
Both discs are machined from a single plate and are permanently connected — they NEVER get separated. Critical safety advantage over Paddle Blinds (two separate pieces that can be mixed up or lost).
The handle always points to the active disc (BLIND or OPEN). Position is readable from outside the flange — critical for safety in confined spaces and shutdown operations.
Required by OSHA 1910.147 and Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations for positive isolation during maintenance on hazardous process lines.
Spectacle blinds are classified as positive isolation devices under OSHA 1910.147 (Control of Hazardous Energy) and are required for maintenance isolation on hazardous process lines. When ordering, specify:
A Spectacle Blind Flange (also called Figure-8 Blind or Spec Blind) is a dual-disc safety isolation device permanently installed between two flanges. It consists of:
SOLID DISC (the "blind")
Blocks flow completely when rotated into position — provides absolute positive isolation.
OPEN RING (the "spacer")
Allows normal flow when rotated into position — ring bore matches pipe bore for unrestricted flow.
CONNECTING BAR / HANDLE
Joins both discs permanently and allows visual identification from outside — always readable at a glance.
The two discs are machined from a single plate and are permanently joined — they NEVER get separated. This is the critical safety advantage over Paddle Blinds (which use two separate pieces that can be mixed up or lost).
Industry Abbreviations & Variants
How It Works — 2 Positions:
✅ OPEN Position — Flow Allowed
Open ring sits between the two flanges. Fluid flows freely through the ring bore. Handle points to "OPEN" side.
🔒 BLIND Position — 100% Blocked
Solid blind disc rotated into position. Fluid is 100% blocked. Handle points to "BLIND" side. Positive isolation confirmed.
🛡️ SAFETY IMPORTANCE
🔗 For frequent maintenance isolation cycling, Spectacle Blind is preferred over a standard Blind Flange. Compare our complete flange range for your project.
Complete specifications for Spectacle Blind Flanges per ASME B16.48:
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Names | Spectacle Blind, Figure-8 Blind, Spec Blind, Spectacle Plate, Spectacle Flange |
| Size Range | ½" (15 NB) to 24" (600 NB) per ASME B16.48; larger on custom order |
| Pressure Classes | 150#, 300#, 400#, 600#, 900#, 1500# (per ASME B16.48) |
| Face Types | RF (Raised Face) — most common; FF (Flat Face); RTJ NOT available for spectacle blinds |
| Standard | ASME B16.48 (primary); API 590; EN 1092-1 (European markets) |
| Thickness | Per ASME B16.48 — blind plate and ring have different thicknesses; ring is thinner |
| Handle | Integral handle for rotation; includes "BLIND" and "OPEN" markings on each disc per ASME B16.48 |
| Material | Both discs and connecting bar machined from same plate — no mismatched pieces possible |
| MTC | EN 10204 3.1 standard; 3.2 available |
| Lead Time | 7–21 days depending on size and material |
We forge Spectacle Blinds in all standard and exotic materials — both discs and the connecting bar machined from the same plate to ensure perfectly matched material properties:
| Material Category | Grades / Specifications |
|---|---|
| Stainless Steel Spectacle Blind Flanges | ASTM/ASME A/SA182: F304, F304L, F316, F316L, F316H, F316Ti, F321, F347; Cast: CF3, CF3M, CF8, CF8M; DIN: 1.4301, 1.4306, 1.4401, 1.4404, 1.4408, 1.4409 |
| Duplex Steel Spectacle Blind Flanges | UNS S31803/S32205 — ASTM A182 Gr F51, F52, F53, F54, F55, F57, F59, F60, F61 |
| Super Duplex Spectacle Blind Flanges | UNS S32750/S32760 — ASTM A182 Gr F53, F55; Zeron 100 |
| Carbon Steel Spectacle Blind Flanges | ASTM/ASME A/SA105, A105N, A216-WCB; A350 LF2 (low temp); A694 F52/F56/F60/F65/F70/F80 (high yield); DIN 1.0460, 1.0402, 1.0619 |
| Alloy Steel Spectacle Blind Flanges | ASTM A182/ASME SA182: F5, F9, F11, F12, F22, F91 (all P-grades for high temp service) |
| Nickel Alloy Spectacle Blind Flanges | Inconel 600, 601, 625, 718, 690, X750 (ASTM B564/ASME SB564); Incoloy 800, 800H, 800HT, 825, 925 |
| Hastelloy Spectacle Blind Flanges | C276 (UNS N10276), C22 (UNS N06022), C4, C2000, B2, B3, X (ASTM B564) |
| Monel Spectacle Blind Flanges | Monel 400 (UNS N04400), Monel K500 (UNS N05500) — ASTM B564 |
| Pure Nickel Spectacle Blind Flanges | Nickel 200, 201, 205, 205LC — ASTM B564/ASME SB564 |
| Copper Nickel Spectacle Blind Flanges | CuNi 90/10 (C70600), CuNi 70/30 (C71500), UNS C71640 — ASTM/ASME SB 61/62/151/152 |
| Titanium Spectacle Blind Flanges | Gr.1, Gr.2, Gr.4, Gr.5, Gr.7 — ASTM B381/ASME SB381; R50250/R50400/R50550/R50700/R52400/R53400/R56400 |
| Aluminium Spectacle Blind Flanges | 5052, 6061, 6063, 2017, 7075 |
| Brass Spectacle Blind Flanges | 3602, 2604, H59, H62 |
| Special Alloy Spectacle Blind Flanges | Alloy 20 (ASTM B462 SB462 — Carpenter 20Cb-3); SMO 254/6Mo (UNS S31254, DIN 1.4547); Al6XN; AISI 4130; AISI 4140; Nimonic 75/80A/90; Gunmetal; Cast Iron |
Forged Raw Plate / Billets stockManufactured per ASME B16.48, API 590, EN 1092-1, DIN, JIS, and BS standards for line blinds:
| Standard / Spec | Scope / Application Details |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸ANSI/ASME B16.5 | NPS ½" to 24" — the primary standard for most flanges |
| 🇺🇸ASME B16.47 Series A (MSS SP-44) | NPS 26" to 60" — large diameter |
| 🇺🇸ASME B16.47 Series B (API 605) | NPS 26" to 60" — large diameter (lighter) |
| 🇺🇸ASME B16.36 | Orifice flanges |
| 🇺🇸ASME B16.48 | Line blinds & spectacle blinds |
| 🇪🇺DIN 2501 / EN 1092-1 | European metric standard — PN ratings |
| 🇯🇵JIS B2220 | Japanese Industrial Standard |
| 🇬🇧BS 4504 / BS 10 Table D/E/F/H | British Standard |
| 🇺🇸MSS SP-44 | Large diameter steel pipeline flanges |
| 🇺🇸API 6A | Wellhead and Christmas tree equipment |
| 🇺🇸API 605 | Large diameter carbon steel flanges |
| 🇺🇸AWWA C207 | Water works flanges |
| 🇷🇺GOST 12820 / 12821 | Russian/CIS standard |
| 🇦🇺AS 2129 / AS 4087 / AS/NZS 4331.1 | Australian standard |
| 🇰🇷KS B1503 | Korean standard |
| 🌐ISO 7005-1 / ISO 9624 | International standard |
| 🇺🇸SAE J518 | Hydraulic flanged tube fittings |
| 🇨🇳GB Standard | Chinese national standard |
Class 150# dimensions per ASME B16.48. Weights are approximate for Carbon Steel A516 Gr.70. Note: blind disc and ring have different thicknesses — the ring is thinner as it only provides spacing, not pressure containment.
| NPS (in) | Rating | Blind OD (mm) | Ring OD (mm) | Ring Bore (mm) | Bolt Circle (mm) | No. Bolts | Blind Thk (mm) | Ring Thk (mm) | Overall Width (mm) | Wt CS (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2" | 150# | 152 | 152 | 54 | 121 | 4 | 9.5 | 6.4 | 330 | 1.8 |
| 3" | 150# | 190 | 190 | 79 | 152 | 4 | 9.5 | 6.4 | 408 | 3.0 |
| 4" | 150# | 229 | 229 | 104 | 190 | 8 | 9.5 | 6.4 | 483 | 4.5 |
| 6" | 150# | 279 | 279 | 154 | 241 | 8 | 12.7 | 9.5 | 584 | 8.5 |
| 8" | 150# | 343 | 343 | 206 | 298 | 8 | 12.7 | 9.5 | 711 | 14.0 |
| 10" | 150# | 406 | 406 | 260 | 362 | 12 | 14.3 | 9.5 | 838 | 22.0 |
| 12" | 150# | 483 | 483 | 311 | 432 | 12 | 15.9 | 12.7 | 991 | 34.0 |
| 16" | 150# | 597 | 597 | 413 | 540 | 16 | 17.5 | 14.3 | 1219 | 60.0 |
| 20" | 150# | 699 | 699 | 514 | 635 | 20 | 19.1 | 15.9 | 1422 | 98.0 |
| 24" | 150# | 813 | 813 | 616 | 749 | 20 | 22.4 | 17.5 | 1651 | 148.0 |
Dimensions per ASME B16.48. Weights are approximate. Contact us for Class 300# tables and exact certified drawings.
Blind disc and ring have DIFFERENT thicknesses — ring is thinner as it only provides spacing (not pressure containment).
Overall Width = total span of the figure-8 shape. Critical dimension for space planning in congested piping areas.
Above NPS 16", spectacle blinds become very heavy (60–150+ kg) — consider Paddle Blind (spade + spacer ring) for large bore.
Class 300# requires thicker blind plates per ASME B16.48. Contact us for Class 300#, 600#, and 900# dimension tables.
Spectacle Blinds are available in RF (Raised Face — most common) and FF (Flat Face). RTJ is not used for spectacle blinds per ASME B16.48.
Most common. A raised circular ring that concentrates pressure on a smaller area to compress the gasket. Height: 1/16" for Class 150/300; 1/4" for Class 400 and above.
No raised portion; entire flange face is in the same plane. Used when mating against cast iron or non-metallic flanges to avoid cracking on bolt tightening.
Oval or octagonal groove machined into the face; a metal ring gasket seats in the groove. Used in high-pressure, high-temperature critical service (refineries, oil fields).
One flange has a raised ring (tongue); the other a matching groove. Provides excellent alignment and a confined gasket. Used in pumps and valve bonnets.
Similar to T&G but the female face is flat and the male face raised. Used in heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and high-integrity process joints.
Same operating principle as the standard Male & Female flange, scaled up with larger step contact surfaces for specialized heavy industrial equipment.
Unlike valves (which can leak past seats), a correctly installed spectacle blind provides absolute isolation — required by OSHA 1910.147 and PSM regulations.
The handle always points to the active disc (BLIND or OPEN). No need to open the flange — isolation status is readable at a glance from outside.
Blind disc and open ring are permanently joined from a single plate. Unlike Paddle Blinds (two separate pieces), there is no risk of mix-up or missing components.
Switch from flow to isolation by unbolting flanges, rotating the figure-8, and re-bolting. One operation vs removing and reinstalling two separate Paddle Blind pieces.
Standard safety requirement in refineries, chemical plants, and offshore platforms for unit shutdown isolation. Required by API 590, ASME B16.48, and plant safety procedures.
Classified as a positive isolation device under OSHA 1910.147 (Control of Hazardous Energy). Required by process safety regulations for maintenance on hazardous lines.
Upstream extraction, midstream pipelines, downstream refineries.
Chemical reactors, process lines, heat exchangers.
Boilers, steam turbines, nuclear plants, thermal power.
Hygienic piping, clean steam, pure water systems.
Sanitary flanges, sugar mills, beverage processing.
Chemical recovery, bleaching lines.
Municipal water, desalination, irrigation.
Offshore platforms, FPSOs, marine piping.
Acid service, caustic lines, solvent handling.
HVAC, fire suppression, utility headers.
All spectacle blinds undergo dimensional inspection, face finish verification, and PMI. Optional hydrostatic pressure testing and UT are available for critical service applications.
Each flange pressure tested at 1.5x working pressure per ASME code requirements.
Non-destructive testing to detect internal sub-surface cracks, inclusions and forging defects.
100% radiography available; mandatory for critical Class 900+ high pressure services.
Spectrometer validation to verify alloy chemistry precisely matches the Mill Test Certificate.
Detects micro surface cracking and porosity on critical machined seating surfaces.
For ferromagnetic alloys; flags surface and near-surface structural discontinuities.
Verifies correct heat treatment structure and ensures mechanical properties are hit.
In-house lab chemical checks of billets before forging process begins.
Crucial for low-temperature applications to verify ductility (e.g. A350 LF2, LTCS).
Verifies sour-gas / H2S environment service capability (NACE MR0175 / MR0103).
EN 10204 3.1 MTC standard with every shipment. Full traceability from raw plate to finished spectacle blind — chemical composition, mechanical properties, dimensional report.
Provided as per EN 10204 3.1 detailing chemical & mechanical analysis.
Independent third-party inspection validation (available upon request).
Certified suitability for sour gas/H2S environments.
Provides 100% trace origin tracking from steel billet to finished flange.
All critical tolerances checked and certified against CAD designs.
HTR and PWHT thermal chart records included where requested.
Pressure log documentation verifying weld integrity.
Bureau Veritas, SGS, Lloyds, DNV, TUV inspection options.
Proper documentation for simple custom clearance and cargo log.
Enables import tariff relief and compliance logging.
Understanding the differences helps you select the correct isolation device for your application:
| Feature | Spectacle Blind | Paddle Blind | Valve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isolation Type | POSITIVE — zero leakage possible | Positive (two separate pieces) | Non-positive (seats can leak) |
| Position Visible? | ✅ Yes — always externally visible | ✅ Yes — tab visible | Requires indicator or tag |
| Pieces to Manage | 1 piece — permanently joined | 2 pieces (spade + ring) | 1 unit — no field pieces |
| Standard | ASME B16.48 | ASME B16.48 | API 6D / API 600 |
| Installed Permanently? | ✅ Yes — stays between flanges always | Stored separately, swapped in use | Inline — always present |
| Large Bore (>16") | Heavy — consider Paddle Blind | Preferred for large bore | Standard for all sizes |
| Maintenance Isolation | ✅ Best — required by OSHA 1910.147 | ✅ Accepted positive isolation | ❌ Not considered positive isolation |
| Best For | Frequent cycling, NPS 2"–14" | Large bore NPS 16"+ | Flow control (not isolation) |
Standard protection coat applied on carbon steel flanges.
High-grade finish offering superior long-term storage corrosion block.
Allows technical inspectors to visually inspect metal surface during receiving.
Electro-galvanized bright zinc barrier layer for light industrial environments.
Thick zinc alloy barrier layer for maximum outdoor marine rust protection.
FBE or liquid epoxy coating for heavy buried pipelines and sewage lines.
Chemical acid cleaning to restore corrosion resistance for stainless steel.
Special finishes customized exactly to customer painting specifications.
Remax Forge & Fittings stands out as a leading flange manufacturer due to our complete in-house forging, heat treatment, and precision CNC machining capabilities based in Mumbai. We provide certified compliance, factory-direct wholesale pricing, and custom forging schedules tailored to your engineering blueprints. With over 20 years of manufacturing experience, zero-defect quality management, and short lead times, we are a trusted supply partner for critical industrial piping projects.
Fully audited quality management workflows.
Forging, heat-treat, machining in Mumbai.
PMI, Spectro, UT, Hydro labs on-site.
EN 10204 3.1 standard; 3.2 available.
Serving critical gas/oil clients globally.
Proven global logistics and documentation.
Special shapes, alloys and schedules.
Competitive pricing with no agent markup.
Engineers ready to assist spec selection.
Fast turnaround of custom and stock orders.
Technical catalogue including Class 150# & 300# dimension tables, material grades, ASME B16.48 standards, weight charts — ready for your RFQ or technical review.
Ordering high-quality forged flanges from Remax is straightforward. To ensure our engineering team provides you with a precise and competitive quote, please specify the exact flange type, nominal pipe size (NPS), pressure class rating, material grade, and facing configuration. Let us know your total quantity requirements and if you require any specialized testing or custom coatings. Contact us via email or phone for a quick, same-day response.
Common questions about Spectacle Blind Flanges — Figure-8 vs Paddle Blind, ASME B16.48, face finish, large bore alternatives, and handle markings.
Compare our complete range of industrial flanges and isolation devices for your piping project.

Slides over pipe. Cost-effective and simple.

Tapered neck for high pressure and temperature service.

Bolts onto line to isolate sections securely.

Shoulder socket. Great for high-pressure small lines.
Let our experts take over from here!