Patent ID: 8286653

Claim:
A method of minimizing leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems in an apparatus provided for handling a fluid for human consumption, wherein each of the fluid systems includes a fluid at a respective pressure and the apparatus comprises a shut-off device including a cavity and a respective valve means connecting the cavity to each of the two fluid systems, each of the valve means preventing fluid communication from the cavity to the respective fluid system, wherein the method comprises the steps of: to prevent fluid communication from the cavity to the fluid systems, supplying a fluid to said cavity and providing a pressure in said cavity which is higher than one or each of the respective pressures in the two fluid systems, thereby minimizing the risk of leakage from a first one to a second one of two fluid systems in case of failure of the valve means, wherein each of the valve means is switchable into i) an open state wherein the cavity and the respective fluid system are in fluid communication with one another, and ii) a closed state wherein the cavity and the respective fluid system are not in fluid communication with one another, and wherein the valve means are each a valve and the cavity, to which the fluid is supplied, is a chamber arranged between the valves.