Name: Flexolet
Brand: Cunimet Alloy International

Product Overview

Flexolet — Adjustable-Angle Branch Outlet

The Flexolet is a forged integrally reinforced branch outlet fitting whose branch outlet nozzle can be adjusted through a range of angles relative to the perpendicular of the run pipe axis. A standard Weldolet, Sockolet or Threadolet fixes the branch axis precisely perpendicular to the run pipe centreline. The Flexolet, by contrast, allows the branch nozzle to be set at any angle within a specified range — typically ±10° to ±15° from the perpendicular — before final welding, accommodating misalignment between the branch pipe routing and the branch outlet axis that would otherwise require additional elbows or complex spooling to resolve.

The angular adjustment is achieved through the geometry of the Flexolet body. The lower portion of the fitting, including the contoured base that contacts the run pipe, is designed to allow tilting of the upper nozzle section relative to the base, either through a spherical seating surface or a machined taper interface between the two body sections. Once the correct angle is established in the field, the base is fillet-welded to the run pipe and the branch pipe is welded to the nozzle outlet. The final weld locks the angle permanently; the Flexolet does not remain mechanically adjustable in service.

Cunimet Alloy International manufactures Flexolets in Stainless Steel 304/316, Duplex Steel and Super Duplex Steel to MSS SP-97. The body geometry is designed to maintain full integral reinforcement at the branch penetration throughout the entire angular adjustment range, so that the reinforcement area calculation per ASME B31.3 or ASME VIII Division 1 is satisfied at any set angle within the specified range.

MSS SP-97ASTM A182 ASME B31.3Run 3/4" to 12" NPS ±10° to ±15° AdjustmentBW • SW • THD Ends

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MSSStandardSP-97

±15°Max. AdjustmentFrom Perpendicular

3/4–12"Run Pipe RangeNPS

3End TypesBW • SW • Threaded

3Material GradesSS / Duplex / S.Duplex

Installation Sequence

How the Flexolet Angle Adjustment Works

01

Fit to Run Pipe

The Flexolet base is placed over the drilled branch opening on the run pipe surface. The contoured base seats on the run pipe OD in the same manner as a Weldolet, with the nozzle initially pointing perpendicular to the run pipe axis.

02

Align to Branch Pipe

The branch pipe is brought into position along its as-installed routing. The Flexolet nozzle is tilted within its adjustment range — up to ±15° — until the nozzle outlet axis aligns with the branch pipe axis, eliminating any angular misalignment between them.

03

Tack & Inspect

With the nozzle at the correct angle, the base is tack-welded to the run pipe and the set angle is confirmed dimensionally. Reinforcement area calculation is verified for the set angle per ASME B31.3 to confirm the fitting provides adequate reinforcement at the adjusted position.

04

Final Weld & NDE

Full fillet weld to run pipe is completed, then branch pipe is welded to the nozzle outlet. The angle is permanently fixed by the completed welds. Non-destructive examination is carried out on both welds per the applicable piping class requirements.

Technical Data

Flexolet — Size Range & Angular Adjustment

Angular adjustment range is ±10° for sizes up to 4-inch run pipe and ±15° for 6-inch and larger, measured from the perpendicular to the run pipe centreline. Branch end type (BW/SW/THD) is specified separately. All dimensions per MSS SP-97.

Run Pipe NPS	Run O.D. (mm)	Min. Branch NPS	Max. Branch NPS	Angular Adjustment	Branch End Options
3/4"	26.7	1/4"	3/4"	±10°	BW / SW / THD
1"	33.4	1/4"	1"	±10°	BW / SW / THD
1-1/2"	48.3	1/2"	1-1/2"	±10°	BW / SW / THD
2"	60.3	1/2"	2"	±10°	BW / SW / THD
3"	88.9	1/2"	3"	±10°	BW / SW / THD
4"	114.3	3/4"	4"	±10°	BW / SW / THD
6"	168.3	1"	6"	±15°	BW / SW / THD
8"	219.1	1"	6"	±15°	BW / SW / THD
10"	273.1	1"	8"	±15°	BW / SW
12"	323.9	1"	8"	±15°	BW / SW

Run pipe schedule must be specified. Branch end bevel per ASME B16.25 for BW ends. 100% NPT go/no-go for THD ends. Angular range is nominal; confirm with engineering for critical-service applications. All dimensions per MSS SP-97.

Available Materials

Material Grades for Flexolets

Grade 01

Stainless Steel 304 / 316

Austenitic stainless steel Flexolets for misalignment-tolerant branch connections on chemical, pharmaceutical, food and general process piping where branch routing constraints, congested pipe racks or equipment nozzle orientation makes a perpendicular branch connection impractical without additional elbows or spooling.

ASTM A182 F304ASTM A182 F316MSS SP-97

Grade 02

Duplex Steel

Duplex alloy Flexolets for adjustable branch connections on offshore process piping, desalination and chemical plant headers where platform layout constraints or equipment positions result in branch pipe routings that are not perpendicular to the run pipe, requiring angular correction at the branch outlet fitting.

ASTM A182 F51UNS S31803UNS S32205

Grade 03

Super Duplex Steel

Super duplex Flexolets with PREN greater than 40 for adjustable branch connections on offshore topsides and seawater service piping where platform structural geometry and equipment arrangement create branch routing misalignments that must be resolved at the branch outlet without adding elbows or modifying the run pipe layout.

ASTM A182 F53UNS S32750UNS S32760

Quality & Compliance

Standards, Testing & Documentation

Standard	Description
MSS SP-97	Integrally Reinforced Forged Branch Outlet Fittings
ASTM A182	Material specification for forged alloy and stainless fittings
ASME B16.11	Forged fittings — socket weld and threaded end requirements
ASME B16.25	Butt-welding ends — bevel prep for BW ends
ASME B31.3	Process piping — branch reinforcement at angular positions
EN 10204	3.1 MTC standard; 3.2 with TPI on request

Test	Method / Scope
Chemical Analysis	OES per ASTM A182 for each heat
Mechanical Testing	Tensile, yield, elongation and Charpy impact
Hardness Testing	Brinell or Vickers per ASTM A182
Thread Gauging	100% NPT go/no-go on threaded outlet ends per ASME B1.20.1
PMI	100% XRF Positive Material Identification on request
Dimensional Inspection	100% per MSS SP-97 — base contour, nozzle OD, adjustment range

Applications

Where Flexolets Are Used

01

Congested Offshore Platform Piping

Branch connections on offshore platform process piping where the density of equipment, structural members and adjacent pipe runs forces branch pipe routings at angles that diverge from the perpendicular to the run pipe, and the Flexolet eliminates the additional elbow that would otherwise be required to correct the angular misalignment.

02

Fabrication Tolerance Correction

Accommodating cumulative fabrication and installation tolerances in modular piping systems where the as-built position of the branch pipe deviates slightly from the design perpendicular, allowing the connection to be made without cutting and re-spooling the branch pipe or the run pipe spool.

03

Equipment Nozzle Alignment

Branch connections to equipment nozzles — such as vessel nozzles, heat exchanger connections and pump suction/discharge nozzles — whose actual as-installed orientation differs slightly from the design drawing angle, allowing the branch to be connected without imposing bending loads on the equipment nozzle from a misaligned branch pipe.

04

Revamp & Brownfield Modifications

Branch connections on existing process piping in revamp and brownfield projects where the existing run pipe cannot be moved to accommodate a perpendicular branch take-off, and the Flexolet allows the new branch to be installed at the angle dictated by the existing plant geometry without structural piping modifications.

Branch Outlet Range

Forged Flexolet