ANSI FLANGE PRESSURE RATING EXPLAINED

Pressure rating is defined as the maximum allowed pressure that a flange can withstand at increasing
temperatures. According to the ANSI/ASME B16.5 specification, there are seven flange pressure
ratings: 150, 300, 400, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500.

The terms “pressure rating”, “class”, “#”, “Lb” or “Lbs” are interchangeable, i.e. they all refer to the
same exact concept of pressure/temperature performance of a flange (and other equipment like
valves, fittings, etc).

Let’s make this clear with an example:

If two flanges have the same bore size (example 6 inches), the same material (example
A105), but two different pressure ratings (one flange is class 150, the other 300), the lower rated
flange (class 150) will be smaller, lighter, and less robust than the higher rated flange (class 300).
This is represented in the picture:

Flange Pressure Ratings

Now, let’s look at what this means in terms of pressure rating:

 the class 150 flange withstands just 140 psi at a temperature of 600 degrees F° (as per the
rating chart below)
 the class 300 flange (bigger and stronger, but with the same bore size) withstands 570 psi at
the same temperature of 600 degrees F°
 finally, a class 2500 flange of the same size bears 34 times more pressure than the class 150
rated flange, reaching a whopping 4730 psi rating at 600 F°!