ASME B16.10
Face-to-Face and End-to-End Dimensions of Valves
Face-to-face and end-to-end dimensions
What it covers
- Face-to-face dimensions for flanged valves by type, size and class
- End-to-end dimensions for butt weld and socket weld valves
- The tolerance on those dimensions
- Which valve types and classes are covered by tabulated dimensions
What it does not cover
- Height, handwheel diameter, or any other envelope dimension - a compliant valve can still foul adjacent pipework
- Weight
- Pressure-temperature rating - that is ASME B16.34
- Valve types and sizes outside the tables, which are manufacturer-standard
This section exists because standards are routinely listed on valve datasheets in positions where they do not apply. Knowing the boundary is what makes the reference useful.
Why it matters for replacements
If the valve being replaced was built to B16.10 and the new one is too, it fits the existing spool without re-piping. This is the single most useful property of the standard, and it is why a replacement enquiry should always state the face-to-face dimension of the existing valve as a check.
What compliance does not guarantee
Face-to-face is one dimension. Overall height, handwheel swing, actuator envelope and weight are not standardised. A B16.10-compliant replacement can still be impossible to install because the yoke fouls a platform or the valve is too heavy for the existing supports. Ask for the GA drawing and check the envelope, not just the length.
Where tables run out
Not every combination of type, size and class is tabulated - pressure seal valves in the larger sizes and higher classes frequently are not. Where the standard does not tabulate a dimension, it becomes manufacturer-standard and needs to be confirmed explicitly on the drawing.
Products this applies to
Verify it yourself
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