🔍 Key Concepts

• Proper flange alignment before tightening bolts • The purpose of a gasket in a flanged joint • Good vs. bad practices when preparing flange faces

💭 Think About

• Think about what must be true so the gasket can seal evenly all the way around the joint. • Which step, if skipped, is most likely to cause leaks or damage when you tighten the bolts? • Which option sounds like a normal, routine part of pipefitting work—and which sound like something that could damage equipment or be unsafe?

✅ Before You Answer

• Check which choice ensures even pressure on the gasket and bolts. • Eliminate any option that would damage the flange face or gasket on purpose. • Consider standard practice: what do mechanics and pipefitters always verify before they pull up a flange joint?