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After more than two years of testing, the Association of American Railroads has given Kelso Technologies the thumbs up to market its Kelso JS75 SRV pressure-relief valve for use on all 75-pound general purpose tank cars carrying hazardous materials in North America.

"About 10 percent of the estimated 265,000 tank cars in use on North American railways undergo valve inspections and/or replacements each year," said Kelso President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Grossman in a prepared statement. "This approval sets the stage for Kelso to expand its line of valves for other applications in the rail industry."

The Kelso JS75 SRV valve is designed to prevent product contamination and back pressure, and eliminate the need for a safety valve nozzle. Smaller and lighter compared with other pressure-relief valves, the Kelso JS75 SRV features an unobstructed opening and flow aperture, and can be retrofitted to existing tank cars without structural changes, according to Kelso.

In November 2001, Kelso began an AAR-required service trial under which the supplier installed 30 production valves on Union Tank Car Co. cars and tested the units during extreme cold and heat. After logging 4 million miles during the next two years, the cars and valves were examined by Kelso and AAR officials at a certified repair shop. Last month, Kelso submitted inspection data to AAR's Tank Car Committee for review.