Flange standards and specifications are essential for ensuring safety, quality, and interoperability in the industrial pipe flanges market, providing a common framework for design, manufacturing, and testing . The work of standardization bodies such as CEN/TC 74 concerns the trade of flanges, fasteners, and flange gaskets in numerous installations . Flanges are standard equipment in various industrial domestic applications like water, gas, sewage pipelines, oil and natural gas pipelines, refineries, petrochemical and chemical as well as pharmaceutical plants . They connect piping systems, valves, pressure vessels, storage tanks, tank trucks, and ships for transportation, loading and unloading of various media .
Within Europe, flanges are made from different steel grades, cast iron, copper alloys, and aluminum alloy types, based upon two major concurring flange systems: The PN designated system and the American-based Class designated system . The Class designated system is traditionally dominating in the oil and refinery industry, while the PN designated based system is dominating in chemical and process industry . Major differences between the two systems are the choice of materials available, dimensions and calculation rules, and the range of application with respect to pressure and temperature . The availability of two series of European standards (PN and Class designated) transforms both flange systems from national standards towards equally available regional standards, respecting widely used market solutions and common end-user expectations .
Flanges and joints are subject to the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) (2014/68/EU), which aims at establishing a legal framework covering the hazard related to pressure inherent to pressure equipment . The ban on asbestos materials used for the manufacture of flange gaskets and the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) (2010/75/EU) are also important legislative factors . The growing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions is driving manufacturers to adopt practices that reduce environmental impact, aligning with global efforts to promote sustainable industrial practices [citation:MRFR]. By 2035, flange standards and specifications are expected to continue evolving, driven by technological advancements, safety requirements, and environmental considerations .
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