MSS SP-9-2013

Spot Facing
for
Bronze, Iron, and
Steel Flanges

Standard Practice
Developed and Approved by the
Manufacturers Standardization Society of the
Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
127 Park Street, NE
Vienna, Virginia 22180-4602 www.mss-hq.org
Phone: (703) 281-6613
Fax: (703) 281-6671
E-mail: standards@mss-hq.org
MSS S T ANDARD P RA CT I CE SP- 9
This MSS Standard Practice was developed under the consensus of the MSS Technical Committees 102, 110, 201,
and the MSS Coordinating Committee. The content of this Standard Practice is the resulting eff01is of competent and
experienced volunteers to provide an effective, clear, and non-exclusive standard that will benefit the industry as a
whole. This MSS Standard Practice describes minimal requirements and is intended as a basis for common practice
by the manufacturer, the user, and the general public. The existence of an MSS Standard Practice does not in itself
preclude the manufacture, sale, or use of products not conforming to the Standard Practice. Mandatory conformance
to this Standard Practice is established only by reference in other documents such as a code, specification, sales
contract, or public law, as applicable. MSS has no power, nor does it undertake, to enforce or certifY compliance with
this document. Any certification or other statement of compliance with the requirements of this Standard Practice
shall not be attri butable to MSS and is solely the responsibility of the certifier or maker of the statement.

"Unless indicated otherwise within this MSS Standard Practice, other standards documents referenced to
herein are identified by th'e date of issue that was applicable to this Standard Practice at the date of
approval of this MSS Standard Practice (see Annex A). This Standard Practice shall remain silent on the
validity of those other standards of prior or subsequent dates of issue even though applicable provisions
may not have changed. "

By publication of this Standard Practice, no position is taken with respect to the validity of any potential claim(s)
or of any patent rights in connection therewith. MSS shall not be held responsible for identifying any patent rights.
Users are expressly advised that determination of patent rights and the risk of infringement of such rights are
entirely their responsibility.

[n this Standard Practice, all text, notes, annexes, tables, figures, and references are construed to be essential to the
understanding of the message of the standard, and are considered normative unless ind icated as "supplemental".
All appendices, if included, that appear in this document are construed as "supplemental". Note that supplemental
information does not include mandatory requirements.

Substantive changes in this 2013 edition are "flagged" by parallel bars as shown on the margins
of this paragraph. The specific detail of the change may be determined by compari ng the
material flagged with that in the previous edition.

The (SI) metric units and U.S. customary units in this Standard Practice are regarded separately as the standard;
each should be used independently of the other. Combining or converting values between the two systems may
result in non-conformance with this Standard Practice.

Non-toleranced dimensions in this Standard Practice are nomina l unless otherwise specified.

Excerpts of this Standard Practice may be quoted with permission. Credit lines should read 'Extracted
from MSS SP-9-2013 with permission of the publisher, Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve
and Fittings lndust1y'. Reproduction and/or electronic transmission or dissemination is prohibited under
copyright convention unless written permission is granted by the Manz((acturers Standardization Society of
the Valve and Fittings Industry Inc. All rights reserved.

Originally Approved: July 1929

Originally Published: August 1929
Current Edition Approved: October 2012
Current Edition Published: March 2013

MSS is a registered trademark of the Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, rnc.

Copyright©, 2013 by
Manufacturers Standardization Society
of the
Valve and Fittings Industry.lnc.
Printed in U.S.A.
MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-9

This Page ~nte nti o n a lly Left Blank

Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry

ii
MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP- 9

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION

1 SCOPE .................................................................................................................................................... 1
I 2 DESIGN ................................ .................... ······························································ ··········· ..................... 1 I

TABLE

Spot Face Diameters - U.S. Customary (Inch-Series) ............................................................................ 3

2 Spot Face Diameters- (SI) Metric Bolting ...................................................................................... ....... 4

FIGURE

II Flange with Spot Facing ......... ................................................................................................................ I

ANNEX

IA Referenced Standards and Applicable Dates ........................ ..................... ............................................. 5 I

iii
MSS STANDARD PRAC TIC E
SPOT FACING FOR BRONZE, IRON, AND STEEL FLANGES
1. SCOPE
1.1 This MSS Standard Practice applies to
the spot facing for U.S. customary (inch-
series) bolting of pipe flanges in bronze, gray
iron, ductile iron, or steel when cast integral
with valves and fittings, as well as the
companion flanges, when so required by the
standard for the product.
1.2 This Standard Practice also applies to
the spot facing for (Sl) metric bolting used in
bolted joints not covered by the referenced
flange standards herein.
2. DESIGN
2.1 U.S. Customary (Inch-Series) Bolting
2.1.1 The dimensions for spot facing apply
to the use of hexagon head bolts or hexagon
nuts in accordance with ASME B 18.2. I and
ASME B 18.2.2 (heavy series). For bolt sizes
112 and 5/8, the minimum diameter of spot
facing is sufficient for regular square head
bolts, in accordance with ASME B I 8.2.1.
2.1.2 The minimum spot facing diameters
illustrated in Figure I, are listed in Table I
for bolt sizes 1/2 inch through 3~ inches.
FIGURE 1 Flange with Spot Facing
SP-9
2.1.3 The bolt sizes, for which spot facing
is provided, include all the inch-series bolt
sizes required in the various flange standards
indicated below:
Bronze
ASME B 16.24, Cast Copper Alloy Pipe
Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Class 150,
300, 600, 900, 1500, and 2500
MSS SP-1 06, Cast Copper Alloy Flanges
and Flanged Fittings: Class 125, 150, and
300
Gray/ron
ASME B 16.1, Gray Iron Pipe Flanges
and Flanged Fittings: Class 25, 125, and
250
Ductile Iron
ASME BJ6.42, Ductile Iron Pipe Flanges
and Flanged Fittings: Class 150 and 300
Steel
ASME BJ6.5, Pipe Flanges and Flanged
Fittings: NPS 1/2 through 24 Metric/Inch
Standard
ASME B16.47 Large Diameter Steel
Flanges: NPS 26 through NPS 60
Metric/Inch Standard
MSS SP-44 Steel Pipeline Flanges
MSS STAND ARD P RACTICE SP- 9

2.2 (Sf) Metric Bolting
2.2.1 The dimensions for spot facing apply
to the use of (SI) metric hexagon (hex) head
bolts or hexagon nuts in accordance with
heavy series ASME BI8.2.3.6M and ASME
I B I 8.2.4.6M(l).
For bolt sizes Ml2, M14, and M16, the
minimum diameter of spot facing is sufficient
for regular square head bolts in accordance
with ASME Bl8.2.3.10M.
2.2.2 The minimum spot facing diameters,
illustrated in Figure 1, are listed in Table 2
for bolt sizes M12 through Ml 00.
2.3 Other Design Details
When cutting into the hub of flanges, flange
fittings, or flanged valve bodies with back
facing tools, the intersection shall have a
radius of not less than l/16 inch (1.5 mm).
The resulting wall thickness for fittings and
valve bodies shall not be less than the
I minimum required thickness specified within
the appropriate standard in Section 2.1.3 or
the specification requiring (SI) metric
bolting.
2.3.5 The bearing surfaces of spot faces or
back facing shall be parallel to the flange face
within the requirement of the appropriate
referenced standard in Section 2.1.3 or the
specification requiring (SI) metric bolting.

2.3.1 When cutting into the hub of

companion flanges or the body of flanged
fittings and valves with spot facing tools is
necessary, the resulting wall thickness shall
not be less than the minimum required
thickness specified in the appropriate
referenced standard in Section 2.1.3 or the
specification requiring (SI) metric bolting.

2.3.2 Eccentricity of the spot face

diameter with the bolt hole must be limited
to provide sufficient facing for the bolt head
and nut used in the joint assembly.

2.3 .3 The depth of the spot face is not

given in this Standard Practice, as the
requirement is covered in the various
referenced flange fitting standards in Section
2.l.3 or within the applicable specification(s)
requiring (SI) metric bolting.

2.3.4 Back facing may be used as an

alternate to spot facing at the manufacturer's
option. When used, back facing shall provide
a surface that will ensure full bearing of the
bolting nut. The minimum diameter of the
back face shall be no less than the bolt circle
diameter less one spot face diameter, as listed
in Table 1 for U.S. customary bolts or Table
2 for (SI) metric bolts.

NOTE: (1) As applicable, ASME B18.2.6M

(replaced ASME B 18.2.4.6M) and ISO 4775, for
heavy hex, are also acceptable.

2
MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-9

TABLE 1
Spot Face Diameters- U.S. Customary (Inch-Series) Bolting
Spot Face Diameter·
Bolt Size (Minimum)
(inches)
inches mm
1/2 1.12 28.4
5/8 1.37 34.8
3/4 1.56 39.6
7/8 1.78 45.2
I 2.03 51.6
lYs 2.21 56.1
11;4 2.43 61.7
13/g 2.65 67.3
11~ 2.87 72.9
15/g 3.12 79.2
13;4 3.31 84.1
f1s 3.50 88.9
2 3.75 95.3
2~ 4.18 106.2
2Yz 4.62 117.3
23;4 5.06 128.5
3 5.50 139.7
3'/z 6.37 161.8
NOTE: U.S. customary units (i.e., inches) in this table are the standard;
(SI) metric units (i.e., millimeters) are for reference.

3
MSS STANDARD P R ACTICE S P-9

TABLE 2
Spot Face Diameters - (SI) Metric Bolting
Spot Face Diameter
Bolt Size (Minimum)
(mm)
mm inches
Ml2 27.8 1.09
M14 31.2 1.23
Ml6 34 .7 1.37
M20 42.8 1.68
M22 45.1 1.78
M24 50.8 2.00
M27 56.6 2.23
M30 61.2 2.41
M33 67.0 2.64
M36 72.8 2.87
M39 78.6 3.09
M42 84.3 3.32
M45 90.1 3.55
M48 95.9 3.78
M52 101.7 4.00
M56 108.0 4.25
M60 113.2 4.46
M64 119.0 4.68
M68 124.8 4.91
M72 130.5 5.14
M76 138.0 5.43
M80 143.0 5.63
M85 148.0 5.83
M90 163.0 6.42
M95 168.0 6.61
MlOO 178.0 7.00
NOTE: {Sl) metric units (i.e., millimeters) in this table are the standard;
U.S. customary units (i.e., inches) are for reference.

4
MSS STANDARD PRACTICE SP-9

I ANNEXA I
Referenced Standards and Applicable Dates

This annex is an integral part of this Standard Practice and is placed after the main text for convenience.

Standa •·d Name Description

ASME; ANSI/ASME
BI6.J-2010 Gray Iron Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Classes 25, 125, and 250
B16.5-2009 Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: NPS l/2 through NPS 24 Metric/Inch Standard
816.24-2011 Cast Copper Alloy Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Classes 150, 300, 600, 900,
1500, and 2500
816.42-2011 Ductile Iron Pipe Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Classes 150 and 300
816.47-2011 Large Diameter Steel Flanges: NPS 26 through NPS 60 Metric/loch Standard
818.2.1-2010 Square, Hex, Heavy Hex, and Askew Head Bolts and Hex, Heavy Hex, Hex Flange,
Lobed Head, and Lag Screws (Inch Series)
Bl8.2.2-2010 Nuts for General Applications: Machine Screw Nuts, Hex, Square, Hex Flange, and
Coupling Nuts (Inch Series)
Bl8.2.3.6M-1979 (R2006) Metric Heavy Hex Bolts
B 18.2.3.1 OM-1996 (R2003) Square Head Bolts (Metric Series)
B 18.2.4.6M-20 10 Metric Heavy Hex Nuts
B18.2.6M-2012 Metric Fasteners for Use in Structural Applications

MSS
SP-44-201 0 Steel Pipeline Flanges; including Errata Sheet (2011)
SP-106-2012 Cast Copper Alloy Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Class 125, 150, and 300

ISO
4775:1984 Hexagon Nuts for High-Strength Structural Bolting with Large Width Across
Flats - Product Grade B - Property Classes 8 and 10

The following organizations appear in the above list:

ANSI American National Standards Institute

25 West 43rd Street, Fourth Floor
New York, NY 10036-7406

ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International)

Two Park A venue
New York, NY 10016-5990

ISO International Organization for Standardization

1, ch. de Ia Voie-Creuse, Case Postale 56
CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

MSS Manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry, Inc.
127 Park Street, NE
Vienna, VA 22180-4602

5
 Listing of MSS Standard Pract ices (as o f March, 20 13)
Tl'l'LE
SP-6-2012 Standard Finishes for Contact Faces of Pipe Flanges and Connecting-End Flanges of Valves and Fittings
SP-9-2013 Spot Facing for Bronze, Iron, and Steel Flanges
SP-25-2008 Standard Marking Syslcm for Valves, Fittings, Flanges, and Unions
SP-42-2009 Corrosion Resistant Gate, Globe, Angle and Check Valves with Flanged 8Jld Butt Weld Ends (Classes I 50, 300 & 600)
SP-43-2013 Wrought and Fabricated Butt-Welding Fittings for Low Pressure, Corrosion Resistant Applications
SP-44-2010 Steel Pipeline Flanges (incl. 20 I I Errata Sheet)
SP-45-2003 (R 2008) Bypass and Drain Connections
SP-51-2012 Class l50LW Corrosion Resistant Flanges and Cast Flanged Fittings
SP-53-2012 Quality Standard for Steel Castings and ForgiJ1gs for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components- Magnetic Particle Examination Method
SP-54-2013 Q•~•lity Standard for Steel Castings and Forgings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components- Radiogmphic Examination Method
SP-55-2011 Quality Standard for Steel Cnstings for Valves, Flanges, Filli ngs, and Other Piping Components - Visual Method for Evaluation of
Surface Irregularities (ANSI-approved American National Sta ndard)
SP-58-2009 Pipe Hangers and Supports - Materials, Design, Manufacture, Selection, Application, and Installation (incorporates content ofSP-69, 77, 89, and 90)
(ANSI-approved American National Stnndard)
SP-60-2012 Connt-cring Flange Joints between Tapping Sleeves and Tapping Valves
SP-61 -2009 Pressure Testing of Valves
SP-65-2012 High Pressure Chemical Industry Flanges ru1d Threaded Stubs for Use with Lens Gaskets
SP-67-2011 Butterfly Valves
SP-68-2011 High Pressure Butterfly Valves with Offset Design
SP-69-2003 Pipe Hangers and Supports - Selection and Application (ANSI-approved Americnn National Sta ndard)
SP-70-201 1 Gmy Iron Gate Valves, Flanged and Threaded Ends
SP-7 1-201 I Gray Iron Swing Check Valves, Flanged and ·nlfeaded Ends (incl. 2013 Errata Sheet)
SP·72-20 IOa Ball Valves with Flru~ged or Butt·WeldiJ1g Ends for Geneml Service
SP-75-2008 Specification for High-Test, Wrought, Butt-Welding Fittings
SP-78-201I Gray Iron Plug Valves, Flanged and "01readcd Ends
SP-79-2011 Socket Welding Reducer Inserts
SP-80-2013 Bronze Gate, Globe, Angle, and Check Valves
SP-81-2006a Stainless Steel, Bonnetless, Flanged Knife Gate Valves
SP-83-2006 Class 3000 Steel Pipe Unions Socket Welding and "Olfeaded
SP-85-2011 Gray Iron Globe & Angle Valves, Flanged w1d "Olfeaded Ends
SP-86-2009 Guidelines for Metric Data in Standards for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Actuators (Incl. 2011 Errata Sheet)
SP-87-1991 (R 1996 - Reinstated 20 I I) l'actory-Made Bull-Welding Fittings for Class I Nuclear Piping Applications
SP-88-2010 Diaphragm Valves
SP-91-2009 Guidelines for Manual Operation of Valves
SP-92-2012 MSS Valve User Guide
SP-93-2008 Quality Standard for Steel Castings and Forgings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components - Liquid Penetrant Examination Method
SP-94-2008 Quality Stru1dard for hrritic and Martcnsitic Steel Castings for Valves, Flanges, Fittings, and Other Piping Components - Ultrasonic Examination Method
SP-95-2006 Swage(d) Nipples w1d Bull Plugs
SP-96-2011 Guidelines on Tenninology for Valves and Fittings
SP-97-2012 Integrally Reinforced Forged BrWlch Outlet Fittings- Socket Welding, 11lfcaded, and Buttwelding Ends
SP-98-2012 Protective CoatiJ1gs for the Interior of Valves, Hydrw1ts, ru1d Fittings
SP-99-2010 Instrument Valves
SP- 100-2009 Qualification Requirements for Elastomer Diaplltagrns for Nuclear Service Diaphragm Valves
SP-101- 1989 (R 2001) Part-Tum Valve Acn1ator A«achment - Flange and Driving Component Dimensions and PerfOrmance Characteristics
SP-102-1989 (R 200 I) Multi-Tum Valve Actuator AHaclunent- Flange and Driving Component Dimensions w1d Pcrfonnance Characteristics
SP-104-2012 Wrought Copper Solder-Joint Pressure Fittu1gs
SP-105-20 I0 Instrument Valves for Code Applications
SP-106-2012 Cast Copper Alloy Flanges and Flanged Fittings: Class 125, 150, and 300
SP-108-20 I2 Resilient-Seated Cast Iron Eccentric Plug Valves
SP-109-2012 Weld-Fabricated Copper Solder-Joint Pressure Fittings (incl. 20!2 Errata Sheet)
SP-1 10-2010 Ball Valves Threaded, Socket-Welding, Solder Joull, Grooved and Flared Ends (incl. 2010 Errata Sheet)
SP-111·2012 Gray-Iron and Ductile-Iron Tapping Sleeves
SP-1 12-2010 Quality Standard for Evaluation of Cast Surface Finishes- Visual and Tactile Method. This SP must be used with a 10-surface, Ultee dimensional Cast
Surface Comparator, which is a necessary part of the stru1dard. Additional Comparators available separately.
SP-1 13-2012 Connecting Joints between Tapping Machines and Tapping Valves
SP-Il4-2007 Corrosion Resistant Pipe Fittings Threaded and Socket Weldu1g Class 150 and I000 (ANS!·RPJlrovcd Amerlcnn Nntional Standard)
SP-115-2010 Excess Flow Valves, I Y. NPS Wld Smaller, for Fuel Gas Service
SP- 116-2011 Service-Line Valves Wld Fittings for Drinking Water Systems
SP- 117-201 I Bellows Seals for Globe and Gate Valves
SP-1 19-2010 Factory-Made Wrought Belled End Pipe Fittings for Socket-Welding
SP-120-2011 Flexible Graphite Packing System for Rising Stem Valves - Design Requirements
SP-121-2006 Qualification Testing Methods for Stem Packing for Rising Stem Steel Valves
SP- I22-2012 Plastic Industrial Ball Valves
SP- 123-1998 (R 2006) Non-Ferrous "Dltcadcd ru1d Solder-Joint Unions for Usc with Copper Water Tube
SP-124-2012 Fabricated Tapping Sleeves
SP- I25-20 I0 Gray Iron and Ductile Iron ln·Linc,Spring-Loaded, Center-Guided Check Valves
SP-126-2007 Steel In-Line Spring-Assisted Center Guided Check Valves
SP-127-2001 Bracing for Piping Systems Seismic-Wu1d-Dynrunic Design, Selection, AppUcation
SP-128-2012 Ductile Iron Gate Valves
SP-129-2003 (R 2007) Copper-Nickel Socket· Welding Fittings and Unions
SP- 130-2003 Bellows Seals for Jnstmmeot Valves
SP-13 1·2010 Metallic Manually Operated Gas Distribution Valves
SP-132-20 I0 Compression Packing Systems for lnstnunent Valves
SP- 133-20 I0 Excess Flow Valves for Low Pressure Fuel Gas Appliances
SP-134-2012 Valves for Cryogenic Service, including Requirements for Body/Bonnet Extensions
SP-135·20 I0 High Pressure Kni fe Gate Valves
SP-136-2007 Ductile Iron Swing Check Valves
SP-137-2013 Quality Standard for Positive Material Identification of Metal Valves, Flru1ges, Fittings, ru1d Other Pipu1g Components
SP-138-2009 Quality Standard Pmctice for O:q,gen Cleaning ofValves & Fittings
SP-139-2010 Copper Alloy Gate, Globe, Angle, w1d Check Valves for Low Pressure/Low Temperature Plumbing Applications
SP-140-2012 Quality Standard Pmctice for Preparation of Valves and Fittings for SiUcone-Free Service
SP-141-2012 Multi-Tum and Check Valve Modi6cations
SP-142-2012 Excess Flow Valves for Fuel Gas Service, NPS IV. through 12
SP-143-2012 Live-Loaded Valve Stem Packing Systems
SP-I44-20 I3 Pressure Seal Bonnet Valves
(R YEAR) Indicates year reaffi nned • P.-icc Lis t Availa ble Upon Requ est • MSS is an ANSI-accredited American National Standards developer

M:\nufacturcrs Standa rdization Society of the Valve anti Fittings Intlustry, Inc.
127 Pa r i< Street, N E, Vienna , VA 22180-4620 • (703) 281-6613 • F a x II (703) 281 -6671

MSS·TECH SP-9-20 13