How Long Should Sanitary Hose Last?

Hose Lead In
The longitivtiy of sanitary hose is dependent on a series of environmental and application variables.

Elevated temperatures and chemical attack greatly impact hose life. These factors, combined with increased frequency and duration of the cleaning cycle, is a recipe for premature failure. It is imperative to obtain MSDS sheets on the cleaning chemicals in use to ensure they are compatible with the hose compound and temperature.

Pressure surges will also affect the life cycle of sanitary hose. On occasion, it is necessary to increase the pump pressure to move product faster or to remove a clog in the line. Hydraulic shock is another type of surge typically caused by a valve quickly shutting on and off. For example, a two inch interior diameter (ID) hose with a flow rate of 40 gpm can create a pressure surge up to 400 psi. In this situation, make sure the hose assembly has a working pressure equal to or greater than the surge pressure.

Reasons for premature failure:

  • Misapplication
  • Operator misuse
  • Pressure spikes
  • Chemical attack
  • Elevated temperatures
  • Excessive cleaning
Ensure that the proper hose is used for the application. To accomplish this, use the acronym, "STAMPED."
  • Size (inside diameter of the hose)
  • Temperature (both for product transfer and cleaning)
  • Application (what and how the hose will be used)
  • Media (product being transferred)
  • Pressure (both for cleaning and product transfer)
  • End Connections (type, style, and material)
  • Delivery (special packaging requirements)

Here are a few suggestions that will help increase the life cycle of sanitary hoses and help protect that investment in the future:

  1. Conduct a hose audit, which is an in-depth audit and inventory of all hoses. Each hose will be checked for application, suitability, current condition, and longevity.
  2. Develop and implement a tracking system by serializing all hoses; this will point out problem areas in a facility.
  3. Offer training on proper handling of the hose and proper ways to connect the hose.

Complying with the above suggestions will provide a traceable baseline for suitability, life cycle trending, longevity, and regulatory support documentation for sanitary hose assemblies.

ABOUT CSI

Central States Industrial Equipment (CSI) is a leader in distribution of hygienic pipe, valves, fittings, pumps, heat exchangers, and MRO supplies for hygienic industrial processors, with four distribution facilities across the U.S. CSI also provides detail design and execution for hygienic process systems in the food, dairy, beverage, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and personal care industries. Specializing in process piping, system start-ups, and cleaning systems, CSI leverages technology, intellectual property, and industry expertise to deliver solutions to processing problems. More information can be found at www.csidesigns.com.