ASME PCC-1, Guidelines for Pressure Boundary Bolted Flange Joint Assembly (BFJA), is a standard developed and published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) that provides bolted flange joint assembly (BFJA) guidelines for pressure-boundary flanged joints with ring-type gaskets that are entirely within the circle enclosed by the bolt holes and with no contact outside the circle. This standard was originally published in 2000, and the most recent 4th Edition was released in 2019.

The guidelines within ASME PCC-1 may also be used to develop joint assembly procedures for a broad range of sizes and services. Guidance on troubleshooting BFJAs not providing leak-tight performance is also provided.

Moreover, ASME PCC-1 gives directions for the training and qualification of bolted joint assembly personnel. It also covers the cleaning and examination of flange and fastener contact surfaces, the alignment of flanged joints, the installation of gaskets, and the lubrication of working surfaces. The installation, numbering, and tightening of bolts are all covered as well, as is the tightening sequence. The final topics covered are target torque determination, joint pressure and tightness testing, records, and joint disassembly. There are also several appendices that provide important information and guidelines.

Appendix A contains guidance for the levels of training and experience required for technicians working on BFJAs. There are now three major levels of qualifications: qualified bolting specialists, qualified senior bolting specialists, and qualified senior bolting instructors. All three levels require different degrees of training, experience and assessment.

Related Topics

• ASME B31
• ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC)
• ASME FFS-1 (Fitness-for-Service)
• ASME PCC-2 - Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping
• ASME PCC-3 - Inspection Planning Using Risk-based Methods

Relevant Links

• ASME Standards Homepage
• Purchase Standard

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