codes & standards

Flanges - API vs. ASME/ANSI

Comparing API and ASME/ANSI flanges

The difference between ASME/ANSI and API flanges is the fabrication material and the higher rated API operating pressure.

ASME/ANSI flanges are common in industrial process systems handling water, steam, air and gas. API flanges are manufactured for high strength operating refinery systems with products such as oil and explosive gases.

The flange standards API 6A and ASME/ANSI B16.5 are similar dimensionally - but the API 6A flanges are rated for higher pressures as shown in the table below:

API vs. ASME/ANSI Flanges
Flange	Pressure Class Rating (psi)		Nominal Size Range (inches)
Flange	ASME/ANSI B16.5	API 6A	ASME/ANSI B16.5	API 6A¹⁾
Weldneck	600	2000	1/2 - 24	1^13/16 - 11
	900	3000
	1500	5000
Blind and Threaded	600	2000		1^13/16 - 21^1/4
	900	3000		1^13/16 - 20^3/4
	1500	5000		1^13/16 - 11

¹⁾ In the old API standard, flanges ranged from 1^1/2 to 10(20) inches.