Flange Bolt Torque Sequence and Torque Table - A Complete Bolt Tightening Procedure

02/12/2023 20:48 Flange Bolt Torque Sequence and Torque Table - A Complete Bolt Tightening Procedure
e Piping P&ID Equipment Courses Quiz Videos Blog Abo
Flange Bolt Torque Sequence and

Torque Table – A Complete Bolt
Tightening Procedure
Flange joints require proper tightening to avoid the leak of fluid from the joint. The
bolt tightening sequence or torque sequence is defined in the torque tightening
procedure. Most companies have their Flange bolt torque tightening procedure used
during the plant’s construction and operation.
Flange joints are torque tight with the help of a torque wrench (Manual or hydronic
wrench). The clamp load produced during tightening is higher than 75% of the
fastener’s proof load. To achieve the benefits of the pre-loading, the clamping force
in the screw must be higher than the joint separation load.
When the bolt loading requires a torque higher than 678 Nm (500 ft-lbs.) to be
applied, hydraulic bolt torquing is recommended.
https://hardhatengineer.com/flange-bolt-torque-sequence-table/ 1/34
Image source- Fluid Power Technology
The torque value is dependent on the friction between the stud bolt threads and the
nut head, this friction can be affected by applying a lubricant, or any plating (e.g.,
Cadmium or Zinc) applied to the stud threads. The bolting standard will define
whether the torque value is for a dry or lubricated stud/bolt thread. If a bolt is
torqued rather than the nut, then the torque value should be increased to
compensate for the additional friction – bolt should only be torqued if they are fitted
in clearance holes.
The bolts shall be tightened by torque control, using the Anti-seize lubricant shall be
used such as Molykote or equivalent, before installation. The specified method of
bolt tightening is equally applicable to coated, galvanized, and ungalvanized bolts.
Flange stud Torque Sequence is extremely important to properly tighten the flange
joint. In this detailed article, I have tried to simplify this Torque Sequence so that you
achieve the desired result without damaging the flange and studs.
Pre-checks for Bolt Tightening

Flange Condition
Check conditions of flange faces for scratches, dirt, and scale.

Check for corrosion pitting and tool marks.
Inspect the gasket seating surfaces.
Check the areas on the flange where the nuts will sit, it should be flat and free
from pitting and excessive wear.
RTJ Grooves must be kept clean, corrosion-free & undamaged.
The acceptable imperfection of the Pipe flange raised face is given in ASME 16.5 table
3. Refer to the table for Permissible Imperfections in Flange Facing Finish for Raised
Face Flange.
Maximum Radial Projection of Imperfections that are

Size in Size in
Inch mm No Deeper Than the Bottom Deeper Than the Bottom of
of the Serrations, mm the Serrations, mm
1/2 15 3.0 1.5
3/4 20 3.0 1.5
1 25 3.0 1.5
1 1/4 32 3.0 1.5
1 1/2 40 3.0 1.5
2 50 3.0 1.5
2 1/2 65 3.0 1.5
3 80 4.5 1.5
3 1/2 90 6.0 3.0
4 100 6.0 3.0
Maximum Radial Projection of Imperfections that are

Size in Size in
Inch mm No Deeper Than the Bottom Deeper Than the Bottom of
of the Serrations, mm the Serrations, mm
5 125 6.0 3.0
6 150 6.0 3.0
8 200 8.0 4.5
10 250 8.0 4.5
12 300 8.0 4.5
14 350 8.0 4.5
16 400 10.0 4.5
18 450 12.0 6.0
20 500 12.0 6.0
24 600 12.0 6.0
Flange and Olet Quiz – Test yourself, Take This Quiz
Flange Alignment Checks.
Visually examine the flange alignment to ensure that an acceptable fit has been
obtained. While aligning flanges, make sure that there are no residual stresses in the
joint. Using heat correction for flange alignment is not a good practice and should be
strictly prohibited.
Flange faces should be parallel and aligned.

The flange bolt holes should be in line so that the bolts will pass freely.
Nut, Stud or Bolt Checks
Visually examine nuts & Stud/bolts before installation to assure they are free
from defects such as corrosion, damaged threads, etc. Nut-bolts with damaged
threads should not be used.
Check the length of the stud or bolt to avoid short bolting and excessive threads.
Flange bolts shall be furnished with insufficient length to allow the use of bolt
tensioning equipment or spades, spacers, drip rings, and wafer valves, and the
associated extra gaskets.
Visually examine studs and nuts after cleaning to ensure they are free from burrs.
Studs and nuts shall be cleaned using a wire brush to remove any dirt on the
threads. Lubricant (MOLYKOTE) shall be applied on threads and nuts to flange
contact surfaces. Lubricant shall not be used in the gasket and the gasket seating
area.
The bolt and nut material grades should be correctly identified before they are
used.
Bolts and nuts can only be reused if it is known that they have not been
overloaded or exceeded their yield point.
The nut identification marking must always point outwards when assembling the
nut on the bolt.
Gasket Checking
Do not use sealing compound, grease, or other paste or adhesive on gasket or

flange faces.
While gasket insertion, it shall not be forced into the gasket seat between the
mating flange faces. Once the gasket is seated, the mating flanges are brought
together carefully without shaking the gasket off the seat, installing all studs, and
running up all nuts hand tight.
Visually examine gaskets before installation to assure they are free from defects.
Color coding shall be maintained as per the rate and type of gasket provided by
the manufacturer.
Clean gasket seating face using a wire brush.
Make sure the material is as specified; look for any possible defects or damage in
the gasket, such as folds or creases.
All Soft material gaskets should be replaced with new ones whenever an opened
joint is to be closed again.
The spiral wound gasket shall be used only once.
Flange Bolt Torque Sequence
Once all pre-checks are completed. You can go ahead with tightening the stud in the
pre-defined torque sequence mentioned here. Torque bolts and nuts in a “CRISS-
CROSS” sequence using a minimum of three torquing passes and the maximum bolt
stress as defined.
PASS 1 Torque Sequence: Torque to a maximum of 30% of the final torque value
in accordance with the torque sequence. Check that gasket is getting
compressed uniformly.
PASS 2 Torque Sequence: Torque to a maximum of 60% of the final torque value.
PASS 3 Torque Sequence: Torque to the final torque value (100%).
After the three basic torque passes are completed, repeat torquing the nuts at least
once using the final torque in a “CRISS-CROSS” manner until no further rotation of
the nut is observed.
For easy handling, bolt numbering shall be done clockwise around the flange with
the following sequence.
The table below shows the torque sequence for flanges with 4 to 32 bolts.
Number
of Bolt Bolt Tightening Sequence to Follow
/ Stud
4 bolt
1,3,2,4
Flange
8 bolt
1,5,3,7,2,6,4,8
Flange
12 bolt
1,7,4,10,2,8,5,11,3,9,6,12
Flange
16 bolt
1,9,5,13,3,11,7,15,2,10,6,14,4,12,8,16
Flange
20 bolt
1,11,6,16,3,13,8,18,5,15,10,20,2,12,7,17,4,14,9,19
Flange
24 bolt
1,13,7,19,4,16,10,22,2,14,8,20,5,17,11,23,6,18,12,24,3,15,9,21
Flange
28 bolt
1,15,8,22,4,18,11,25,6,20,13,27,2,16,9,23,5,19,12,26,3,17,10,24,7,21,14,28
Flange
32 bolt
1,17,9,25,5,21,13,29,3,19,11,27,7,23,15,31,2,18,10,26,6,22,14,30,8,24,16,32,4,2
Flange
Torque Table for Class 150 Flange
Flange Materials : ASTM A105, ASTM A182 grades F50 and F51, ASTM A350 grades
LF2 and LF3, ASTM A694 grade F52
Bolting Materials : ASTM A193 grades B7 and B7M, ASTM A320 grades L7, L7M and
L43.
Gasket Type : Graphite Tanged Gasket
Bolt Lubricant Molykote 1000 (µ = 0.11)
Bolt
Size in Size in No. of Bolt Thread Torque Torque
Stress
Inch mm Bolt Dia. Type lbf.ft. Nm
lb/in2
1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 25,000 22 30
3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 30,000 26 36
1 35 4 ½” UNC 33,000 29 39
1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 50,000 44 60
2 50 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 86 117
3 80 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 86 117
4 100 8 5/8” UNC 40,000 69 93
6 150 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 137 185
8 200 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 137 185
10 250 12 7/8” UNC 40,000 194 263
12 300 12 7/8” UNC 40,000 194 263
14 350 12 1” UN8 41,000 296 401
16 400 16 1” UN8 40,000 289 392
18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 40,000 421 571
20 500 20 1 1/8” UN8 40,000 421 571
24 600 20 1 ¼” UN8 40,000 588 797
L43.
Gasket Type : Spiral Wound and Ring Joint
Bolt
Stress
lb/in2
1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 40,000 35 47
3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 40,000 69 93
1 35 4 ½” UNC 40,000 69 93
1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 31,000 94 128
2 50 4 5/8” UNC 37,000 64 87
3 80 4 5/8” UNC 42,000 127 173
4 100 8 5/8” UNC 45,000 137 185
6 150 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 137 185
8 200 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 218 296
10 250 12 7/8” UNC 45,000 325 441
12 300 12 7/8” UNC 43,000 453 614
14 350 12 1” UN8 45,000 474 643
16 400 16 1” UN8 31,000 456 618
18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 34,000 500 678
20 500 20 1 1/8” UN8 40,000 588 797
24 600 20 1 ¼” UN8 31,000 809 1097
LF2 and LF3, ASTM A694 grades F52 and F60
L43.
Bolt
Stress
lb/in2
1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 40,000 35 48
3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 40,000 69 94
1 35 4 ½” UNC 40,000 69 94
1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 45,000 137 185
2 50 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 86 117
3 80 4 5/8” UNC 45,000 137 185
4 100 8 5/8” UNC 45,000 218 296
6 150 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 325 441
8 200 8 ¾” UNC 50,000 526 714
10 250 12 7/8” UNC 45,000 662 897
12 300 12 7/8” UNC 45,000 662 897
14 350 12 1” UN8 45,000 894 1213
LF2 and LF3, ASTM A694 grades F52 and F60
16 400 16 1” UN8 45,000 1175 1593
18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 45,000 1507 2044
20 500 20 1 1/8” UN8 45,000 1507 2044
24 600 20 1 ¼” UN8 45,000 2354 3191
LF2 and LF3, ASTM A694 grades F52, F60 and F65
L43.
Bolt
Stress
lb/in2
1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 40,000 121 165
3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 40,000 121 165
1 35 4 ½” UNC 40,000 194 263
1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 45,000 325 441
2 50 4 5/8” UNC 40,000 194 263
3 80 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 243 329
4 100 8 5/8” UNC 45,000 474 642
6 150 8 ¾” UNC 50,000 526 714
8 200 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 894 1213
10 250 12 7/8” UNC 50,000 994 1347
12 300 12 7/8” UNC 50,000 994 1347
14 350 12 1” UN8 50,000 1306 1770
16 400 16 1” UN8 50,000 1675 2271
18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 50,000 2615 3545
20 500 20 1 1/8” UN8 50,000 3195 4332
24 600 20 1 ¼” UN8 45,000 5713 7746
L43.
Bolt
Stress
lb/in2
1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 40,000 121 165
3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 45,000 137 185
1 35 4 ½” UNC 45,000 218 296
1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 50,000 361 489
2 50 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 243 329
3 80 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 526 714
4 100 8 5/8” UNC 50,000 735 997
6 150 8 ¾” UNC 50,000 994 1347
8 200 8 ¾” UNC 50,000 1675 2271
10 250 12 7/8” UNC 50,000 2615 3545
12 300 12 7/8” UNC 50,000 3193 4329
14 350 12 1” UN8 45,000 4133 5603
16 400 16 1” UN8 45,000 5713 7746
18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 45,000 7652 10375
20 500 20 1 1/8” UN8 45,000 9986 13539
24 600 20 1 ¼” UN8 45,000 15983 21670
L43.
Bolt
Stress
lb/in2
1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 45,000 137 185
3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 50,000 152 206
1 35 4 ½” UNC 50,000 243 329
1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 55,000 579 785
2 50 4 5/8” UNC 55,000 397 538
3 80 4 5/8” UNC 55,000 809 1097
4 100 8 5/8” UNC 55,000 1436 1947
6 150 8 ¾” UNC 50,000 3195 4332
8 200 8 ¾” UNC 50,000 3195 4332
10 250 12 7/8” UNC 50,000 6348 8606
12 300 12 7/8” UNC 50,000 8502 11527
Disclaimer – Please check with Professional Engineer before using it.
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02/12/2023 20:48 Flange Bolt Torque Sequence and Torque Table - A Complete Bolt Tightening Procedure

e Piping P&ID Equipment Courses Quiz Videos Blog Abo

Flange Bolt Torque Sequence and

Image source- Fluid Power Technology

Pre-checks for Bolt Tightening

Check conditions of flange faces for scratches, dirt, and scale.

Maximum Radial Projection of Imperfections that are

1/2 15 3.0 1.5

3/4 20 3.0 1.5

1 1/4 32 3.0 1.5

1 1/2 40 3.0 1.5

2 1/2 65 3.0 1.5

3 1/2 90 6.0 3.0

4 100 6.0 3.0

Maximum Radial Projection of Imperfections that are

5 125 6.0 3.0

6 150 6.0 3.0

8 200 8.0 4.5

10 250 8.0 4.5

12 300 8.0 4.5

14 350 8.0 4.5

16 400 10.0 4.5

18 450 12.0 6.0

20 500 12.0 6.0

24 600 12.0 6.0

Flange and Olet Quiz – Test yourself, Take This Quiz

Flange Alignment Checks.

Flange faces should be parallel and aligned.

Nut, Stud or Bolt Checks

Do not use sealing compound, grease, or other paste or adhesive on gasket or

Flange Bolt Torque Sequence

Torque Table for Class 150 Flange

Gasket Type : Graphite Tanged Gasket

Bolt Lubricant Molykote 1000 (µ = 0.11)

1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 25,000 22 30

3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 30,000 26 36

2 50 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 86 117

3 80 4 5/8” UNC 50,000 86 117

4 100 8 5/8” UNC 40,000 69 93

6 150 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 137 185

8 200 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 137 185

10 250 12 7/8” UNC 40,000 194 263

12 300 12 7/8” UNC 40,000 194 263

14 350 12 1” UN8 41,000 296 401

16 400 16 1” UN8 40,000 289 392

18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 40,000 421 571

20 500 20 1 1/8” UN8 40,000 421 571

24 600 20 1 ¼” UN8 40,000 588 797

Torque Table for Class 300 Flange

Gasket Type : Spiral Wound and Ring Joint

Bolt Lubricant Molykote 1000 (µ = 0.11)

1/2 15 4 ½” UNC 40,000 35 47

3/4 20 4 ½” UNC 40,000 69 93

1½ 40 4 ½” UNC 31,000 94 128

2 50 4 5/8” UNC 37,000 64 87

3 80 4 5/8” UNC 42,000 127 173

4 100 8 5/8” UNC 45,000 137 185

6 150 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 137 185

8 200 8 ¾” UNC 45,000 218 296

10 250 12 7/8” UNC 45,000 325 441

12 300 12 7/8” UNC 43,000 453 614

14 350 12 1” UN8 45,000 474 643

16 400 16 1” UN8 31,000 456 618

18 450 16 1 1/8” UN8 34,000 500 678