Flow theories can help in determining the fundamental interrelationships between the leak rate of gaskets for flange connections and the relevant influencing parameters. The basic rule for the transfer of results obtained for special boundary conditions to other conditions can be derived. In this way the effort involved in gasket testing can be reduced. This paper gives the interrelations between the leak rate of gaskets on the one hand and the internal pressure, the temperature, the medium, and the gasket thickness on the other and discusses them with aid of measured results. The effect of the gasket stress and thickness can be determined only of experimental investigations. Furthermore, the requirements placed on gaskets, the leak rate related gasket characteristics defined in various standards and the measuring techniques for their determination are discussed.