Slip on flanges are a popular type of pipe flange designed to accept pipe into the bore/center of the flange for welding around both the Outer Diameter (OD) of the pipe and on the interior side of the connection. You may recognize them:
The slip-on flange is a simple and excellent alternative to a weld neck as it does not have a weld bevel, and therefore allows the pipe to be adjusted in length relative to its position of the flange. The bore of the slip on will give ample amount of space for the matching pipe. This allows for enough working space for the welder and fabricator to make the connection.
This flange type is extremely common in lower pressure applications. Most slip on style flanges will have a hub which will often appear similar dimensionally to a raised face. It can be furnished without a hub if space is limited and the application allows for a “ring style” slip on. Although the hub style is more common when referring to a slip on, a ring style slip on without a hub still falls under the category of a slip on flange, and can be called out as you desire. Slip ons in higher pressure classes are often made with the height of a lap joint for a better connection. If the hub height is not a concern and a lap joint is not readily available, customers will sometimes opt for a slip on made to a lap joint style with a machined hub.
Slip on flanges are more commonly found in lower pressure assemblies and become less utilized when a higher stress service calls for a superior connection to the piping assembly. This is because a slip on style flange will accept a pipe with a fillet weld connection, whereas a weld neck flange will have a reinforced hub at the base and form a weld bevel connection directly to the butt weld end of a pipe. This tapered hub allows for stronger service in a mechanical stress environment.
