What's the Difference Between ASME B16.47 Series A and Series B Flanges? - Coastal Flange (2024)

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What's the Difference Between ASME B16.47 Series A and Series B Flanges? - Coastal Flange? ›

47 Series A vs Series B? Physical attributes for Series A flanges are typically thicker in flange thickness, heavier in weight, and have large diameter bolt holes in comparison to Series B in the same size and pressure rating.

ASME B16 47 Series A flanges are thicker, heavier, and stronger than their Series B counterparts. They also can often handle more external loading than Series B. Series A flanges tend to be more costly than Series B flanges.

Within ASME B16. 47 there are series A and series B flanges, with the noticeable differences in most cases being the bolt size and/or bolt quantity. Series A flanges typically have fewer, larger diameter bolts while Series B flanges typically have more, smaller diameter bolts.

Series B flanges, on the other hand, are lighter, less expensive, and require more but smaller fasteners. Series A includes weld neck, blind, and ring type joint (RTJ) flanges, while Series B primarily focuses on weld neck and blind flanges.

The ASME B16. 47 Class 75 Series B Welding Neck flange is of the lowest pressure rating and it can come in copper, brass, high alloys and other materials depending on the applications' mechanical, physical and chemical requirements.

47 Large Diameter Steel Flange Standard. In November of 1980, Subcommittee C of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B16 began work on the B16. 47 Large Diameter Steel Flange Standard to standardize dimensions, tolerances, markings, and materials for Nominal Pipe Sizes 26” to 60”.

Grade-A bolts are the preferred style for most applications. Grade-B bolts have looser tolerances and can be manufactured in a cold or hot-forging process.

The ANSI and ASME variants stand as stalwarts, each with unique characteristics and advantages. While ANSI flanges epitomize versatility and compatibility, ASME flanges embody precision engineering and performance excellence.

ASTM A standards are related to ferrous metals, while ASTM B standards are related to non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper.

Today, ASME offers a series of 32 different B16 Standards that cover pressure-temperature ratings, materials, dimensions, tolerances, markings and the testing of the following: valves, flanges, fittings and gaskets.

What does B16 mean on a flange? ›

The ASME B16 Standardization of Valves Flanges, Fittings and Gaskets Committee, which operates under ASME's Board on Pressure Technology Codes and Standards is responsible for standards covering valves, flanges, pipe fittings, gaskets and valve actuators for use in pressure services.

The flanges are used to connect ducts, pipes or equipment and come in different sizes and shapes. In this article, we look at flanges in the ASTM and DIN standards, which are the most common standards.

However, the standard ASME B16 5 (ANSI B16 5) only covers size up to 24 inches. For bigger sizes, ASME B16. 47 standard covers pressure-temperature ratings, materials, dimensions, tolerances, marking, and testing for pipe flanges in sizes NPS 26 through NPS 60 and in ratings Classes 75, 150, 300, 400, 600, and 900.

B16. 5 allows for a class of 150, class 300, class 400, class 600, class 900, class 1500, and finally class 2500, which is available up to 12-inch. ASME B16. 5 is the standard for pipe flanges from half inch to 24-inch nominal pipe size.

Series A spiral wound gaskets are more commonly used and can withstand more external pressure, while Series B spiral wound gaskets are typically found in non-critical applications. For both Series A and Series B spiral wound gaskets, the dimensions are different and must match the flanges they are being used to seal.

Different steel grades correspond to different tensile and yield strengths, and carbon content is also different. ASTM A500 grade A steel has a tensile strength of 400MPa and a yield strength of 290MPa. Grade B steel has a tensile strength and yield strength of 400MPa and 310MPa respectively.

The ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) is an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard that regulates the design and construction of boilers and pressure vessels. The document is written and maintained by volunteers chosen for their technical expertise .

A500 pipe is normally better for the majority of your structural steel construction projects because it has a higher yield strength than the A53 type pipe specification. This means that the strength-to-weight ratio is better than A53 grade pipe.