Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly

Abstract

These guidelines for bolted flange joint assemblies (BFJAs) apply principally to pressure-boundary flanged joints with ring-type gaskets that are entirely within the circle enclosed by the bolt holes and with no contact outside this circle.1 These guidelines may be selectively applied to other joint geometries.

By selection of those features suitable to the specific service or need, these guidelines may be used to develop effective joint assembly procedures for the broad range of sizes and service conditions normally encountered in industry.

Users are cautioned that the guidelines contained in ASME PCC-1 have been developed generically and are recommended for general applications.

They may not necessarily be suitable for all applications.

Precautionary considerations are provided in some cases but should not be considered as all-inclusive.

Sound engineering practices and judgment should be used to determine the applicability of a specific method or part of a method to a specific application.

Each joint assembly procedure should be subject to an appropriate review by qualified personnel.

While this guideline covers joint assembly within the scope of ASME Pressure Technology Codes and Standards, it may be used on equipment constructed in accordance with other codes and standards.

Guidance on troubleshooting BFJAs not providing leaktight performance is also provided in this document (see Appendix P).

1 Rules for design of bolted flanges with ring-type gaskets are covered in Mandatory Appendix 2 of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC), Section VIII, Division 1; see also ASME BPVC, Section VIII, Division 1, Nonmandatory Appendix S for supplementary considerations for bolted flanges that are helpful to the designer of Appendix 2 flanges.