Expansion Control Valve (ECV)
Expansion Control Valve
High-performance safety device for storage water heaters—lead-free bronze body, vertical or horizontal installation, with insulation jacket for external use.
Key Features
- Valve is designed to work in either vertical or horizontal installations — flexible installation options
- Heavy duty auxiliary relief; upgraded lead-free copper auxiliary relief valve for longer life expectancy
- Lead-free bronze body — fully compliant with the lead-free requirements of the National Construction Code Volume 3
The plumb-mate Expansion Control Valve is a high-performance safety device designed to protect storage water heaters.
The valve is installed on the cold or inlet supply of a water heater. It automatically relieves excess pressure caused by water expansion during the normal heating cycle and reseats once safe pressure levels are restored.
All products are supplied with an insulation jacket suitable for external installation.
Expansion Control Valves are a safety device and should be replaced every 4 years.
Product Technical Data
| Specification | PMECV-15 | PMECV-20 |
|---|---|---|
Nominal size | DN15 | DN20 |
Inlet connection | R 1/2" Male | R 3/4" Male |
Outlet (drain) connection | G 1/2" Female | G 3/4" Female |
Dimension C (mm) | 52.5 | |
Dimension D (mm) | 34 | |
Dimension E (mm) | 95 | |
Expansion rating | 20 kW | 46 kW |
- Designed and manufactured to meet AS 1357.1.
- Pressure ratings (kPa) available: 600 / 700 / 850 / 1200 — see model codes below.
- Technical drawings: refer to DN15 and DN20 model sheets.
Model codes by rating plate colour
Each row is one rating plate colour. Read across to find the matching ECV and PTR or PTRE model numbers for that colour.
PMPTRE-15 (extended body) is only used for the green and red rows—i.e. where the PTR setting is 1000 kPa or 1400 kPa.
| Pressure & Plate Colour | 15mm ECV | 20mm ECV | 15mm PTR | 15mm PTRE | 20mm PTR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black | PMECV-15-600 | PMECV-20-600 | PMPTR-15-700 | — | PMPTR-20-700 |
Blue | PMECV-15-700 | PMECV-20-700 | PMPTR-15-850 | — | PMPTR-20-850 |
Green | PMECV-15-850 | PMECV-20-850 | PMPTR-15-1000 | PMPTRE-15-1000 | PMPTR-20-1000 |
Red | PMECV-15-1200 | PMECV-20-1200 | PMPTR-15-1400 | PMPTRE-15-1400 | PMPTR-20-1400 |
ECV and PLV selection guide
Cold inlet pressure at the ECV must not exceed 80% of the PTR relief setting on the water heater. This chart recommends the ECV pressure setting and shows when a pressure-limiting valve (PLV) is needed and at what setting.
| PTR valve setting (on water heater) | Recommended plumb-mate ECV setting | PLV required if mains pressure exceeds | PLV setting (if required) |
|---|---|---|---|
700 kPa | 600 kPa | 480 kPa | 350 kPa |
850 kPa | 700 kPa | 560 kPa | 350 kPa |
1,000 kPa | 850 kPa | 680 kPa | 500 kPa |
1,400 kPa | 1,200 kPa | 960 kPa | 600 kPa |