6-76-0002 Bolt Tension For Flanges
6-76-0002 Bolt Tension For Flanges
6-76-0002 Bolt Tension For Flanges
401 el ENGINEERS
Igar laigtft INDIA LIMITED APPLICATION OF TORQUE AND HYDRAULIC 6-76-0002 Rev. 2
wren riercure 011,Cr.1) Govt of Indla Unde,lak ■ NI
BOLT TENSION FOR FLANGE JOINTS Page 1 of 33
cek ,c0
2 04-05-2616 Issued for Implementation
PG SVRS RP RN
1 26-05-2008 Issued for Implementation PG KPS AA VC
Abbreviations:
CONTENTS
1.0 PURPOSE 4
2.0 SCOPE 4
3.0 REFERENCES 4
4.0 DEFINITIONS 4
7.0 DOCUMENTATION 11
ANNEXURE-I 32
ANNEXURE-II 33
1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this specification is to describe the methodology for preparation of bolted flange
joints by controlled bolt tightening during construction and commissioning stage of process plant
piping. This specification shall be used in conjunction with the special process/project
requirements and the licensor/vendor recommendations.
2.0 SCOPE
This specification covers ASME B16.5 and ASME B16.47 Series B bolted flanged joints,
involving identical pair of flanges, which are tightened by means of either hydraulic bolt
tensioning or calibrated torque wrenches.
3.0 REFERENCES
4.0 DEFINITIONS
None.
Controlled bolt tightening can be done either by application of calculated bolt tension with
hydraulic tensioner or by application of calculated bolt torque with calibrated torque wrenches.
The criteria for selection of joints for these two application procedure are given below.
Hydraulic bolt tensioning shall be applied for all joints where the bolt sizes match the criteria
outlined in Table 1, except those in the category 'ID' services. Category 'ID' service is defined in
ASME B31.3.
Nominal Bolt
Condition Remarks
diameter
When specified by the Process licensor/
All
vendor / project specifications
50 mm and above All joints
Class 600 and above
Hydrogen service (See Note-1 below)
38 mm and above, Refer ASME B31.3
Category 'M' fluid services
but less than 50 mm
Joints with leakage potential (See Note-2 below)
Critical joints with equipments (See Note-3 below)
25 mm and above, Joints with leakage potential (See Note-2 below)
but less than 38 mm Critical joints with equipments (See Note-3 below)
Note-1: Hydrogen Service
Hydrogen service is defined as service in contact with Hydrogen or gaseous mixtures
containing Hydrogen in which the partial pressure of Hydrogen is 7 bar (100 psi) abs. or
more.
Note-2: Joints with leakage potential shall include
a) Joints involving tapped holes.
b) Joints not subjected to hydro test e.g. joints for equipment manholes,
equipment mounted temperature, pressure and level instruments, line mounted
temperature connections, on line instrument joints like control valves and
safety valves, compressor volume bottles.
c) Items involving two sets of gaskets with one set of bolt e.g. orifice flange
joint, joints with spectacle blind, spacer, flangeless wafer check valve, wafer
type butterfly valves.
d) Tie-in joints with other contractors and package vendors.
e) High temperature (above 371°C) joints in hydrocarbon services.
Note-3: Critical joints with the equipments shall include the inlet and the outlet flanges of
pumps, compressors and turbines.
Controlled bolt torque, with calculated torque values, shall be applied using calibrated torque
wrench. Joints those qualify for hydraulic bolt tensioning per 5.1.1 shall not be considered for
torque application. Controlled bolt torque should be applied for the joints meeting the criteria
given in Table 2. Joints fulfilling the criteria for Hydraulic bolt tensioning need not be checked
for these criteria
Service Joints
Hydrogen service All joints (Note-1)
Category 'M' services All joints (Note-1)
Other services Class 600 and above
Note-1: Joints, those qualify for hydraulic bolt tensioning as per cl. 5.1.1, shall not be
considered for torque application.
5.2.1 Design
a) Flange connection with bolting of nominal diameter 25mm and above shall have sufficient
clearances and access to allow the use of hydraulic tensioning equipment (wherever
hydraulic bolt tensioning is being used).
b) Stud bolts shall be longer by one diameter to suit the bolt tensioners for hydraulic bolt
tensioning. Excess threads shall be protected by using nut, threaded cap etc. On bolts at
ambient temperature duty the cap should have a grease nipple.
c) All flanges on hydrogen service must be left exposed unless otherwise agreed.
d) Interface joints shall be system pressure tested as per the relevant code to ensure their
integrity.
5.2.2 General
a) Use of right type of Gasket, Fasteners etc. conforming to the specifications as per Design and
Drawings should be ensured.
b) The Vickers hardness number of ring joint gaskets should be 30 to 40 less than that of the
mating face of the flange.
c) All non-ring joint gaskets shall be replaced with the new ones whenever an opened joint is to
be re-closed during construction and commissioning stage. Ring joint gaskets normally can
be re-used provided they are inspected and are free from any damage
d) Shop tested flange joints should not be disturbed at site. In case the joint is opened, the
Contractor shall be responsible for final hook-up joints including bolt tensioning if
applicable.
a) Condition of flange faces should be checked. Those shall be free from dirt, scale, remnant
gasket, and protrusions. Faces with pitting, indentations or radial tool marks, or scratches are
not desirable. Surface finish should conform to specifications.
b) Flanges should be aligned properly. Flange faces shall be parallel and boltholes shall match
so that the studs can be inserted freely.
c) Visual examination of gaskets should be carried out prior to installation to ensure that these
are free of any defects such as bends, crease or loose spiral windings etc.
e) Studs and nuts shall be free from dirt, nicks, burrs and chips. Studs shall be straight and nuts
shall turn freely on the stud.
a) Faces with pitting, indentations or radial tool marks, or scratches that form leakage paths or
with the surface finish not in accordance with design requirements shall be replaced or re-
machined to specified surface finish.
b) If necessary, gasket-seating face should be cleaned using wire brush (SS bristles on alloy
components) and/or suitable solvent.
d) If holding gasket in place after installation is a problem, a thin adhesive tape should be used
along the outside edge of gasket.
a) Threads and nuts to flange contact face should be lubricated with suitable lubricant. Thread
compound or lubricant, suitable for line temperature, may be used.
5.2.6 Assembly
a) Suitable lubricant (refer cl. 5.2.5) to be applied to the threads and the face of the nut that
contacts the flange.
b) Four studs should be placed in positions 1, 2, 3 and 4 according to "Stud Tightening Pattern"
in Fig.1, as centring guides for the gasket.
d) Nuts should be run down by hand in such a way that an equal number of threads project at
each end.
a) EIL software FLTRQ16.5 is used for calculation. The stress analysis part of this software
primarily follows the procedure outlined in ASME Section VIII Division 1/ Division 2.
b) Basic formulae used for torque calculation takes care of friction between bolt threads and nut
threads as well as that between nut and back face of flange.
c) A frictional co-efficient of 0.15 is assumed for calculation of torque values for the lubricant -
graphite grease. When a lubricant with different co-efficient of friction (ii) is used, the
calculated values get multiplied by the ratio 11/0.15. The approximate IA values of some of the
lubricants are as follows:
However, it is advisable to obtain the appropriate co-efficient of friction (.t) value from the
lubricant manufacturer.
5.2.8 The piping classes included in this specification are given in Table 3
Table 4 contains the tension and torque values to be used for bolt tightening using hydraulic bolt
tensioner and torque wrench respectively. These values are listed piping class and size wise. The
tension values specified are the target load per bolt intended after the bolt tensioning
operation is complete. This means any allowance inherent in bolt tensioning equipment (viz.
backlash etc.) shall also to be taken care of as recommended by the equipment manufacturer.
a) The maximum allowed design pressure & temperature combination and test pressure
values are listed in Table 4. These values corresponds to PMS rating table values, except
as stated in c) below. Recalculation of torque and tension is necessary if design
condition exceeds these limits.
b) Values in the table are not valid if the design conditionfor pipe wall thickness calculation
is lower than 80% of the class rating condition. Recalculation of torque and tension is
necessary in such cases.
It may be noted that for the sizes above 24" and rating class above 150 (except B1A), the
calculations are carried out for 80% of the pressure used for sizes up to 24".
d) Torque / tension computation of sizes and pipe thickness, which are not covered in the
respective classes of the standard PMS, are carried out based on approximate calculated
pipe thickness for the specified pressure and temperature condition.
e) Suffixes to the rating class numbers denote the flange dimensional standard and are as
follows:
S - ASME B16.5 B - ASME B16.47 Series B
f) The values in the tables are not valid for other flange dimensional standards, e.g., ASME
B 16.47 Series A, AWWA(American Water Works association) etc.
g) All pressure values are in kg/cm2 and all temperature values are in °C
5.3.1 General
a) Categorisation of joints for tension or torque application shall be as per cl. 5.1.
c) Guidelines and safety requirements provided by the manufacturer bolt tightening equipment
should be followed.
a) Hydraulic pressure adequate to get the target bolt load can be calculated dividing the bolt
load by the load cell hydraulic seal area. This pressure should be applied simultaneously to
all load cells.
d) Load cells should be shifted following the Criss-cross Pattern shown in Fig. 1 but in-groups
of 4 bolts each (i.e. 1-2-3-4, 5-6-7-8, 9-10-11-12 etc.) and the tensioning of all bolts should
be completed.
e) Tensioning operations should be repeated once again applying the same pressure.
a) Bolt torque application sequence shall be in accordance with "Criss-cross Stud Tightening
Pattern" (Fig. 1).
c) Torque wrench should be held perpendicular to the axis of the bolt and if hydraulic wrench is
used, it has to be ensured that it reacts against a rigid support parallel to the axis of bolt.
i. All the nuts should be made snug tight with a short wrench (Criss-cross Pattern — Fig.1).
Flange should be bearing uniformly on the gasket (Distance between mating flanges
shall be uniform).
ii. Tightening to 30% of the final torque value (Criss-cross Pattern — Fig. 1).
Flange should be bearing uniformly on the gasket (Distance between mating flanges
shall be uniform).
iii. Tightening to 60% of the final torque value (Criss-cross Pattern — Fig.1).
Flange should be bearing uniformly on the gasket (Distance between mating flanges
shall be uniform).
iv. Tightening to the final torque value (Criss-cross Pattern — Fig. 1).
Flange should be bearing uniformly on the gasket (Distance between mating flanges shall
be uniform).
v. Tightening should be continued with the final torque in a clockwise manner (bolt to bolt)
until no further rotation is observed.
e) In the event of nut seizure, the nut should be backed off and additional lubricant should be
applied or the nut or/and bolt should be replaced, if necessary.
Checking up of the individual joints for any leak during system pressure testing should be carried
out using special tapes, soap solutions.
6.1 All procedures/documents to be used during Construction should be submitted by the Contractor
to Engineer-in-charge at site in advance.
6.3 The details of hydraulic tensioner equipment to be used for tightening shall be intimated to
Engineer-in-charge before application.
6.4 Boxing up and tightening of flange joints shall be done by skilled technicians, qualified and
approved by Contractor and EIL/Owner.
6.5 Any conflict between the requirements of this standard and related codes, standards, data sheets,
drawings, requisitions etc. shall be referred to client / consultant. Agency carrying out bolt
tightening shall list and describe all the deviations from this specification and the related codes
7.0 DOCUMENTATION
7.1 History sheet for flange joints shall be maintained as per Annexure-I.
7.2 Sequence of the activities involved for reopening/ making/ blinding/ de-blinding/ wedge opening
of flange joints shall be as per Annexure-II.
7.3 All joints shall be boxed-up and the record shall be maintained of salient points and names of the
persons involved in the execution/inspection of boxing-up operation.
7.4 All critical joints shall be boxed-up under the supervision of the Contractor's representative and
EIL's Engineer-in-charge or his representative and separate records shall be maintained for such
joints.
7.5 Box up records of interface joints and on-line instrument joints, like control valves, safety valves,
turbine flow meters etc., which are not subjected to hydrotest shall be maintained separately.
7.6 If mentioned in project specification, complete set of bolt Tensioning Equipment/ Torque
Wrenches shall be supplied by Contractor to the Owner after commissioning of the plant, as
mandatory spares.
20 BOLT FLANGE
24 BOLT FLANGE
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 300 / 10.44 Up to 18" 10.44 300 30.05 150S 4 5/8 8 2471 9.1
A20A A105 A193 GR.B7 BS7531 GR X A 106 GR.B 10.44 300 30.05 150S 6 3/4 8 3972 17.2
A672 Gr. B60 10.44 300 30.05 150S 8 3/4 8 4931 21.3
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 280 / 11.19 Up to 3" 10.44 300 30.05 150S 10 7/8 12 5135 25.5
A32A A105 A193 GR.B7 BS7531 GR X A 106 GR.B 10.44 300 30.05 150S 12 7/8 12 5326 26.5
10.44 300 30.05 150S 14 1 12 6249 35.2
PMS rated 65 / 16.00 Up to 48" 10.44 300 30.05 150S 16 1 16 5999 33.8
A33A A105 BS7531 GR X IS-1239 (BLACK) 10.44 300 30.05 150S 18 1-1/8 16 8583 53.7
IS-3589 GR.410 10.44 300 30.05 150S 20 1-1/8 20 8583 53.7
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 65 / 16.00 Up to 48" 10.44 300 30.05 150S 24 1-1/4 20 11379 78.3
A33Y A105 A193 GR.B7 BS7531 GR X IS-1239 (BLACK) 10.44 300 30.05 150B 26 3/4 36 4111 17.7
IS-3589 GR.410 10.44 300 30.05 150B 28 3/4 40 4111 17.7
Piping
Class
Temperature, pressure, size range and materials Des
Pr.
Des
Temp
i Test
Pr.
Flange
Std
Flange
size
Bolt
Dia(
No.
of
Tension
kg
Torque
kg-m
Flange Bolt Gasket Pipe In In Bolts
A 106 GR.B 10.44 300 30.05 150B 30 3/4 44 4385 18.9
10.44 300 30.05 150B 32 3/4 48 4522 19.5
10.44 300 30.05 150B 34 7/8 40 6274 31.2
10.44 300 30.05 150B 36 7/8 44 6274 31.2
10.44 300 30.05 150B 38 1 40 7750 43.7
10.44 300 30.05 150B 40 1 44 7750 43.7
10.44 300 30.05 150B 42 1 48 7750 43.7
7.73 300 30.05 150B 44 1 52 7750 43.7
7.73 300 30.05 150B 46 1-1/8 40 11230 70.3
7.73 300 30.05 150B 48 1-1/8 44 10570 66.2
7.73 300 30.05 150B 50 1-1/8 48 10570 66.2
7.73 300 30.05 150B 52 1-1/8 52 10240 64.1
7.73 300 30.05 150B 54 1-1/8 56 10240 64.1
7.73 300 30.05 150B 56 1-1/8 60 10240 64.1
7.73 300 30.05 150B 58 1-1/4 48 13488 92.8
7.73 300 30.05 150B 60 1-1/4 52 13488 92.8
LIST A-5
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 371 / 7.73 Up to 48" 7.73 371 30.05 150S 1/2 1/2 4 684 2.1
A16A A105 A193 Gr. B7M Spiral wound SS A106 Gr. B 7.73 371 30.05 150S 3/4 1/2 4 855 2.6
A672 Gr. B60 7.73 371 30.05 150S 1 1/2 4 1027 3.1
7.73 371 30.05 150S 1-112 1/2 4 1597 4.8
7.73 371 30.05 150S 2 5/8 4 2562 9.4
7.73 371 30.05 150S 3 5/8 4 3020 11.1
7.73 371 30.05 150S 4 5/8 8 2471 9.1
7.73 371 30.05 150S 6 3/4 8 3972 17.2
7.73 371 30.05 150S 8 3/4 8 4931 21.3
7.73 371 30.05 150S 10 7/8 12 5135 25.5
7.73 371 30.05 150S 12 7/8 12 5326 26.5
. 7.73 371 30.05 150S 14 1 12 6249 35.2
7.73 371 30.05 150S 16 1 16 5999 33.8
7.73 371 30.05 150S 18 1-1/8 16 8583 53.7
7.73 371 30.05 150S 20 1-1/8 20 8583 53.7
7.73 371 30.05 150S 24 1-1/4 20 11379 78.3
Pi p'ing TemPerature r P ressure, size ran9a and materials Flange Bolt No.
Des Des Test Flange Tension Torque
size Dia( of
Class Pr. Temp Pr. Std kg kg-m
Flange Bolt Gasket Pipe In In Bolts
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 427 / 86.83 Up to 24" 86.83 427 234.12 900S 10 1-3/8 16 16245 116.5
E9A A105 A193 GR.B7 RTJ - Soft Iron A 106 GR.B 86.83 427 234.12 900S 12 1-3/8 20 17294 124.1
A 672 GR.B60 CL. 12 86.83 427 234.12 900S 14 1-1/2 20 21674 168.3
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 427 / 86.83 Up to 24" 86.83 427 234.12 900S 16 1-5/8 20 26679 223.0
E19A A105 A193 GR.B7 RTJ - Soft Iron A 106 GR.B 86.83 427 234.12 900S 18 1-7/8 20 35527 338.8
A 672 GR.B60 CL. 12 86.83 427 234.12 900S 20 2 20 40911 414.6
86.83 427 234.12 900S 24 2-1/2 20 62301 779.5
69.47 427 187.30 900B 26 2-1/2 20 60354 755.2
69.47 427 187.30 900B 28 2-3/4 20 66799 915.6
69.47 427 187.30 900B 30 3 20 77472 1152.8
LIST E-2
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 538 / 56.24 Up to 24" 56.24 538 237.28 900S 1/2 3/4 4 3150 13.0
E5E A182 Gr. F22 CI. 3 A193 Gr. B16 RTJ - 5Cr-0.5Mo A335 Gr. P22 56.24 538 237.28 900S 3/4 3/4 4 3835 15.8
A 691 GR2.25CR CL.42 56.24 538 237.28 900S 1 7/8 4 5326 25.3
Up to 20" 56.24 538 237.28 900S 1-1/2 1 4 7749 41.8
A 335 GR.P11 56.24 538 237.28 900S 2 7/8 8 5896 28.0
A 691 GR.1.25Cr CL. 42 56.24 538 237.28 900S 3 7/8 8 6467 30.7
56.24 538 237.28 900S 4 1-1/8 8 9904 59.3
56.24 538 237.28 900S 6 1-1/8 12 10894 65.3
56.24 538 237.28 900S 8 1-3/8 12 16245 116.5
56.24 538 237.28 900S 10 1-3/8 16 16770 120.3
56.24 538 237.28 900S 12 1-3/8 20 17818 127.8
56.24 538 237.28 900S 14 1-1/2 20 22949 178.2
56.24 538 237.28 900S 16 1-5/8 20 28203 235.8
56.24 538 237.28 900S 18 1-7/8 20 36572 348.7
56.24 538 237.28 900S 20 2 20 44521 451.1
56.24 538 237.28 900S 24 2-1/2 20 68142 852.6
56.24 538 189.83 900B 26 2-1/2 20 64248 803.9
56.24 538 189.83 900B 28 2-3/4 20 73956 1013.8
56.24 538 189.83 900B 30 3 20 83211 1238.2
LIST F-1
PMS rated Temperature / Pressure 427 / 144.83 Up to 24" 144.83 427 390.74 1500S 1/2 3/4 4 3014 12.4
A105 A193 GR.B7 RTJ - Soft Iron A 106 GR.B 144.83 427 390.74 1500S 3/4 3/4 4 3972 16.4
Special Care to be taken for tapped hole and it is to be certified by Contractor that full engagement of stud is there to the tapped hole.
Contractor to carry out 100% verification
Acceptance by Licensor/Owner.
1. Pre-commissioning
(Signature with Name and Date)
2. Commissioning
(Signature with Name and Date)
Annexure - II