65 Bolting Theory Tightening Methods Advantages of Controlled Tightening Known controllable and accurate bolt loads Employs tooling with controllable outputs and adopts calculation to determine the required tool settings Uniformity of bolt loading Especially important on gasketed joints as an even and consistent compression is required for the gasket to be effective Safe operation following prescribed procedures Eliminates the dangerous activities of manual uncontrolled tightening and requires that the operators be skilled and follow procedures Reduces operational time resulting in increased productivity Reduces tightening time and operator fatigue by replacing manual effort with the use of controlled tooling Reliable and repeatable results Using calibrated tested equipment following procedures and employing skilled operators achieves known results consistently The right results first time Many of the uncertainties surrounding inservice joint failures are removed by ensuring the correct assembly and tightening of the joint are carried out the first time Principally there are two modes of tightening Uncontrolled and Controlled Uncontrolled tightening Uses equipment andor procedures that cannot be measured Preload is applied to a bolt and nut assembly using a hammer and spanner or other types of impact tools Controlled tightening Employs calibrated and measurable equipment follows prescribed procedures and is carried out by trained personnel There are two main techniques Torque tightening and Bolt tensioning 1 Torque tightening Achieves preload in a bolt and nut assembly via the nut in a controlled manner using a tool 2 Bolt tensioning Achieves preload in a bolt and nut assembly by stretching the bolt axially using a tool Bolting Integrity Software A compr ehensive online softwar e solution for Bolt ed Joint Int egrity Int egr al databases hold data for BS1560 MSS SP44 API 6A and 17D anged joints Common gasket mat erials and con gur ations Compr ehensive r ange of bolt mat erials Compr ehensive r ange of lubricants Enerpacs Contr olled Bolting Equipment including T or que Multipliers Hydr aulic W r enches and Bolt T ensioning t ools Cust om Joint information can also be ent er ed The softwar e of ers T ool selection Bolt L oad calculations and T ool pr essur e settings as well as a combined Application data sheet and Joint completion r eport Visit wwwenerpaccom to access our free online bolting software application and obtain information on tool selection bolt load calculations and tool pressure settings A combined application data sheet and joint completion report is also available