Metal flanges join pipes together with bolt holes for easy assembly. Different types are available for various applications, such as copper or stainless steel for water pipes. ASME provides a classification system in the US, while other countries have their own. Flange designs vary, with high pressure connections using a “plug and groove” interface to prevent dangerous product escape.
Commonly found in plumbing applications, metal flanges provide a quick and easy method of joining lengths of pipe together. A flange consists of an outer ring around one end of a structure, pipe or tube that contains corresponding bolt holes for easy assembly. Conversely, pipes that require joining but lack flanges normally involve welding or welding as a method of joining. Different types of metal flanges are available to cover a wide variety of applications. These include the copper flange, the iron flange and the stainless steel flange; these are implemented as structural flanges, plumbing flanges and even microwave flanges.
The types of metal flanges one may often encounter depend on their applications or uses. For example, water pipes generally use a copper or stainless steel flange, as a ductile iron flange can crack over time due to the natural result of rust forming when water reacts with iron. In other words, the product that passes through a given flanged system determines the appropriate materials used in the construction of the flanges, as well as in the piping itself.
Because there is such a wide variety of applications, one would expect a challenge in matching specific sizes of metal flanges. A system of uniformity, however, helps make this task rather simple. In the United States, a classification system from the American Society for Mechanical Engineers (ASME) helps distinguish between these choices by providing a set of standards to follow when certain projects call for it. For example, when a plumber or other mechanical contractor needs to repair or replace sections of an established plumbing system, any metal flanges he encounters are already rated to certain dimensions. This makes replacement as easy as ordering the appropriate ASME flanges.
ASME is just an American standard for piping, however, while other countries typically have their own classification systems. For example, the PN/DIN classification is used in many parts of Europe; the JIS/KS classification in Japan or Korea; and the BS10 in Great Britain or Australia. Although one ASME flange will mate with another ASME flange, it is unlikely to match one from another country’s grading system.
The types of metal flange designs can also change with each application. For example, high pressure connections may incorporate a “plug and groove” interface. One such application consists of two mating metal flanges that protrude slightly into another flange, which greatly reduces the chances of pressure escaping from the connection. This can be crucial if the product escaping is something dangerous, such as a flammable gas.
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