A flange is a protruded ridge, lip or rim, either external or internal, that serves to
increase strength (as the flange of an iron beam such as an I-beam or a T-beam); for easy
attachment/transfer of contact force with another object (as the flange on the end of a pipe,
steam cylinder, etc., or on the lens mount of a camera); or for stabilizing and guiding the
movements of a machine or its parts (as the inside flange of a rail car or tram wheel, which keep
the wheels from running off the rails). Flanges are often attached using bolts in the pattern of
a bolt circle.
Plumbing or piping[edit]
Main articles: Plumbing and Piping
Surrey flange
A flange can also be a plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe
(for example, a closet flange). A blind flange is a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. A
flange joint is a connection of pipes, where the connecting pieces have flanges by which the
parts are bolted together.
Although the word 'flange' generally refers to the actual raised rim or lip of a fitting, many flanged
plumbing fittings are themselves known as flanges.
Common flanges used in plumbing are the Surrey flange or Danzey flange, York flange, Sussex
flange and Essex flange. Surrey and York flanges fit to the top of the hot water tank allowing all
the water to be taken without disturbance to the tank. They are often used to ensure an even flow
of water to showers. An Essex flange requires a hole to be drilled in the side of the tank.
There is also a Warix flange which is the same as a York flange but the shower output is on the
top of the flange and the vent on the side. The York and Warix flange have female adapters so
that they fit onto a male tank, whereas the Surrey flange connects to a female tank.
A closet flange provides the mount for a toilet.