filter by nominal size, body, seal and connection
- Certificates on request: mill certificate 2.1, inspection certificate 3.1 to EN 10204
- Technical advice on medium, pressure and installation
- Special solutions: PFA-lined versions for extreme chemical resistance
Note: a ball check valve should not be confused with a ball valve – the ball valve is for manual shut-off, the ball check valve for automatic backflow prevention.
Configure your ball check valve now
The ball non-return valve reliably protects pumps and pipelines from backflow – self-cleaning, low-maintenance and without auxiliary power. Choose GGG40 for water and wastewater, stainless steel 1.4408 for corrosive or hygienic media. Configure your valve now by nominal size, body, seal and connection in the product configurator – or request technical advice; our team responds within 24 hours.
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