SAE J514 Explained
SAE J514 is the standard behind JIC 37° flare fittings. Here is what it covers, what JIC means and how the standard is now split into three parts.
Last updated October 30, 2026. Reference values; verify against manufacturer specifications.
SAE J514 is the SAE International standard for hydraulic tube fittings that defines the JIC 37° flare fitting: its 37° seat, its UN/UNF threads by dash size and its working pressures. "JIC" comes from the Joint Industry Council (also given as Joint Industrial Council), the industry group whose fitting design SAE adopted. The original J514 was cancelled in November 2024 and its content now sits in three parts: J514/1 for 37° flared fittings, J514/2 for flareless fittings and J514/3 for pipe adapters and adapter unions.
What JIC means
JIC stands for Joint Industry Council. The council developed a 37° flare fitting for industrial hydraulics, and SAE later took the design into SAE J514. The name stuck: in catalogs, "JIC", "SAE 37°" and "SAE J514 37° flare" all describe the same fitting.
The 37° angle is measured from the fitting's centreline, so the included angle of the cone is 74°. That is what separates a JIC fitting from a 45° SAE flare fitting, which has a 90° included angle. See JIC vs SAE 45° for the difference in practice.
The parts of SAE J514
| Document | What it covers | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SAE J514 | Hydraulic tube fittings: 37° flared and flareless fittings, O-ring plugs, pipe fittings and adapter unions | Issued 1950; last revised 2012; cancelled November 2024 |
| SAE J514/1 | Part 1: 37° flared fittings, including 37° fittings with NPTF pipe threads (Appendix B) | Issued December 2021; edition dated March 2024 listed |
| SAE J514/2 | Part 2: flareless (bite-type) hydraulic tube fittings | Edition dated April 2024 listed |
| SAE J514/3 | Part 3: NPTF pipe adapters and NPSM adapter unions | Edition dated December 2023 listed |
Status from SAE International's standards listings, checked October 2026. Revision dates of the three parts change; check SAE for the current edition before quoting one.
What SAE J514 specifies for 37° fittings
- Seat geometry: a 37° male cone and matching female seat or flared tube. The seal is metal to metal.
- Threads: UN/UNF straight threads, one per dash size. The threads hold the joint together; they do not seal. The full list is on the JIC fitting size chart and the JIC thread pitch chart.
- Dash sizes: the dash number is the tube OD in sixteenths of an inch, from -2 to -32. See the JIC dash size chart.
- Shapes and dimensions: unions, elbows, tees, crosses, bulkhead fittings, nuts, sleeves, caps and plugs. These are covered on JIC fitting types.
- Working pressures: a table of working pressures by size, with lower values for swivel and adjustable fittings than for rigid ones. The standard states these are not a guaranteed minimum and recommends testing for each application. The values are compared on the JIC pressure rating page.
Where SAE J514 fittings are used
SAE describes the fittings as intended for general application in hydraulic systems on industrial equipment and commercial products. In practice that includes construction, agricultural and mobile equipment, industrial machines and power units. JIC fittings are not aerospace fittings. Aerospace flare fittings (AN and MS standards) also use a 37° flare but are made to separate military and aerospace specifications. See JIC vs AN.
SAE J514 and ISO 8434-2
ISO 8434-2 covers 37° flared connectors for fluid power and general use. It is the international standard most often cited next to SAE J514 for JIC fittings, and fitting makers commonly list both on the same product. Where an exact dimension, tolerance or pressure matters, use the edition named in your drawing or purchase specification, not a general chart.
Related standards
| Standard | Connection | How it relates to JIC |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 8434-2 | 37° flared connectors | International counterpart for 37° flare fittings |
| SAE J1926 | SAE straight-thread O-ring boss (ORB) ports | Same UN/UNF threads as JIC in most sizes, but seals with an O-ring |
| SAE J1453 | O-ring face seal (ORFS) | Flat face with an O-ring; some threads match larger JIC sizes |
| SAE J512 | 45° flare and other automotive tube fittings | Same threads as JIC in several sizes, different seat angle |
| SAE J516 | Hydraulic hose fittings | Hose-end fittings, including JIC swivel ends |
| SAE J517 | Hydraulic hose (100R series) | Hose sizes and pressure classes used with JIC hose ends |
Several of these share threads with JIC. A J1926 ORB port, a J512 45° flare and a J514 37° flare can all have the same 7/16-20 thread at -4, which is why matching threads is not enough to identify a fitting. The identification guide shows how to check the seat angle as well.
Why the standard was split
The original J514 covered several fitting families in one document. Moving 37° flared fittings, flareless fittings and pipe adapters into separate parts lets each family be revised on its own schedule. For most users nothing changes: a JIC fitting made to J514/1 is designed to fit one made to the earlier J514.
Reading the standard
SAE standards are sold by SAE International and authorised resellers. Fitting makers' catalogs, such as Parker's, reproduce the dimensions most people need, and the charts on this site summarise them. Use the standard itself, or the fitting maker's data, for design and compliance work.
References
SAE International listings for J514 (cancelled 2024-11), J514/1, J514/2 and J514/3; SAE J514 scope (preview); ISO 8434-2 title; Parker Catalog 4300 and 4400.
Frequently asked questions
What is SAE J514?
SAE J514 is the SAE International standard for hydraulic tube fittings that defines the JIC 37° flare fitting. It was cancelled in November 2024 and replaced by J514/1, J514/2 and J514/3.
What does JIC stand for?
JIC stands for Joint Industry Council, the group whose 37° flare fitting design was adopted into SAE J514.
Is SAE J514 the same as JIC?
Yes, in everyday use. A JIC fitting is a 37° flare fitting made to SAE J514, now SAE J514/1.
What replaced SAE J514?
SAE J514/1 (37° flared fittings), SAE J514/2 (flareless fittings) and SAE J514/3 (NPTF pipe adapters and NPSM adapter unions).
What is the ISO equivalent of SAE J514?
ISO 8434-2 covers 37° flared connectors and is the ISO standard most often listed with SAE J514 for JIC fittings.
Are SAE J514 fittings used in aircraft?
No. SAE J514 fittings are for industrial and commercial hydraulics. Aircraft use AN and MS fittings made to aerospace specifications.