This International Standard specifies the requirements for couplings for the transmission of power between the rotating shafts of two machines for general-purpose applications in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. Such applications typically require couplings to transmit power at speeds not exceeding 4 000 r/min, between machines in which the first lateral critical speed is above the running speed range (stiff-shaft machines). It can, by agreement, be used for applications outside these limits. NOTE 1 Recommendations are included in the Introduction as to when the use of ISO 10441 should be considered. This International Standard is applicable to couplings designed to accommodate parallel (or lateral) offset, angular misalignment and axial displacement of the shafts without imposing excessive mechanical loading on the coupled machines. Couplings covered by this International Standard include gear (and other mechanical contact types), metallic flexible-element and various elastomeric types. Such couplings can be of all metal construction or can include components of non-metallic materials, such as composites. This International Standard covers design, materials of construction, inspection and testing of couplings and methods of attachment of the coupling to the shafts (including tapered sleeve and other proprietary devices). This International Standard does not apply to special types of couplings, such as clutch, hydraulic, eddy-current, rigid and radial-spline types. This International Standard does not define criteria for the selection of coupling types for specific applications. NOTE 2 In many cases, couplings covered by this International Standard are manufacturers' catalogue items.