What safety feature should be installed in a piping system to protect against overpressure?

In a piping system, a relief valve is essential for protecting against overpressure situations. Its primary function is to automatically release excess pressure from the system to prevent catastrophic failures or explosions. When the pressure within a system exceeds a predetermined limit, the relief valve opens, allowing fluid to escape and thereby reducing the pressure back to a safe operating level.

This safety feature is crucial in maintaining system integrity and ensuring the safety of personnel and equipment. While a pressure gauge can provide valuable information about current pressure levels, it does not actively mitigate overpressure scenarios. Control valves can regulate flow but are not specifically designed to relieve excess pressure. Shut-off valves, on the other hand, are typically used to isolate sections of a piping system but do not provide relief from overpressure situations. Thus, the relief valve is the most appropriate safety feature for addressing the risk of overpressure.