How Does the Flange Rating Work?

How Does the Flange Rating Work?

ANSI FLANGE PRESSURE RATING EXPLAINED

Now think about what this means for the rating of pressure:

At 600 degrees F, the class 150 flange can only handle 140 pounds per square inch (psi) (as per the rating chart below)

The class 300 flange, which is bigger and stronger but has the same size hole, can handle 570 psi at 600 degrees F°.

Lastly, a class 2500 flange of the same size can withstand 4730 psi at 600 F°, which is 34 times more pressure than a class 150 flange of the same size.

Scroll down to see the table for your flange’s rating (this depends on the material of the flange, as flanges with different material grades have different pressure ratings)

Find out the highest temperature that your piping system can handle (i.e. select one line in the table)

Choose a rating based on the highest pressure you expect to see at that temperature (i.e. select one column in that line)

You now have the rating you needed!

Here are charts from ASME B16.34 that show how much pressure can be put on the most common flange materials (carbon, alloy, stainless).

Pressure rating is the most pressure a flange can handle as the temperature rises. The ANSI/ASME B16.5 standard says that flanges can handle pressures of 150, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500.

When it comes to how a flange manages pressure and temperature, the phrases “pressure rating,” “class,” “#,” “Lb,” and “Lbs” all signify the same thing (and other equipment like valves, fittings, etc).

Let’s look at an example to explain:

If two flanges have the same bore size, say 6 inches, and the same material, say A105, but different pressure ratings, say class 150 and class 300, the class 150 flange will be smaller, lighter, and less strong than the class 300 flange (class 300). What the picture shows is this:

The Flange Rating System and How It Works

Flange rating is often hard to understand for people who are new to the pipe industry. Before we go any further, let’s talk about what a flange is and what it does in the plumbing world.

What is a flange, and how does it do what it does?

A flange is a piece of equipment that connects pipes, pumps, valves, and other piping parts to make a pipeline system. The flange is a key part of the piping system because it makes cleaning, checking, and making changes easier. There are many different kinds of flanges, such as Weld Neck Flange, Slip-on Flange, Socket Weld Flanges, Lap Joint Flange, Threaded Flange, Blind Flange, Orifice Flanges, Reducing Flanges, and Blind Flanges.

How does the flange rating work, and what is it?

In the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, it’s important to make sure that the flanges can handle the pressures and temperatures they’re put through. The size of the flanges is important, but the rating is also important. So, choosing a flange with the right rating makes sure it can handle the stresses of working at different temperatures.

The class of the flange tells how much pressure a flange can handle when the temperature is high or rising. Flanges with a higher flange rating or flange class are thought to be stronger because they can handle more pressure at higher temperatures.

The industry standard for flanges is the ASME B16.5 standard, which is used for both flanged fittings and pipe flanges. This has flanges with diameters between 12′′ NPS and 24′′ NPS.

So, when the temperature goes up, the maximum pressure goes down. Flange rating is easy to explain with the help of the following example.

A Class 300 flange can handle more pressure than a Class 150 flange because it is made of more metal and can handle more pressure. But there are many things that can change how much pressure a flange can handle.

A Class 300 flange can handle more pressure than a Class 150 flange because it is made of more metal and can handle more pressure. On the other hand, different things affect how much pressure a flange can handle.

CARBON STEEL FLANGE RATING CHART

Carbon steel flange pressure-temperature rating ASME

ANSI FLANGE ASTM A105, A350 Gr. LF2/LF6 Class 1

The maximum pressure for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at increasing temperatures (Celsius or Fahrenheit) – in PSI – is shown in the flange rating table.

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature (in F°)	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
< 100	285	740	985	1480	2220	3705	6170
200	260	680	905	1360	2035	3395	5655
300	230	655	870	1310	1965	3270	5450
400	200	635	845	1265	1900	3170	5280
500	170	605	805	1205	1810	3015	5025
600	140	570	755	1135	1705	2840	4730
650	125	550	730	1100	1650	2745	4575
700	110	530	710	1060	1590	2655	4425
750	95	505	675	1015	1520	2535	4230
800	80	410	550	825	1235	2055	3430
850	65	320	425	640	955	1595	2655
900	50	230	305	460	690	1150	1915
950	35	135	185	275	410	685	1145
1000	20	85	115	170	255	430	715
Hydrostatic Test Pressure (in Psig)	450	1125	1500	2225	3350	5575	9275

Notes

The maximum pressure for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at increasing temperatures (Celsius or Fahrenheit) – in bars – is shown in the flange rating table.

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature in C°	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
-29 / 38	19.6	51.1	68.1	102.1	153.2	255.3	425.5
50	19.2	50.1	66.8	100.2	150.4	250.6	417.7
100	17.7	46.6	62.1	93.2	139.8	233	388.3
150	15.8	45.1	60.1	90.2	135.2	225.4	375.6
200	13.8	43.8	58.4	87.6	131.4	219	365
250	12.1	41.9	55.9	83.9	125.8	209.7	349.5
300	10.2	39.8	53.1	79.6	119.5	199.1	331.8
325	9.3	38.7	51.6	77.4	116.1	193.6	322.6
350	8.4	37.6	50.1	75.1	112.7	187.8	313
375	7.4	36.4	48.5	72.7	109.1	181.8	303.1
400	6.5	34.7	46.3	69.4	104.2	173.6	289.3
425	5.5	28.8	38.4	57.5	86.3	143.8	239.7
450	4.6	23	30.7	46	69	115	191.7
475	3.7	17.4	23.2	34.9	52.3	87.2	145.3
500	2.8	11.8	15.7	23.5	35.3	58.8	97.9

Notes:

ASTM A105 says that when steel is heated above 425°C for a long time, its carbide phase changes into graphite (this material is not recommended for consistent temperatures above this number).

According to the ASTM A350 LF6 standard, it shouldn’t be used at temperatures higher than 260 degrees Celsius.

ANSI FLANGE ASTM A350 Gr. LF3, A350 LF6, Class 2

The flange rating chart shows the maximum pressure (in PSI) for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at different temperatures (in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit).

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature in °F	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
-20 to 100	290	750	1000	1500	2250	3750	6250
200	260	750	1000	1500	2250	3750	6250
300	230	730	970	1455	2185	3640	6070
400	200	705	940	1410	2115	3530	5880
500	170	665	885	1330	1995	3325	5540
600	140	605	805	1210	1815	3025	5040
650	125	590	785	1175	1765	2940	4905
700	110	570	755	1135	1705	2840	4730
750	95	505	670	1010	1510	2520	4200
800	80	410	550	825	1235	2060	3430
850	65	270	355	535	805	1340	2230
900	50	170	230	345	515	860	1430
950	35	105	140	205	310	515	860
1000	20	50	70	105	155	260	430

ANSI FLANGE ASTM A350 Gr. LF1 

The flange rating table shows the maximum pressure (in PSI) for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at increasing temperatures (in Celsius or Fahrenheit).

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature °F	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
-20 to 100	235	620	825	1235	1850	3085	1545
200	215	560	750	1125	1685	2810	4680
300	210	550	730	1095	1640	2735	4560
400	200	530	705	1060	1585	2645	4405
500	170	500	665	995	1495	2490	4150
600	140	455	610	915	1370	2285	3805
650	125	450	600	895	1345	2245	3740
700	110	450	600	895	1345	2245	3740
750	95	445	590	885	1325	2210	3685
800	80	370	495	740	1110	1850	3085
850	65	270	355	535	805	1340	2230
900	50	170	230	345	515	860	1430
950	35	105	140	205	310	515	860
1000	20	50	70	105	155	260	430

ALLOY STEEL FLANGE RATING CHART

Alloy steel flange pressure-temperature rating ASME

ANSI FLANGE ASTM A182 Gr. F1 (Chrome Moly)

The flange rating table shows the maximum pressure (in PSI) for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at increasing temperatures (in Celsius or Fahrenheit).

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature °F	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
-20 to 100	265	695	925	1390	2085	3470	5785
200	260	680	905	1360	2035	3395	5660
300	230	655	870	1305	1955	3260	5435
400	200	640	855	1280	1920	3200	5330
500	170	620	830	1245	1865	3105	5180
600	140	605	805	1210	1815	3025	5040
650	125	590	785	1175	1765	2940	4905
700	110	570	755	1135	1705	2840	4730
750	95	530	710	1065	1595	2660	4430
800	80	510	675	1015	1525	2540	4230
850	65	485	650	975	1460	2435	4060
900	50	450	600	900	1350	2245	3745
950	35	280	375	560	845	1405	2345
1000	20	165	220	330	495	825	1370

STAINLESS STEEL FLANGE RATING CHART

ANSI FLANGE ASTM A182 Gr. F304, 304L

The maximum pressure for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at increasing temperatures (Celsius or Fahrenheit) – in PSI – is shown in the flange rating table.

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature °F	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
-20 to 100	275	720	960	1440	2160	3600	6000
200	230	600	800	1200	1800	3000	5000
300	205	540	720	1080	1620	2700	4500
400	190	495	660	995	1490	2485	4140
500	170	465	620	930	1395	2330	3880
600	140	435	580	875	1310	2185	3640
650	125	430	575	860	1290	2150	3580
700	110	425	565	850	1275	2125	3540
750	95	415	555	830	1245	2075	3460
800	80	405	540	805	1210	2015	3360
850	65	395	530	790	1190	1980	3300
900	50	390	520	780	1165	1945	3240
950	35	380	510	765	1145	1910	3180
1000	20	320	430	640	965	1605	2675
1050	20	310	410	615	925	1545	2570
1100	20	255	345	515	770	1285	2145
1150	20	200	265	400	595	995	1655
1200	20	155	205	310	465	770	1285
1250	20	115	150	225	340	565	945
1300	20	85	115	170	255	430	715
1350	20	60	80	125	185	310	515
1400	20	50	65	95	145	240	400
1450	15	35	45	70	105	170	285
1500	10	25	35	55	80	135	230

The maximum pressure for flanges of classes 150/300/400/600/900/1500/2500 at increasing temperatures (Celsius or Fahrenheit) – in PSI – is shown in the flange rating table.

ANSI/ASME B16.34	ANSI PRESSURE RATING
Temperature °F	150#	300#	400#	600#	900#	1500#	2500#
-20 to 100	275	720	960	1440	2160	3600	6000
200	235	620	825	1240	1860	3095	5160
300	215	560	745	1120	1680	2795	4660
400	195	515	685	1025	1540	2570	4280
500	170	480	635	955	1435	2390	3980
600	140	450	600	900	1355	2255	3760
650	125	445	590	890	1330	2220	3700
700	110	430	580	870	1305	2170	3620
750	95	425	570	855	1280	2135	3560
800	80	420	565	845	1265	2110	3520
850	65	420	555	835	1255	2090	3480
900	50	415	555	830	1245	2075	3460
950	35	385	515	775	1160	1930	3220
1000	20	350	465	700	1050	1750	2915
1050	20	345	460	685	1030	1720	2865
1100	20	305	405	610	915	1525	2545
1150	20	235	315	475	710	1185	1970
1200	20	185	245	370	555	925	1545
1250	20	145	195	295	440	735	1230
1300	20	115	155	235	350	585	970
1350	20	95	130	190	290	480	800
1400	20	75	100	150	225	380	630
1450	20	60	80	115	175	290	485
1500	20	40	55	85	125	205	345

Read More :

Understanding how stainless steel pipes can be used in different fields: Because welded pipes are so versatile, they can be used in almost any kind of business. Because of this, though, they do better at resisting corrosion and less well at resisting pressure than they do at resisting rust. Welded pipes are a lot easier to work with than most other types of pipes.