Engineering Guide · Pipelines

Flanges per GOST 33259: Types and Sealing Faces

A flange looks simple, but a mistake in type or sealing face — and the joint leaks or cannot be assembled. Here is GOST 33259 broken down.

Updated: 9 November 2026Reading time: 6 min✓ Reviewed by a OnePROM engineer
Steel flanges of different types

Which standard applies

The main standard for steel flanges in Russia and the CIS is GOST 33259-2015. It replaced GOST 12815, 12820 and 12821, used to design pipelines for decades. Older designs still use the former designations — the correspondence is shown below.

Main flange types

TypeNameWhere it is used
01Slip-on plate flangeLow pressures and temperatures: water, air, heating networks
02Lap joint flange on a weld ringWhere the flange must rotate during assembly, expensive pipe materials
05Blind flangeClosing pipe ends and nozzles
11Weld neck flangeHigh pressures and temperatures, critical pipelines

Sealing faces

The sealing face design must match on both flanges of a joint and suit the gasket.

Design per GOST 33259NameFormer GOST 12815
BRaised face1
C / DMale / female2 / 3
E / FTongue / groove4 / 5
JRing-type joint for oval gasket7

The most common is design B. Male–female and tongue–groove pairs hold the gasket more securely and are used at higher pressures and for hazardous media. Design J is for high pressures with a metal ring gasket.

Sealing faces of steel flanges
Left to right: raised face, tongue and groove, ring-type joint.

How to choose a flange

  1. DN and PN — per the pipeline and maximum pressure including testing.
  2. Type — per pressure, temperature and assembly method.
  3. Face design — per the mating flange, valve or equipment.
  4. Material — per medium and minimum temperature: carbon steel St20, low-alloy 09G2S for the North, stainless 12Kh18N10T for aggressive media.
  5. Gasket and bolting — per pressure, temperature and medium.

We will select GOST flanges, gaskets and bolting for your pipeline.

Pipeline components

FAQ

How does a plate flange differ from a weld neck flange?
A plate flange slips over the pipe and is fillet-welded; a weld neck flange is butt-welded to the pipe. Weld neck is stronger and used at higher pressures and temperatures.
Can flanges with different sealing faces be joined?
No. Faces must form a pair: male with female, tongue with groove, raised face with raised face.
What is design B?
A raised-face flange — the most common design, designated 1 in the former GOST 12815.
Which steel to choose for the North?
Low-alloy steel 09G2S is usually used for low temperatures; the choice is confirmed by calculation and project requirements.

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