Abstract
In the design of water pipe systems, bolted flange joints are usually given minor consideration in the overall scheme of things. Flanges have been successfully used in various types of pipe materials for over 100 years and their forms have been standardized for over 50 years. Most flange joint installations are completed without problem or concern, but when a complication arises, it can rapidly become a major issue for everyone involved. Most anomalies that arise during the service life of a flange joint are rarely due to erroneous design; they are almost always related to poor installation practices. This paper discusses installation issues that may occur with steel water pipe flanges, manufactured to AWWA C207 standards. Topics such as proper bolt and gasket selection, flange face arrangements, alignment during installation, bolt-up patterns and the relationship between applied bolt torque and achieved gasket stress are discussed, and practical recommendations are provided to avoid some of the common installation pitfalls. A comprehensive list of resources for the Practitioner is provided, along with a discussion of recent updates in various flange standards and guides. Water system owners, design engineers and installation contractors alike will benefit from the contents of this paper as a resource to achieve leak-free bolted connections on future projects.
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