Paddle Blind & Ring Spacer Manufacturer, Supplier & Exporter
A paddle blind (also called a spade or paddle blank) is a solid steel plate with a handle, inserted between two flanges to block a line. A ring spacer (paddle spacer) is the matching open ring, of the same thickness, that fills the gap when the line is in service. Raaj Fittings manufactures and exports paddle blinds and ring spacers to ASME B16.48 in stainless steel, duplex, nickel alloys, carbon steel and alloy steel.
Used as a pair, the paddle blind and ring spacer do the same job as a spectacle blind but as two separate pieces. This makes them the practical choice for large diameters and high pressure classes, where a one-piece spectacle blind would be too heavy to rotate, and for temporary isolation points.
All paddle blinds and spacers are supplied with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates, with 3.2 certification and third-party inspection on request.
We export paddle blinds & ring spacers to EPC contractors, refineries and stockists across the Middle East and GCC, Europe and the Americas, made to the ASME, EN or DIN standard your project specifies, with PED-compliant supply for European projects on request.
Paddle Blind & Ring Spacer Specifications
½" NPS to 24" NPS to ASME B16.48; larger sizes for ASME B16.47 flanges to order
ASME Class 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500 and 2500
ASME B16.48 (line blanks); legacy API 590 dimensions on request
Flat faces for raised-face flanges; ring ends for Ring Type Joint (RTJ) flanges
Integral handle for lifting and identification, with size, class and material marked
Paddle blind and ring spacer separately or as a matched pair
Cut from plate or forged, and CNC machined
EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificate as standard; EN 10204 3.2 on request
Materials & Grades
We supply paddle blinds & ring spacers in the following materials and grades. All grades are supplied with EN 10204 3.1 / 3.2 Mill Test Certificates.
Stainless Steel Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers
Stainless steel flanges offer excellent corrosion resistance and are essential in chemical, pharmaceutical, food processing, and marine environments.
(ASTM A182 F304 / F304L) General corrosion resistance
(ASTM A182 F316 / F316L) Superior resistance to chlorides, acids; marine & pharmaceutical service
(ASTM A182 F316H) High-temperature elevated creep strength
(ASTM A182 F321) Titanium-stabilized; suitable for sustained elevated temperatures
(ASTM A182 F347) Columbium-stabilized; used in heat exchangers and high-temperature piping
High alloy; exceptional resistance to strong acids
Duplex & Super Duplex Stainless Steel Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers
Duplex and super duplex grades offer approximately twice the yield strength of standard austenitic stainless steel, combined with excellent resistance to stress corrosion cracking and pitting — making them ideal for offshore, subsea, and chemical processing.
(UNS S31803 / S32205) Used in offshore platforms and chemical processing plants
(UNS S32750) Ideal for seawater handling and desalination systems
(UNS S32760) Designed for high-chloride offshore service applications
Nickel Alloy Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers
For the most aggressive corrosive environments — including concentrated acids, caustic solutions, sour gas service, and extreme temperatures — we offer flanges in a full range of nickel alloys.
(UNS N06600) High-temperature oxidation resistance
(UNS N06625) Outstanding corrosion resistance for offshore and subsea service
(UNS N08825) Excellent resistance to phosphoric and sulfuric acids
(UNS N10276) Broad-spectrum corrosion resistance in acids and chlorides
(UNS N06022) Superior resistance to oxidizing acids
(UNS N04400) Suitable for seawater, hydrofluoric acid, and marine environments
(UNS N08020) Engineered for sulfuric acid service
Exceptional corrosion resistance with low weight
(C70600 / C71500) Preferred for marine and seawater piping systems
Carbon Steel Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers
Carbon steel is the standard choice for general-purpose, non-corrosive, and elevated-temperature services. The primary grade for forged carbon steel flanges is ASTM A105, and for low-temperature service, ASTM A350 LF2.
Primary grade for forged carbon steel fittings and flanges — covers ambient and elevated-temperature service in pressurised piping systems.
Low-temperature carbon steel, impact-tested for service down to -46°C (-50°F) — LNG, cold climate, and cryogenic piping applications.
Alloy Steel Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers
Alloy steel flanges are specified for high-temperature, high-pressure service in power generation, petrochemical, and refinery applications.
(5% Cr, ½% Mo) Designed for elevated temperature refinery service
(9% Cr, 1% Mo) Suitable for high-temperature steam and hydrogen service
(1¼% Cr, ½% Mo) Widely used in thermal power plant piping systems
(2¼% Cr, 1% Mo) Used in high-temperature pressure vessels and reactors
(9% Cr, 1% Mo, V, Nb) Engineered for ultra-high-temperature power plant steam lines
How Paddle Blinds and Spacers Are Used
In normal operation the ring spacer sits between the two flanges with a gasket on each side, and the line runs at full bore. When the line must be isolated, the bolts are slackened, the flanges spread, the spacer removed and the paddle blind inserted in its place. Because the spacer and blind are the same thickness, the piping does not have to be moved or re-aligned.
- Positive isolation — a solid plate gives a certain barrier for maintenance and vessel entry.
- Visible handle — the handle projects from the joint so the fitted item can be identified.
- Manageable weight — each piece is lighter than an equivalent spectacle blind.
- Constant spacing — the spacer keeps the flange gap so the blind can be inserted at any time.
Paddle Blind or Spectacle Blind?
A spectacle blind keeps both halves together in one piece, which is convenient for small and medium sizes. Paddle blinds and spacers are preferred for large sizes, high classes and where isolation is only needed occasionally. To close the open end of a line, a blind flange is used.
Thickness and Design
ASME B16.48 gives the thickness of paddle blanks and spacers for each size, pressure class and facing so that the blind can withstand full line pressure. For RTJ flanges, the blind and spacer have ring ends that seat in the grooves of the mating weld neck flanges.
Applications & Industries
- Equipment isolation for maintenance and vessel entry in refineries and petrochemical plants
- Large-diameter process and pipeline isolation
- Commissioning, hydrostatic testing and start-up isolation
- Power plant steam and cooling water systems
- Offshore and LNG facilities
- Chemical and fertiliser plants
See all flange types we manufacture.
Testing, Inspection, Marking & Packing
Paddle blinds and ring spacers are produced under our quality assurance process:
- Incoming material verification with PMI testing
- Chemical and mechanical testing to the applicable ASTM plate or forging specification
- Dimensional inspection of thickness, outside diameter, spacer bore and handle
- Gasket-face finish check, and ring-end dimensions on RTJ items
- Marking on the handle with size, class, facing, grade and heat number
Supplied with EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates; EN 10204 3.2 certificates and third-party inspection are available on request.
Flanges are packed for export with gasket faces protected by covers, rust-preventive coating on carbon and alloy steel, and seaworthy wooden cases; marking, tagging and packing to your specification are available on request.
Why Choose Raaj Fittings for Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers?
Raaj Sagar Steels has supplied piping components since 2003 and today manufactures flanges at two plants in India for buyers in the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.
- Manufactured in-house — Paddle blinds & ring spacers are made in our own plants, so material, dimensions and delivery stay under our control.
- Ready stock, short lead times — common sizes and grades are held in stock for prompt dispatch; other sizes, grades and specials are manufactured to order.
- Certified quality — ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certified; PED 2014/68/EU and IBR supply available, and NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 material on request.
- 100% material verification — PMI testing on incoming material and EN 10204 3.1 mill test certificates with every order; 3.2 certificates on request.
- Third-party inspection ready — we regularly work with SGS, Bureau Veritas, TÜV and DNV.
- Export documentation — MTCs, certificates of origin, packing lists and inspection reports to suit projects in the GCC, Europe and the Americas.
- Export packing — seaworthy packing with end and face protection, and packing to your specification on request.
- Fast response — our team replies to enquiries within one business day.
Paddle Blinds & Ring Spacers — FAQs
A paddle blind, or spade, is a solid steel plate with a handle that is inserted between two flanges to block a pipeline for maintenance or isolation.
A ring spacer is an open ring of the same thickness as the paddle blind. It fills the gap between the flanges while the line is in service, so the blind can be inserted later without moving the pipework.
A spectacle blind joins the blind and spacer in one piece that is rotated between positions. Paddle blinds and spacers are separate pieces, which keeps the weight down in large sizes and high pressure classes.
ASME B16.48 covers paddle blanks and paddle spacers, as well as spectacle blinds, for use with ASME B16.5 and B16.47 flanges.
Yes. For ring type joint flanges, paddle blinds and spacers are supplied with machined ring ends to suit the ring groove number of the mating flanges.
Yes. We supply paddle blinds & ring spacers for projects under the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED 2014/68/EU), and with IBR certification for Indian boiler applications. NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 compliant material is also available on request for sour service in the Middle East and the Americas.
