Las bridas son componentes críticos en los sistemas de tuberías., permitiendo conexiones seguras y eficientes entre tuberías, valvulas, zapatillas, y equipo. Para garantizar la seguridad, compatibilidad, y rendimiento, the production and use of flanges are governed by international standards. Entre estos, ANSI y ASME are the most widely recognized, but there are also other standards like DIN, JIS, Bs, y ES. Understanding these standards is essential for engineers, especialistas en adquisiciones, and industries dealing with global supply chains.

This article explains the major flange standards—ANSI, ASME, and others—highlighting their scope, key features, and importance in industrial applications.

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Why Flange Standards Are Important

1. Safety and Reliability
   Standards ensure flanges can withstand the pressure and temperature conditions of different industries.

2. Intercambiabilidad
   Flanges from different manufacturers must fit together, which requires adherence to common standards.

3. Comercio mundial
   International projects often involve equipment from multiple countries, making standardized flanges critical for compatibility.

4. Seguro de calidad
   Standards specify material composition, clasificaciones de presión, dimensiones, and testing procedures.

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ANSI Flange Standards

ANSI (Instituto Nacional Americano de Estándares) establishes guidelines for various products, incluyendo bridas. ANSI flange standards specify:

• Dimensiones (diámetro, espesor, círculo de pernos, etc.)

• Clasificaciones de presión y temperatura

• Facing types (cara levantada, cara plana, RTJ)

ANSI flange standards are widely used in the United States and in industries such as oil and gas, petroquímicos, y generación de energía.

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ASME Flange Standards

ASME (Sociedad Estadounidense de Ingenieros Mecánicos) issues detailed codes for pressure vessels, sistemas de tuberías, and flanges.

• ASME B16.5: Flanges up to 24 pulgadas de diámetro

• ASME B16.47: Bridas de gran diámetro (26–60 inches)

• ASME B16.36: Bridas de orificio

• ASME B16.48: Line blanks

ASME standards are stricter than ANSI in terms of design rules, pruebas, y control de calidad. Many engineers today use the terms ANSI and ASME interchangeably, but technically, ASME has replaced ANSI for flanges in modern practice.

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Other International Flange Standards

1. DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung – Germany)

• Common in Europe and Asia

• Specifies PN (Presión Nominal) ratings such as PN6, PN10, PN16, PN40

• Utilizado en plantas químicas., refinerías, y centrales eléctricas

2. EN (Normas europeas)

• Harmonized standard across the European Union

• Replaces older DIN standards in many regions

• Ensures compatibility across EU member states

3. Bs (British Standards)

• Historically used in the UK

• Cubre bridas, juntas, and bolting specifications

• Now gradually aligned with EN standards

4. JIS (Estándares industriales japoneses)

• Widely used in Japan and some Asian markets

• Specifies flanges for industrial piping systems

• Popular in shipbuilding, automotive, and petrochemical sectors

5. ISO (International Organization for Standardization)

• Provides global harmonization

• Ensures compatibility in international trade and projects

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Pressure Classes in Flange Standards

Different standards classify flanges by pressure capability:

• ANSI/ASME Classes: 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500, 2500

• DIN/EN PN Ratings: PN6, PN10, PN16, PN25, PN40, PN64, PN100

• JIS Pressure Ratings: 5k, 10k, 16k, 20k, 30k

These classifications indicate the maximum pressure a flange can handle at a specific temperature.

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Flange Facing Types Defined by Standards

1. cara levantada (RF): Más común, allows better gasket compression.

2. Cara plana (FF): Used when bolting against cast iron or non-metallic surfaces.

3. Junta tipo anillo (RTJ): For high-pressure, aplicaciones de alta temperatura.

4. Lengua y ranura: Provides tight sealing in specialized applications.

Standards specify exact dimensions for these facings to ensure seal integrity and compatibility.

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Materiales especificados en las normas de bridas

• Acero carbono: For general applications with moderate pressure and temperature

• Acero inoxidable (304, 316, 321, 347): For corrosive and high-temperature environments

• Acero aleado (F11, F22, F91): For high-pressure and high-temperature service

• Acero inoxidable dúplex y súper dúplex: For offshore and marine environments

• Aleaciones de níquel (Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy): For extreme chemical and thermal conditions

By adhering to standards, manufacturers and buyers ensure materials match required service conditions.

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Key Differences Between ANSI, ASME, and Other Standards