MSS SP- 44-1996 Reaffirmed 2001 Steel Pipeline Flanges Standard Practice Developed and Approved by the Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc. 127 Park Street, NE Vienna, Virginia 22180 (703) 281-6613 Cop by the Mrwactuers Stngadzton Sac O The Ve And Flings nds Inc hu Jan 08 08.7Mss STANDARD PRACTICE sP-44 ‘An MSS Standard Practice is intended as a basis for common practice by the manufacturer, the user, and the general public. The existence of an MSS Standard Practice does not in itself preclude the manufacture, sale, or use of products not conforming to the Standard Practice, Mandatory conformance is established only by reference in a code, specification, sales contract or public law, as applicable. Substantive changes in this 1996 edition are “flagged” by parallel bars as shown on the margins of this paragraph, The specific detail ofthe change may be determined by comparing the material flagged with that in the previous edition, Non-toleranced dimensions in this Standard Practice are nominal, and unless otherwise specified, shall be considered “for reference only”. Any part of this standard may be quoted. Credit lines should read ‘Extracted from MSS SP-44, 1996, with permission of the publisher, the Manufacturers Standardization Society.’ Reproduction prohibited under copyright convention untess written permission is granted by the Manufacturers Standardization Socioty of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc. Originally Approved July 1952 Copyright ©, 1985 by ‘Manufacturers Standardization Soctery of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Ine. Printed in U.S.A. Cop by the Mruactuers Stgadzton Sac O The Ve An Fins nds Inc Th la 0808.91.77 2003‘MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-44 FOREWORD The Manufacturers Standardization Society originally developed the Standard Practice in response to the continued requests for steel pipe flanges for pipeline use, particularly in sizes larger than those covered by ANS! Standard 816.5 on ‘Steel Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings. The line pipe is uniquely characterited by high-strength, cold worked, thin-wall of the carbon steel grade, which necessitates special considerations for the welding end of the flanges. “The size and pressure class range was originally NPS 26 through NPS 36 in pressure classes customarily designated in ANSI Standard 816.5 as 300, 400, 600, and 900 Ib. The 1970 edition deleted the slip-on flanges for tack of demand, and ‘added a 150 Ib. class and coverage for sizes NPS 12 through NPS 24. Additional coverage was also necessitated by the advent Of the use of line pipe of grades having minimum specified yield strength higher than the 52,000 psi maximum contemplated at the time of intial development, and therefore still thinner walls. In some instances, this advent widened the differential between the tensile properties of the flange steel versus that of the mating pipe steel. This, in turn necessitated greater flexibility in the selection of hub dimensions, so that various combi tions of materialstrength and flange-dimensions could be utilized to supply the flanges. Section 5 on Flange Design was intro- duced at this point, and is one of the key features of this standard. The 1972 edition included the coverage of blind flanges in all pressure classes and clarification of text requirements for better understanding and usage under the more diverse conditions. The 1976 edition expanded the size range above size NPS 36. The driling templates for the Clest 150 flanges of the NPS 28 and larger cizee continued’ the pravioue philosophy of adopting the drilling tomplate of the Clase 126 of ANS! Standard B16.1. However, the drilling templates of the Class 300 flanges of the NPS 38 and larger sizes did not continue ‘the adoption of the Class 250 of ANSI Standard B16.1 drilling templates, nor did the NPS 38 and larger sizes of Classes 400, £600, and 900 continue the extrapolation of ANS! B16.5 drilling templates; instead, these drilling tomplates were necessarily designed more compactly because of the increased loads. While these flanges are designated by the customary ANSI Standard ‘Class 150, 300, 400, 600, and 900, their use is almost entirely confined to cross country transmission pipelines at atmos- ppheric temperatures. The flanges have been designed primarily for use at their cold ratings which conform to the ANSI Standard B16.5 ratings of 100F, and are intended primarily for attachment to relatively thin-wall, high-strength cold worked pipe, and high-strength butt welding fittings in pipeline service at temperatures of 450F and lower. However, flanges forged Of other materials are capable of pressure temperature ratings as specified in Paragraph 2.2. ‘The 1980 edition was created to bring the document into closer editorial alignment with ANSI 816.5. However, out of recognition of the successful experience of the pipeline industry, room temperature ratings were extended to 250F. De-ating above 250F was accelerated such that the A50F ratings are the same as B16.5. Users are cautioned that when these flanges are bolted to valves and used at temperatures between 100F and 450F, the rating of the valve will not be as high as the flange. The 1990 revision of this SP was required to update the reference standards list and delete the metric equivalents, The 1991 revision of this SP was required to add blind flange machining guidance, flat face requirements and precau- tionary notes as well as update of referenced standards. The 1996 revision adds a table with permissible imperfections in tlange facing finish and clarifies annex A design criteria, There were several errata, or corrections made to references to other standards. Dimensional tolerances have been changed where necessary to conform with ASME B16.5 and 816.47. es Cop by the Mruactuers Stgadzton Sac O The Ve An Fins nds Inc Thi don 8 08.71:77 2005,MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-44 CONTENTS. PAGE FOREWORD. ii CONTENTS . SCOPE. cee PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE RATINGS. . MATERIALS ..........0055 HEAT TREATMENT . FLANGE DESIGN.........5. MARKING FACINGS . : . CODE LIMITATIONS ...... FLANGE BOLTING DIMENSIONS ..... 10. TOLERANCES......... PPA Aveeye wannan een # TABLE 1 — TENSILE REQUIREMENTS. . 2 — LIST OF BOLTING SPECIFICATIONS 3 — PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE RATINGS « 4 — SHEET GASKET DIMENSIONS .............55++ 5 — RING-JOINT GASKET DIMENSIONS . 6 — CLASS 150, 285 PSI RAISED FACE. 7 — CLASS 300, 740 PSI RAISED FACE AND RING-TYPE JOINT .. 8 — CLASS 400, 990 PSI RAISED FACE AND RING-TYPE JOINT . 9 — CLASS 600, 1480 PSI RAISED FACE AND RING-TYPE JOINT - 10 — CLASS 900, 2220 PSI RAISED FACE AND RING-TYPE JOINT . 11 — PERMISSIBLE IMPERFECTIONS IN FLANGE FACING FINISH FIGURE | — ACCEPTABLE DESIGNS FOR UNEQUAL WALL THICKNESS . 2— RECOMMENDED BEVEL FOR WALL THICKNESS (T) AT END OF FLAN 0.88 IN. OR LESS sess testers D 3— RECOMMENDED . LANGE, GREATER THAN O38 IN. settee 9 ANNEX A— DESIGN CRITERIA . = 18 ANNEX B— BLIND FLANGE DESIGN CRITERIA . 19 ANNEX C — REFERENCED STANDARDS AND APPLICABLE DATES. Cop by the Mrwactuers Stngadzton Sac O Te Ve Ant Flings nds Inc Thi dan 8 '08.71:78 2005,STANDARD PRACTICE, SP-44 Copy by the . SCOPE 1.1 General — This standard covers pressure- temperature ratings, materials, dimensions, toler- ances (by reference to ASME/ANSI BI6.5), marking and testing. The welding neck type flanges shall be forged steel, and the blind flanges may be made of either forged steel or from steel plates. 1.1.1 Dimensional requirements for sizes NPS 10 and smaller are provided by reference to ASME/ ANSI BI6.5. When such flanges meet all other stipulations of this standard, they shall be con- sidered as complying therewith 1.2 References 1.2.1 Referenced Standards — Standards and specifications adopted by reference in this standard are shown in Annex C, for convenience of identi- fying edition number, date and source of supply. A flange made in conformance with a prior edi- tion of referenced standards and in all other respects conforming to this standard will be con- sidered to be in conformance even though the edi- tion reference may be changed in a subsequent revi- sion of this Standard Practice. 1.2.2 Codes and Regulations — A flange used under the jurisdiction of the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vesse! Code, the ANSI Code for Pressure Piping, or Governmental Regulations, is subject to any limitation of that code or regulation. This, includes any maximum temperature limitation for a material, or rule governing the use of a material at a low temperature. PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE RATINGS 2.1 General Flanges covered by this standard shall bbe designated as one of the following: Class 150, 300, 400, 600 and 900. Ratings in Table 3 are in USS. customary units. 2.2 Rating for Other Materials and Temperatures above 450 F — NPS 26 and larger flanges forged of ufactures Stendardeato Society OF The eve And Fitings busty ie Thi dan 8'06.71:79 2005, steels covered in ASME/ ANSI BI6.5 whose bores are no larger than those which may be calculated for pipe complying with parallel ASTM pipe specifica~ tions, and which comply with all requirements (ex- cept dimensions) of American National Standard BI6.5 are capable of being utilized at the pressure~ ‘temperature ratings given in that standard. MATERIALS 3.1 The steel used in the manufacture of these flanges shall be selected by the manufacturer to ‘meet the following requirements. 3.1.1 Allmaterials used for flanges shall be killed steel. 3.1.2. The steel used shall be suitable for field ‘welding to other flanges, fittings, or pipe manufac- tured under ASTM specifications A 105, A 53, A 106, A 350, A 381, A 694, A 707, or API Standard SL. 3.1.3 The steel used shall have a maximum car~ bbon content of 0.35 and a carbon equivalent com- puted by the following equation: Mn , Cr+ Mo +V 6 * $ that should not exceed 0.487%, based on ladle analysis. If the carbon equivalent factor exceeds 0.48%, the acceptance ofthe flanges shall be based on agreement between purchaser and manufac- turer. Ni + Cu CE =C+ i + 3.1.3.1 The choice and use of alloying elements, combined with the elements within the limits prescribed in paragraph 3.1.3 to give the required tensile properties prescribed in paragraphs 3.1.4 shall be made by the flange manufacturer and in- cluded and reported in the ladle analysis to identi- fy the type of steel 3.1.4 The steel used shall have tensile properties conforming to the requirements prescribed in Table 1 and capable of meeting the requirements of section 4 and the flange manufacturer's ‘design conditions as given in Annex A.Copyrinh by the STANDARD PRACTICE sP44 3.1.4.1 The test specimens may be taken from the forgings or, at the manufacturers’ option, from the billets or forging bar entering into the finished product, provided such test blank has undergone relatively the same forming and the equivalent heat treatment as the finished flange. The dimensions of the test biank must be such as to adequately reflect the heat treatment properties of the hub of the flange. Specimens shall be obtained from the midwall of the thinnest section of the hub of the flange or ¥ in. from the surface of the test blank. The orientation of specimens taken from a flange shall be longitudinal. 3.2 Bolting — Bolting listed in Table 2 shall be used in flanged joints covered by this standard. Bolting of other material may be used if permit- ted by the applicable code or governmental regula- tion. All bolting materials are subject to the follow- ing limitations. 3.2.1 High Strength Boting — Boling materials having allowable stresses not less than those for ASTM A193 Gr B7 are listed as high strength in Table 2. These and other materials of comparable strength may be used in any flanged joint. 3.2.2 Intermediate Strength Bolting — Boling materials listed as intermediate strength in Table 2, and other bolting of comparable strength, may be used in any flanged joint, provided the user verifies their ability to seat the selected gasket and maintain a sealed joint under expected operating conditions. 3.2.3 Low Strength Bolting — Bolting materials having not more than 30 ksi specified minimum yield strength are listed as low strength in Table 2. These materials and others of comparable strength shall be used only in Class 150 and Class 300 joints, and only with gaskets described in 3.3.2. TABLE 1, TENSILE REQUIREMENTS YIELD POINT | TENSILE STRENGTH MIN. MIN. ELONGATION IN 2 IN. GRADE si si MIN. PERCENT F36 36 60 20 Faz 42 60 20 F46 46 60 20 Fag 48 - 62 20 F50 50 64 20 F52 32 66 | 20 FS6 56 68 20 F60 60 20 Fos 65 18 F70 70 80 18 | © Note: except as required in para. 4.2. ufactures Stendardeato Society OF The eve And Fitings busty ie Thi dan 8'06.71:79 2005,MSS STANDARD PRACTICE. ‘SP-44 TABLE 2. LIST OF BOLTING SPECIFICATIONS ‘ASTM BOLTING MATERIALS HIGH STRENGTH © INTERMEDIATE STRENGTH ©) LOW STRENGTH ® ‘SPECGR. NOTES | SPECGR. ‘NOTES SPEC-GR. NOTES + A193-B7 A193-BS A193-B8_ CLI |g) A193-B16 A193-B6 A193-B8C CLI | (2) A320-L7 @ | A193. B6x A193.B8M CLI | (@) A320-L7A, @ A193-B7M A193-B8T —CLI|(g) A320-L7B @ | A193-B8. CL 0 A193-B8A @) A320-L7C (@) | A193-B8C CL o A193-BBCA @®) 320-143 @ | Al93-BBM CL o A193-B8MA @) A354-BC A193-B8T CL. o A193-BBTA ® A354-BD A320-B8 CL © A307-B ) AS40-B21 A320-B8C CL? o A320-B8_ CLI |g) AS40-B22 A320-BBF —CL2. 0 A320-B8C_ CLI] = (g) ‘AS40-B23 A320-B8M = CL2. 0 A320-B8M— CLI | (g) A540-B24 A320-B8T —CL2. © A320-B8T CLI| —(e) A449 a 453-651 © 453-660 © General Note: Bolting materials shall not be used beyond temperature limits specified in the governing Code. NOTES: (a). These bolting materials may be used with all listed materials and gaskets. (b) These bolting materials may be used with all listed materials and gaskets; provided it has been verified that a sealed joint can be maintained under rated pressure and temperature. © These bolting materials may be used with all listed materials but are limited to Class 150 and Class 300 joints. See 3.3 for recommended gasket practices. (@ This ferritic material is intended for low temperature service, use A194 Gr. 4 or Gr. 7 nuts. (©) This special alloy is intended for high temperature service with austenitic stainless steel. This austenitic stainless steel has been carbide solution treated and strain hardened. Use A194 nuts of corresponding material. (8) This austenitic stainless material has been carbide solution treated but not strain hardened. Use A194 ‘nuts of corresponding material. (b) This carbon steel fastener shall not be used above 400F or below -20F, see also Note(c). Bolts with drilled or undersized heads shall not be used. (@ ‘Acceptable nuts for use with quenched and tempered bolts are A194 Gr. 2 and Gr. 2H. Mechanical property requirements for studs shall be the same as those for bolts. Cop by the Mrwactuers Stngadztion Sac O The Ve And Fins nds Ine Thi don 8 06.71:30 2005,STANDARD PRACTICE SP-44 TABLE 3. PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE RATINGS MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE NO! iOCK WORKING PRESSURES IN POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH (GAGE) TEMP. F cLass Chass cLass CLASS Chass -20 to 250 285 740 990 1480 2220 300 275 ns 955 1430 2145 350 265 690 925 1380 2070 400 255 665 890 1330 2000 450 24s 640 860 1285 1925 3.3 Gasket Material 3.3.1 The user is responsible for selection of gasket materials which will withstand the expected bolt loading without injurious crushing, and which are suitable for the service conditions. Particular at- tention should be given to gasket selection if a ‘system hydrostatic test will exceed the test pressure specified in 8.2. Such a test involves the risk of ex- cessive flange distortion. 3.3.2 Gasket dimensions for 1/16 inch sheet asbes- tos in Table 4 are based on a contact area equal to approximately twice the bolt root area. Class 150 flanged joints should use these exclusively. 3.3.3. Ring joint gasket materials hall conform to ANSI B16.20 with dimensions as given in Table 5. 3.3.4 Sheet and ring joint gaskets for sizes NPS 10 and smaller shall conform to ASME/ ANSI 16.5 dimensions and recommendations. . HEAT TREATMENT 4.1 The F42 and higher grades of flanges of all pressure classes and the class 400 and higher classes of Grade F36 flanges shall be normalized or quen- ched and tempered. 4.2 It is recognized that the cooling rate in a quenching operation may be slower in the thicker ring section of the flange than in the thinner hub section. Hence, the increase in yield strength due Cop by the Mrwactuers Stngadztion Sac O The Ve And Flings nds Inc Thi tan 08 06.71:31 2005, to the quenching operation may be less in the ring section than in the hub section. This factor is ac- ‘counted for in the Section on Design in Paragraph 5.3. NPS 38 and larger sizes of the 300 and higher classes of welding neck flanges shall have 42 ksi ‘minimum yield strength in the ring section, FLANGE DESIGN 5.1 Drilling Templates — Drilling templates are derived as follows: 5.1.1 Class 150 flange drilling templates are the same as ASME/ ANSI BI6.5 and Class 125 of ANSI/ASME BI6.1. 5.1.2 Sizes 24 and smaller class 300 flanges have drilling templates which are the same as ASME] ANSIBI6.5and Class 250 of ANSI/ ASME BI6.1. ‘Sizes 24 through 36 inclusive have drilling templates which are interpolations of Class 250 of ANSI/ ASME B16. except the diameter of the bolt holes are only one-eighth inch larger than bolt diameters. Larger sizes are designed in accordance with Appendix 2 of Division 1 of Section VIIL of | ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. 5.1.3 Size 36 and smaller of Classes 400, 600, and 900 flanges have drilling templates which are extrapolations from ASME ANSI BI6.5. Larger sizes are designed in accordance with Appendix 2 | of Division I of Section VIII of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.STANDARD PRACTICE sP-44 5.2 Flange Ring Design — The outside diameter and flange thickness of sizes NPS 24 and smaller flangesare in accordance with ASME/ ANSI BI6.5. Larger sizes are designed in accordance with Appen- | dix 2 of Division 1 of Section VIII of ASME | Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the flange ring shall have sufficient pressure capacity for the service based on its strength in the normalized condition. This capacity shall be substantiated by the Rules for Bolted Flange Connections, Appen- dix 2 of Division 1 of the ASME Unfired Pressure ‘Code Section VIII, with allowable design stresses as given in Annex A of this standard. 5.3 Hub Design | 53.1 Sizes NPS 24 and smaller. When the | ‘mechanical (minimum yield strength) properties of all sections of the flanges are equal to or higher than those of the pipe to be matched, the hub dimensions may be the same as those of ASME/ ANSI BI6.5. Larger sizes are designed in accord~ | ance with Appendix 2 of Section VIII of ASME | Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. ] 5.3.2 In addition, when the minimum yield | strength of the hub portion of any flange or its representative test specimen is less than that specified for the pipe to be matched, the minimum thickness of the hub at the welding end shall be such that the product of its thickness times is yield strength (at welding end) shall at least equal the product of the specified nominal wall thickness and minimum specified yield strength of the pipe tobe matched. Under these conditions, Sizes NPS 24 and smaller flanges may also havea single taper hhub and the outside diameter of the hub at the base may be modified in accordance with ASME Section VIII Division 1 Appendix 2 calculations. 5.3.3 When the manufacturer employs this op- | tion, the flange identification should be a combina- tion of the class of material of the flange and of the pipe for which the flange has been designed. See 6.1. [15.3.4 When the hub thickness at the welding | end must be greater than the adjoining pipe, the joint design shall be as shown in any of the three sketches in Figure 1. Cop by the Mrwactuers Stngadztion Sac O The Ve And Flings nds Inc Thi tan 08 06.71:31 2005, 5.4 Welding End — The welding end shall be in accordance with Figure 2 for wall thickness (of intended mating pipe) of 0.88 in. and less. For thicker walls, refer to Figure 3. 5.5 Blind Flange 5.5.1 a) The outside diameter and thickness of blind flanges shall be as listed in Tables 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Thicknesses listed are based on material having mechanical properties for Grade F36 of Table I. Drilling templates are per Paragraph 5.1. Thinner flanges of higher strength material may be furnished in accordance with Annex B rules, 5.5.2 b) Blind flanges need not be faced in the center if, when this center is raised, its diameter is at least 5 in, smaller than the nominal pipe size. When the center part is depressed, its diameter shall not be greater than the gasket ID specified in Table 4 less 2 inches (I.D. - 2 = max. depression OD). 5.6 Dimensional requirements for NPS_10 and smaller shall be in accordance with ASME/ ANSI BIOS. 5.7 Flat Face Flanges — This standard permits flat face flanges in all classes, by providing flanges having either the full thickness or the thickness with the raised face removed, without reduction of the pressure-temperature ratings subject to the following provisions. 5.7.1 The thickness of a Class 150 or 300 flange from which the raised face has been removed shall be no less than the applicable dimension C of Tables 6 & 7 minus 0.06 in. 5.7.2 The thickness of a flange of Class 400 or higher from which the raised face has been re- moved shall be no less than the applicable C dimension of Tables 8, 9 and 10. 5.7.3. The flange facing shall conform with sec- tion 7.2 for the full width of seating of the gasket. 5.8 Spot Facing — All flanges shall have bearing surfaces for bolting which shall be parallel to the flange face within 1 deg. Any back facing or spot