General engineering orientation to help you specify and enquire with confidence. Guidance only — selection, configuration and scope are confirmed against your project specification at quotation.
Flanged ends
Flanged ends bolt to a matching counter-flange and are the default for valves that must be removable for maintenance. The flange standard, class or PN, and facing must match the adjoining pipework.
Butt-weld ends
Butt-weld ends are welded directly into the line, eliminating potential leak paths at the joint. They suit higher-pressure and higher-temperature duties, at the cost of requiring cutting to remove the valve. State the pipe schedule so the weld-end preparation matches.
Socket-weld and threaded ends
Socket-weld ends receive the pipe in an internal socket secured by a fillet weld and are common on small-bore, higher-pressure piping. Threaded ends connect without welding and suit low-pressure utility duty and locations where welding is restricted; state the thread form (for example NPT).
Wafer and lug bodies
Wafer valves clamp between two pipe flanges using through-bolts and offer the shortest, lightest installation. Lug valves thread the bolting into the body so the valve can serve as an end-of-line isolation and one side of the line can be removed. Both patterns are common for butterfly and check valves.
What to confirm at enquiry
- End connection type and governing standard
- Line size (DN or NPS) and pipe schedule for weld ends
- Flange class or PN and facing for flanged ends
- Thread form for threaded ends
- Face-to-face requirement where replacing an existing valve
These are buyer-input prompts only and are confirmed against your project specification. Send them with your enquiry for engineering review.