ASME has been defining piping safety since 1922.
ASME B16.5 Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard covers pressure-temperature ratings, materials, dimensions, tolerances, marking, testing, and methods of designating openings for pipe flanges and flanged fittings. Included are:
(1) flanges with rating class designations 150, 300, 400, 600, 900, and 1500 in sizes NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 and flanges with rating class designation 2500 in sizes NPS 1/2 through NPS 12, with requirements given in both metric and U.S. Customary units with diameter of bolts and flange bolt holes expressed in inch units,
(2) flanged fittings with rating class designation 150 and 300 in sizes NPS 1/2 through NPS 24, with requirements given in both metric and U.S. Customary units with diameter of bolts and flange bolt holes expressed in inch units,
(3) flanged fittings with rating class designation 400, 600, 900, and 1500 in sizes NPS 1/2 through NPS 24 and flanged fittings with rating class designation 2500 in sizes NPS 1/2 through NPS 12 that are acknowledged in Non-Mandatory Appendix E in which only U.S. Customary units are provided.
B16.5 is limited to flanges and flanged fittings made from cast or forged materials, and blind flanges and certain reducing flanges made from cast, forged, or plate materials. Also included in this Standard are requirements and recommendations regarding flange bolting, flange gaskets, and flange joints.
This Standard is to be used in conjunction with equipment described in other volumes of the ASME B16 Series of Standards as well as with other ASME standards, such as the Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and the B31 Piping Codes.