Flanges Key Terms

Learning some flanges key terms can help you avoid bursting under pressure

By Meredith Fagioli

If you own a company that deals with plumbing or waterworks, or even a chemical plant, chances are you have come in contact with flanges. Flanges are parts that are added to pipes of different types to connect them. And if you work with flanges, you know there are many different kinds and each type is designed to work with a different type of system. If you feel a little rusty on your flange knowledge, or you are preparing to mentor a new employee, take a few minutes to freshen up your knowledge of flanges by reviewing some key terms.

ASME

ASME stands for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. When it comes to flanges, there are certain standards that must be adhered to in order to ensure the flanges are the proper ones.
Try: For an example of ASME requirements for flanges, in this case bronze flanges, visit The Engineering Tool Box.

Hydraulic flange

Hydraulic flanges are used when dealing with water, such as in a water plant. They tend to run very large, and since they are made to be used with liquids under pressure, they are built out of strong materials such as carbon, alloy, stainless steel or iron.
Try: At CAB Incorporated, you can see pictures of very large hydraulic flanges.

Plate flange

Plate flanges are meant to be used in railing systems. They also are seen in ring assemblies and motor mounts. Plate flanges can be made of steel, stainless steel, forged steel, aluminum and sometimes even plastic.
Try: If you visit Brandywine Machine Company, you can see pictures of the different types of plate flanges.

Timing belt pulley flanges

Timing belt pulley flanges have the primary job of keeping the belt in direct contact with a timing pulley in a power transmission. Timing belt pulley flanges can be made from aluminum, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, hardened steel and stainless steel.
Try: Head on over to B&B Manufacturing to see an example of a timing belt pulley flange.

Closet flange

The closet flange, or toilet flange, is the part that connects the toilet to the floor of a structure.
Try: Visit PlumbingSupply.com to see visual images of different types of closet flanges.

Pressure rating

The pressure rating of flanges is the highest amount of pressure that the flange is designed to operate under. Now, the stronger the metal the flange is made out of, the higher the pressure rating will be.
Try: At Ogden Manufacturing, you can read about the pressure ratings for steel and stainless steel flanges.