Understand the Importance of the ASME B16.10 Specification
What is the face-to-face dimension of a flanged ball, globe, or gate valve? The ASME B16.10 chart answers this question, as it standardizes the distance between the inlet and the outlet of the most common flanged valves. The purpose of this ASME specification is to ensure the interchangeability of valves produced by different manufacturers.
WHAT IS VALVE FACE-TO-FACE DIMENSION?
The valve face-to-face dimension refers to the distance between the two end faces of a valve, which are the points where the valve connects to the piping system.
This measurement is crucial for ensuring that the valve fits properly within a given piping layout and for facilitating valve replacement or system upgrades. Manufacturers and industry standards, such as those provided by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), American Petroleum Institute (API), and the Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS), specify face-to-face dimensions for different types of valves (e.g., gate, globe, check, ball, and butterfly valves) and service conditions. Standardizing these dimensions helps in maintaining uniformity across valves produced by different manufacturers, allowing for easier interchangeability and system maintenance.
THE ASME B16.10 SPECIFICATION
ASME B16.10 is a widely recognized standard issued by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) that specifies the face-to-face and end-to-end dimensions of flanged and butt-welded end steel valves. This standard is critical for ensuring the compatibility and interchangeability of valves within piping systems, facilitating easier installation, maintenance, and replacement.
The standard covers a variety of valve types, including gate, globe, plug, ball, check, and butterfly valves, and applies to a broad range of sizes and pressure classes.
By defining precise dimensions for each valve type, ASME B16.10 helps to standardize valve design across the industry, making it simpler for engineers and designers to select and specify valves for new installations or to find suitable replacements for existing systems.
Adherence to ASME B16.10 ensures that valves manufactured by different companies can be used interchangeably in a piping system without the need for modifications, provided they conform to the same type, size, and pressure class as specified in the standard.
This interoperability is crucial for maintaining the efficiency, safety, and reliability of fluid handling systems across various applications, including oil and gas, chemical processing, power generation, and water treatment.
ASME B16.10 SIGNIFICANCE FOR VALVES MANUFACTURERS
The ASME B16.10 standard plays a crucial role for valve manufacturers by providing a comprehensive guideline for the face-to-face and end-to-end dimensions of various types of valves, including gate, globe, check, ball, and butterfly valves. Adhering to this standard offers several significant benefits to manufacturers:
- Ensures Interoperability: By defining standardized dimensions for valves, ASME B16.10 ensures that valves produced by different manufacturers can be used interchangeably within piping systems without the need for system modification. This interoperability is crucial for end-users looking to replace or upgrade valves without altering existing piping layouts.
- Facilitates Design and Manufacturing Processes: ASME B16.10 provides a clear set of guidelines that manufacturers can follow during the design and manufacturing processes. This standardization helps streamline production, reduce design costs, and minimize the risk of errors that could lead to incompatibility with existing systems.
- Enhances Market Competitiveness: Compliance with internationally recognized standards like ASME B16.10 demonstrates a manufacturer’s commitment to quality and reliability. This compliance can enhance a manufacturer’s reputation in the market, making their products more attractive to customers who prioritize standardization for ease of maintenance and system integrity.
- Promotes Safety and Reliability: Following ASME B16.10 helps ensure that valves are designed to fit properly within a variety of systems, thereby reducing the likelihood of leaks or failures due to improper fit or installation. This contributes to the overall safety and reliability of fluid handling systems in critical applications across industries.
- Simplifies Inventory and Distribution: For distributors and stockists, the standardization of valve dimensions means that a smaller inventory can serve a wider range of applications, reducing storage costs and simplifying logistics. This efficiency benefits manufacturers, distributors, and end-users alike.
- Supports Regulatory Compliance: In many industries and regions, compliance with ASME standards is either a regulatory requirement or a key factor in project specifications. By adhering to ASME B16.10, valve manufacturers ensure that their products meet the necessary criteria for use in a wide range of projects, from industrial applications to infrastructure and beyond.
In summary, ASME B16.10 is essential for valve manufacturers as it promotes interoperability, streamlines production processes, enhances competitiveness, ensures safety and reliability, simplifies inventory management, and supports regulatory compliance. These benefits underscore the importance of this standard in the global valve manufacturing industry.
HOW TO SELECT VALVE FACE-TO-FACE
Selecting the appropriate valve face-to-face dimension according to ASME B16.10 involves a systematic approach, taking into consideration the type of valve, its application, and the specific requirements of the piping system. Here’s how you can go about it:
- Identify the Valve Type
Start by identifying the type of valve you need for your application (e.g., gate, globe, ball, butterfly, check). Each valve type has different design characteristics and applications, influencing the required face-to-face dimension. - Determine the Valve Size and Class
Determine the size (diameter) of the valve required based on the flow rate and the size of the piping system. Also, identify the pressure class of the valve, which is based on the maximum pressure and temperature the valve needs to withstand. The size and class will impact the face-to-face dimensions. - Consult ASME B16.10
With the valve type, size, and class in mind, consult the ASME B16.10 standard. The standard provides tables with face-to-face and end-to-end dimensions for various types of valves across different sizes and pressure classes. Locate the appropriate table for your valve type and find the dimension that matches your valve’s size and class. - Consider System Requirements
Consider any specific requirements of your piping system that may influence the selection. For instance, if the valve is to replace an existing valve, ensure the selected dimension matches the available space and existing piping layout. For new installations, consider ease of maintenance, future replacements, and system expansion possibilities. - Check for Exceptions or Special Cases
Note that certain applications or systems may have exceptions or require special considerations that could affect the choice of valve face-to-face dimension. For example, specialized processes or extreme operating conditions may necessitate custom or non-standard dimensions. In such cases, consultation with valve manufacturers or engineering experts is advised. - Confirm Compatibility
Ensure that the selected valve and its face-to-face dimension are compatible with the flanges or end connections of the piping system. Compatibility is crucial for a leak-proof system and efficient operation. - Seek Manufacturer’s Data
Manufacturers often provide detailed catalogs or datasheets with their valves’ dimensions, including face-to-face lengths, which are compliant with ASME B16.10. Refer to these documents to confirm the selection and availability of the required valve.
Selecting the correct valve face-to-face dimension according to ASME B16.10 enhances the efficiency, safety, and reliability of your piping system. This process ensures that the valve will fit properly within the system, facilitating maintenance and future replacements while adhering to industry standards.
ASME B16.10 VALVE FACE-TO-FACE SIZE CHARTS (CLASS 150 TO 2500)
VALVES CLASS 150
Note: dimensions in mm for flanged valves with RF face (ASME B16.10)
| 150# | Ball Long Pattern | Ball Short Pattern | Gate Solid Wedge and Double Disc | Gate Conduit | Plug Short Pattern | Plug Regular Pattern | Plug Venturi Pattern | Plug Round Port Full Bore | Globe Lift and Swing Check | Y-Globe and Y-Swing Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 108 | 108 | 108 | – | – | – | – | – | 108 | 140 |
| 3/4 | 117 | 117 | 117 | – | – | – | – | – | 117 | 152 |
| 1 | 127 | 127 | 127 | – | 140 | – | – | 176 | 127 | 165 |
| 1 1/4 | 140 | 140 | 140 | – | – | – | – | – | 140 | 184 |
| 1 1/2 | 165 | 165 | 165 | – | 165 | – | – | 222 | 165 | 203 |
| 2½ | 178 | 178 | 178 | 178 | 178 | – | 178 | 267 | 203 | 229 |
| 2½ | 190 | 190 | 190 | 190 | 190 | – | – | 298 | 216 | 279 |
| 3 | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 | 203 | – | 203 | 343 | 241 | 318 |
| 4 | 229 | 229 | 229 | 229 | 229 | 305 | 229 | 432 | 292 | 368 |
| 5 | – | – | 254 | – | 254 | 381 | – | – | 356 | – |
| 6 | 394 | 267 | 267 | 267 | 267 | 394 | 394 | – | 406 | 470 |
| 8 | 457 | 292 | 292 | 292 | 292 | 457 | 457 | – | 495 | 597 |
| 10 | 533 | 330 | 330 | 330 | 330 | 533 | 533 | – | 622 | 673 |
| 12 | 610 | 356 | 356 | 356 | 356 | 610 | 610 | – | 698 | 775 |
| 14 | 686 | 381 | 381 | 381 | – | 686 | 686 | – | 787 | – |
| 16 | 762 | 406 | 406 | 406 | – | 762 | 762 | – | 914 | – |
| 18 | 864 | – | 432 | 432 | – | 864 | 864 | – | 978 | – |
| 20 | 914 | – | 457 | 457 | – | 914 | 914 | – | 978 | – |
| 22 | – | – | – | 508 | – | – | – | – | 1067 | – |
| 24 | 1067 | – | 508 | 508 | – | 1067 | 1067 | – | 1295 | – |
| 26 | – | – | 559 | 559 | – | – | – | – | 1295 | – |
| 28 | – | – | 610 | 610 | – | – | – | – | 1448 | – |
| 30 | – | – | 610 | 660 | – | – | – | – | 1524 | – |
| 32 | – | – | – | 711 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 34 | – | – | – | 762 | 1016 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 36 | – | – | 711 | 813 | – | – | – | – | 1956 | – |
VALVES CLASS 300
Note: dimensions in mm for flanged valves with RF face (ASME B16.10)
| 300# | Ball Long Pattern | Ball Short Pattern | Gate Solid Wedge and Double Disc and Conduit | Plug Short and Venturi Pattern | Plug Regular Pattern | Plug Round Port Full Bore | Globe and Lift Check | Swing Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 140 | 140 | 140 | – | – | – | 152 | – |
| 3/4 | 152 | 152 | 152 | – | – | – | 178 | – |
| 1 | 165 | 165 | 165 | 159 | – | 190 | 203 | 216 |
| 1 1/4 | 178 | 178 | 178 | – | – | – | 216 | 229 |
| 1 1/2 | 190 | 190 | 190 | 190 | – | 241 | 229 | 241 |
| 2½ | 216 | 216 | 216 | 216 | – | 282 | 267 | 267 |
| 2½ | 241 | 241 | 241 | 241 | – | 330 | 292 | 292 |
| 3 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | – | 387 | 318 | 318 |
| 4 | 305 | 305 | 305 | 305 | – | 457 | 356 | 356 |
| 5 | – | – | 381 | – | – | – | 400 | 400 |
| 6 | 403 | 403 | 403 | 403 | 403 | 559 | 444 | 444 |
| 8 | 502 | 419 | 419 | 419 | 502 | 686 | 559 | 533 |
| 10 | 568 | 457 | 457 | 457 | 568 | 826 | 622 | 622 |
| 12 | 648 | 502 | 502 | 502 | 711 | 965 | 711 | 711 |
| 14 | 762 | 572 | 762 | 762 | 762 | – | – | 838 |
| 16 | 838 | 610 | 838 | 838 | 838 | – | – | 864 |
| 18 | 914 | 660 | 914 | 914 | 914 | – | – | 978 |
| 20 | 991 | 711 | 991 | 991 | 991 | – | – | 1016 |
| 22 | 1092 | – | 1092 | 1092 | 1092 | – | – | 1118 |
| 24 | 1143 | 813 | 1143 | 1143 | 1143 | – | – | 1346 |
| 26 | 1245 | – | 1245 | 1245 | 1245 | – | – | 1346 |
| 28 | 1346 | – | 1346 | 1346 | 1346 | – | – | 1499 |
| 30 | 1397 | – | 1397 | 1397 | 1397 | – | – | 1594 |
| 32 | 1524 | – | 1524 | 1524 | 1524 | – | – | – |
| 34 | 1626 | – | 1626 | 1626 | 1626 | – | – | – |
| 36 | 1727 | – | 1727 | 1727 | 1727 | – | – | 2083 |
VALVES CLASS 600
Note: dimensions in mm for flanged valves with RF face (ASME B16.10)
| 600# | Ball Long Pattern | Gate Solid Wedge and Double Disc and Conduit Long Pattern | Plug Regular and Venturi Pattern | Plug Round Port Full Bore | Globe Lift Check and Swing Check Long Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 165 | 165 | – | – | 165 |
| 3/4 | 190 | 190 | – | – | 190 |
| 1 | 216 | 216 | 216 | 254 | 216 |
| 1 1/4 | 229 | 229 | 229 | – | 229 |
| 1 1/2 | 241 | 241 | 241 | 318 | 241 |
| 2½ | 292 | 292 | 292 | 330 | 292 |
| 2½ | 330 | 330 | 330 | 381 | 330 |
| 3 | 356 | 356 | 356 | 444 | 356 |
| 4 | 432 | 432 | 432 | 508 | 432 |
| 5 | – | 508 | – | – | 508 |
| 6 | 559 | 559 | 559 | 660 | 559 |
| 8 | 660 | 660 | 660 | 794 | 660 |
| 10 | 787 | 787 | 787 | 940 | 787 |
| 12 | 838 | 838 | 838 | 1067 | 838 |
| 14 | 889 | 889 | 889 | – | 889 |
| 16 | 991 | 991 | 991 | – | 991 |
| 18 | 1092 | 1092 | 1092 | – | 1092 |
| 20 | 1194 | 1194 | 1194 | – | 1194 |
| 22 | 1295 | 1295 | 1295 | – | 1295 |
| 24 | 1397 | 1397 | 1397 | – | 1397 |
| 26 | 1448 | 1448 | 1448 | – | 1448 |
| 28 | 1549 | 1549 | – | – | 1600 |
| 30 | 1651 | 1651 | 1651 | – | 1651 |
| 32 | 1778 | 1778 | 1778 | – | – |
| 34 | 1930 | 1930 | 1930 | – | – |
| 36 | 2083 | 2083 | 2083 | – | 2083 |
VALVES CLASS 900
Note: dimensions in mm for flanged valves with RF face (ASME B16.10)
| 900 # | Gate Solid Wedge and Double Disc and Conduit Long Pattern | Plug Regular and Venturi Pattern | Plug Round Port Full Bore | Globe Lift Check and Swing Check Long Pattern | Ball Long Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4 | – | – | – | 229 | – |
| 1 | 254 | 254 | – | 254 | 254 |
| 1¼ | 279 | 279 | – | 279 | 279 |
| 1½ | 305 | 305 | 356 | 305 | 305 |
| 2 | 368 | 368 | 381 | 368 | 368 |
| 2½ | 419 | 419 | 432 | 419 | 419 |
| 3 | 381 | 381 | 470 | 381 | 381 |
| 4 | 457 | 457 | 559 | 457 | 457 |
| 5 | 559 | – | – | 559 | – |
| 6 | 610 | 610 | 737 | 610 | 610 |
| 8 | 737 | 737 | 813 | 737 | 737 |
| 10 | 838 | 838 | 965 | 838 | 838 |
| 12 | 965 | 965 | 1118 | 965 | 965 |
| 14 | 1029 | – | – | 1029 | 1029 |
| 16 | 1130 | 1130 | – | 1130 | 1130 |
| 18 | 1219 | – | – | 1219 | 1219 |
| 20 | 1321 | 1321 | – | 1321 | 1321 |
| 22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 24 | 1549 | – | – | 1549 | 1549 |
VALVES CLASS 1500
Note: dimensions in mm for flanged valves with RF face (ASME B16.10)
| 1500# | Gate Solid Wedge Double Disc and Conduit Long Pattern | Plug Regular and Venturi Pattern | Plug Round Port Full Bore | Globe Lift Check and Swing Check Short Pattern | Ball Long Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | – | – | – | 216 | – |
| 3/4 | – | – | – | 229 | – |
| 1 | 254 | 254 | – | 254 | – |
| 1¼ | 279 | 279 | – | 279 | – |
| 1½ | 305 | 305 | – | 305 | – |
| 2 | 368 | 368 | 391 | 368 | 368 |
| 2½ | 419 | 419 | 454 | 419 | 419 |
| 3 | 470 | 470 | 524 | 470 | 470 |
| 4 | 546 | 546 | 625 | 546 | 546 |
| 5 | 673 | – | – | 673 | – |
| 6 | 705 | 705 | 787 | 705 | 705 |
| 8 | 832 | 832 | 889 | 832 | 832 |
| 10 | 991 | 991 | 1067 | 991 | 991 |
| 12 | 1130 | 1130 | 1219 | 1130 | 1130 |
| 14 | 1257 | – | – | 1257 | 1257 |
| 16 | 1384 | 1384 | – | 1384 | 1384 |
| 18 | 1537 | – | – | 1537 | – |
| 20 | 1664 | – | – | 1664 | – |
| 22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 24 | 1943 | – | – | 1943 | – |
VALVES CLASS 2500
Note: dimensions in mm for flanged valves with RF face (ASME B16.10)
| 2500# | Gate Solid Wedge Double Disc and Conduit Long Pattern | Plug Regular Pattern | Globe Lift Check and Swing Check Long Pattern | Ball Long Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 264 | – | 264 | – |
| 3/4 | 273 | – | 273 | – |
| 1 | 308 | 308 | 308 | – |
| 1¼ | 349 | – | 349 | – |
| 1½ | 384 | 384 | 384 | – |
| 2 | 451 | 451 | 451 | 451 |
| 2½ | 508 | 508 | 508 | 508 |
| 3 | 578 | 578 | 578 | 578 |
| 4 | 673 | 673 | 673 | 673 |
| 5 | 794 | 794 | 794 | – |
| 6 | 914 | 914 | 914 | 914 |
| 8 | 1022 | 1022 | 1022 | 1022 |
| 10 | 1270 | 1270 | 1270 | 1270 |
| 12 | 1422 | 1422 | 1422 | 1422 |
The ASME B16.10 specification can be purchased here.