A flange is a method of connecting pipes, valves, pumps and other equipment to form a piping system. It also provides easy access for cleaning, inspection or modification. Flanges are usually welded or screwed. Flanged joints are made by bolting together two flanges with a gasket between them to provide a seal.

The most used flange types in Petro and chemical industry are:-

1) Weld neck 2) Slip On 3) Socket weld 4) Lap joint 5) Threaded 6) Blind

Materials for Flanges

Pipe flanges are manufactured in all the different materials like stainless steel, cast iron, aluminium, brass, bronze, plastic etc. but the most used material is forged carbon steel and have machined surfaces. In addition, flanges, like fittings and pipes, for specific purposes sometimes internally equipped with layers of materials of a completely different quality as the flanges themselves, which are “lined flanges”. The material of a flange, is basically set during the choice of the pipe, in most cases, a flange is of the same material as the pipe. All flanges, discussed on this website fall under the ASME en ASTM standards, unless otherwise indicated. ASME B16.5 describes dimensions, dimensional tolerances etc. and ASTM the different material qualities. For IBR Certified Flange, click here. For Blind Flanges, Click Here.