TANK HEAD TOLERANCES GUIDE

As an industry leader in tank component fabrication, Paul Mueller Company holds itself to high quality
standards. The standards for tank head fabrication detailed in this white paper may not be the same
standards used by other tank component fabricators. Paul Mueller Company's tank head tolerances
have been calculated to meet the needs of the complete vessel fabricators we serve while taking
into consideration modern tank head fabrication techniques and procedures.
Note: These tolerances apply to austenitic (300 series) material only. Any tolerances for special or non-standard
material should be discussed with your salesperson. When products are designed as ASME, the configurations and
tolerances set forth in Division 1, Section VIII shall take precedence over all other tolerances.

STRAIGHT FLANGE
Both straight flange and finished depth cannot be held simultaneously; therefore, heads will be trimmed to
comply with overall depth tolerances as long as minimum straight flange is held as follows:

STANDARD MINIMUM
HEAD THICKNESS
STRAIGHT FLANGE STRAIGHT FLANGE

12 gauge or less 1˝ 1
⁄2 ˝

10 gauge or greater 1 1 ⁄2 ˝ 1
⁄2 ˝

If the standard straight flange length must be held, please notify your salesperson of the requirement prior
to fabrication and Paul Mueller Company will apply a tolerance of ± 1 ⁄8 ˝ and allow the depth to become a
reference dimension. The maximum straight flange we offer is 3˝ and is special order only.

The tolerance for toe-out or toe-in for typical flanged and dished heads will be ± 1 ⁄16 ˝ as measured at 90° from
the machined edge. All heads and cones with a knuckle radius under 2˝ and of any material thickness 10 gauge
and thicker (12 gauge and thinner cannot be flanged with a 2˝ straight flange using a small knuckle radius),
there shall be a maximum of 2˝ straight flange. A tolerance of 3 ⁄32 ˝ on the toe-out and 1 ⁄16 ˝ on the toe-in shall
have applied to all heads with less than a 2˝ knuckle radius as described above.

CIRCUMFERENCE AND FINISHED INSIDE DEPTH

The following tolerances apply to all typical flanged and dished heads for tank components
(for specialized head type tolerances, please consult with your sales representative):

FINISHED
HEAD DIAMETER CIRCUMFERENCE
INSIDE DEPTH

35˝ or less ± 1 ⁄8 ˝ + 1 ⁄2 ˝ to - 1 ⁄8 ˝

36˝ thru 96˝ ± 1 ⁄8 ˝ + 1 ⁄2 ˝ to - 1 ⁄8 ˝

97˝ thru 144˝ ± 1 ⁄8 ˝ + 3 ⁄4˝ to - 1 ⁄8 ˝

145˝ and above ± 1 ⁄8 ˝ + 1˝ to - 1 ⁄8 ˝

Note: Out-of-round shall not exceed 1% of the outside diameter.

CIRCUMFERENCE AND FINISHED INSIDE DEPTH (CONTINUED)
If the finished inside depth must be held, please notify your sales representative of the requirement in
advance of fabrication and Mueller will apply a tolerance of ±1 ⁄8˝ on the depth and there will not be any
tolerance, except minimum, held on the straight flange.

All toriconical heads have a circumference tolerance of ±1 ⁄2 ˝. Cones that are not flanged do not have a
circumference tolerance and will require trim and fit at installation by the customer. All cones have
a finished inside depth (FID) tolerance of ±1˝. (Cones that are swaged at the bottom end may have an
additional height tolerance of -0˝ to + 1 ⁄2 ˝ above the typical tolerance).

MINIMUM THICKNESS
Forming Allowances
Minimum thickness of material after forming, not including polishing for typical flanged and dished heads:

ASME Flanged and Dished

DIAMETER 1
/2 ˝ THICK OR LESS GREATER THAN 1 /2 ˝ THICK

16˝ to 300˝ Add .03125˝ Add .0625˝

80:10
DIAMETER 1
/2 ˝ THICK OR LESS GREATER THAN 1 /2 ˝ THICK

20˝ to 220˝ Add .0625˝ Add 15%

2:1 Elliptical
DIAMETER 1
/2 ˝ THICK OR LESS GREATER THAN 1 /2 ˝ THICK

20˝ to 168˝ Add .0625˝ Add 15%

For example: a 3 ⁄8 ˝ thick, ASME flanged and dished tank head, with an as is/as is material finish and #2/#2
weld finish has a .375˝–.03125˝ forming allowance to equal .3437˝ total minimum thickness after forming,
but before polishing.

Non-code heads with minimum thickness requirements must be special ordered and noted in advance of
fabrication for assurance and verification. For custom flanged and dished, toriconical or other designs with
special order geometry, please contact your sales representative for minimum thickness after forming.

Grinding Allowances
Due to the custom nature of fabrication components, Paul Mueller Company recommends that you contact
your salesperson to review your specific application and assess an agreed upon final minimum thickness
with your quotation.
REVERSE DISH
Typical flanged and dished heads will have a tolerance of reversed conditions as follows:

HEAD DIAMETER MAXIMUM REVERSE

0˝ thru 100˝ 1
⁄8 ˝

101˝ thru 144˝ 3

⁄16 ˝

145˝ and above 1

⁄4˝

Measurement of reverse will be accomplished by the placement of a 12˝ straight edge from the knuckle to
dish tangent toward the center hole and measuring the gap between the straight edge and the outer surface
of the head. For specialized head types (specifically toriconical heads), contact your sales representative for
additional tolerance information.

FLATNESS
The head (squared or beveled edge) when laid on a flat surface will not exceed a maximum gap of 1 ⁄4˝
across a 48" distance and will not have an abrupt change greater than 1 ⁄16 ˝ over a 12" distance along
the surface. This tolerance does not apply to flanged only heads (specifically with welded seams) or
specialized head types. For additional clarification, please consult your salesperson.

DISH RADIUS (CROWN RADIUS)

The dish radius (crown radius) tolerance for dished heads will be in compliance with ASME,
Section VIII, Div I, UG-81(a) unless specifically stated in the order that the head must meet
UG-81(b) for external pressure designed heads.

FLARED AND DISHED HEADS

Flared and dished heads shall have the following tolerances:

DIAMETER OUTSIDE DIAMETER INSIDE DIAMETER OUT-OF-ROUND

Not to exceed 1% of
All + 1 ⁄2" thru -0˝ ± 1 ⁄ 2" Outside Diameter

Note: Inside diameter tolerance is reference only.

DISHED ONLY HEADS

Dished only heads shall have the following tolerances:

DIAMETER OUTSIDE DIAMETER INSIDE DIAMETER OUT-OF-ROUND

Not to exceed 1% of
All N/A + 1 ⁄2 ˝ thru -0˝ Outside Diameter

Note: Dished only heads will be sold on the basis of outside diameter only.
FLANGED ONLY HEADS
Flanged only heads shall have a circumference tolerance of ± 1 ⁄8 ˝. Some warpage of the flat portion
may be expected depending on diameter, thickness of material, and the knuckle radius. Any
manual pressure to obtain flatness is acceptable.

HEAD DIAMETER FLATNESS TOLERANCE

60" or less ± 3 ⁄ 16 ˝

61" thru 95" ± 1 ⁄4˝

96" thru 120" ± 1 ⁄2 ˝

Note: Flanged only head flatness tolerances do not apply to heads with weld seams.