What Certifications Should Your Flange Supplier Have?

For flange supplier, having the following key certifications is not only a strong proof of their product quality, but also a necessary condition for participating in global market competition and meeting the needs of different industries and regions. These certifications cover international standards, industry-specific requirements, regional market access, material processes and sustainability, and fully reflect the professional capabilities and reliability of suppliers.

International general certifications

1. ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System Certification)

It is used to prove that the supplier has standardized production processes and quality management capabilities, which is the basic threshold for international procurement. It is a general certification for flange suppliers in all industrial fields.

2. API 6A (American Petroleum Institute Certification)

For high-pressure and high-temperature environment flanges in the oil and gas industry, ensure that the products meet the safety standards of wellhead equipment. Suitable for oil well flanges, Christmas trees, valve connectors, etc.

3. ASME B16.5/B16.47 (American Standard Flange Standard)

It is used to verify that the flange size, pressure rating and material meet the standards of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which is a must in the North American market. Suitable for petrochemical, power and shipbuilding industries.

4. PED 2014/68/EU (EU Pressure Equipment Directive)

Compulsory certification for entering the European market to ensure flange pressure safety (classification I-IV, CE mark required). Applicable scenarios are mainly pressure pipe flange sold in EU member states.

Industry-specific certification

1. NACE MR0175/ISO 15156 (anti-hydrogen sulfide corrosion certification)

Used to prove that flange materials are suitable for acidic environments containing H₂S (such as oil and gas fields) to prevent sulfide stress cracking. Applicable to acidic medium pipelines in the oil and gas and chemical industries.

2. NORSOK (Norwegian Petroleum Industry Standard)

It is a hard requirement for suppliers of North Sea oil field projects, covering materials, testing and corrosion resistance. Used for offshore drilling platforms and harsh environment flanges.

3. ATEX (explosion-proof certification)

Used in flammable and explosive environments (such as refineries) to ensure that the flange design meets explosion-proof requirements. The main usage scenarios are chemical and natural gas processing facilities.

Regional market access certification

1. TSG (China Special Equipment Manufacturing License)

Compulsory certification for the Chinese market, applicable to pressure pipe flanges (GB/T standard). Used for domestic petrochemical and power project procurement in China.

2. AD2000 (German Pressure Vessel Code)

Market access requirements for Germany and the German-speaking region, emphasizing material traceability and testing compliance. Suitable for European high-end equipment manufacturing industry.

3. JIS (Japanese Industrial Standard)

Complies with Japanese industrial specifications (such as JIS B2220) to meet the needs of the East Asian market. Suitable for Japanese and Korean shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing supply chains.

Material and process certification

1. ASTM Material Certification (such as A105, A182)

Used to verify that the flange material (carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel) complies with US material standards. It is the core requirement of global buyers for raw material compliance.

2. EN 10204 3.1/3.2 (Material Inspection Certificate)

Third-party test reports on material composition and mechanical properties required by EU buyers are essential for high-end project bidding documents.

Sustainability and social responsibility certification

1. ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System)

Reflects the supplier's environmentally friendly production concept and complies with the ESG (Environment, Society, Governance) trend. It is a plus point for European and American companies to screen suppliers in the supply chain.

2. ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System)

Ensures that the factory meets labor safety standards and reduces the supply chain risk of buyers.

How to verify the authenticity of the supplier's certification?

1. Official website query

Enter the certificate number through the official website of the certification body (such as API, TÜV, etc.) for verification to obtain the latest certification status and detailed information.

2. Audit report

Require the supplier to provide the most recent factory audit report, such as ISO annual audit records, to verify the actual situation of its production management and quality control.

3. Sample testing

Re-inspect key items (such as hardness, chemical composition, etc.) in a third-party laboratory to ensure that product performance is consistent with certification requirements and avoid inferior products.