Is it legal to use a ball valve as a dump valve?

Trailers with the tire inflation use a valve to close the system if needed. I haven’t payed any attention to the valve, but I doubt it has dot markings.

 

I’ve got 4 ball valves that operate the shakers on my hopper bottom, never been questioned.

 

My hopper had ball valves for the vibrators. The trailers where I’m leased now have a ball valve that will close off the tire inflation system.

 

My new trucks have ball valves on them for optional air at back of cab. Not stamped DOT

 

I’ve got t valves on my air tank with the fittings to connect to shop air on it, I’ve honestly never even given it a second thought about them having to be dot approved

 

Before all the fancy suspension dump valve switches became a thing on dashes many a truck used the old timers trick of a ball valve on the leveling valves on suspension to dump the air. Otherwise the old air rides had no way of deflating other then loosening an air line. Never been a problem with dot in 40 years. My ‘67 has had one forever.

 

Yes.

Just buy quality valves.

 

Hauling fluid and they let them go there so I’d think you can use them anywhere but yes, don’t buy junk. Not that I’d think you’d get wrote up for it but you’d pay the price of a good valve 100 times over when a cheap POS fails.

 

Considering they’re usually rated for about 600 psi. I can’t imagine anyone questioning a ball valve, I always hear about DOT approved fittings. I’ve got a lot of fittings, that aren’t labeled DOT approved. Some claim plastic isn’t t allowed. There’s all kind of plastic ones, especially in the dash. I wouldn’t worry about any of it. I have a 1/4” ball valve on my SS bottom radiator pipe. Makes working on the road easier. Avoids a big mess. The fitting on the air tank, put a rubber cover over it. That’ll keep it clean too.