Checklist: Check your
rubber steam hoses
A number of guidelines are in force to keep working with steam hoses safe. As these guidelines state that the user is ultimately responsible for the hoses, it is a good idea to check on the condition of your hoses periodically. It is especially important to check hoses before use if they haven't been used for some time.
Fortunately, these checks do not necessarily require assistance — you can easily carry out a good, basic check of your hoses yourself. A simple check doesn't take long and could avoid unnecessary problems. We have compiled this practical checklist to help you on your way. Work your way through each step before you use the hose to find out whether or not the hose is suitable for use there and then.
Check 1. Inspection
Check when the hose was last inspected. ISO 6134 recommend that steam hoses should be tested every year at 90 bar (provided that steam fittings are being used in line with ISO 14423). If a year has passed since the last inspection, have your hose tested by a specialist
Check 2. External damage
Check the hose for external damage to the outer wall. Look for cracks, tears, kinks and other signs of wear, as these may mean that the hose inlays are damaged. Damage to the inlays weakens a hose significantly, making it susceptible to crack during use and potentially putting the user at risk. Take damaged hoses out of use immediately or have them checked once more by a specialist before they are used again.
Check 3. Sealing surfaces
Check the sealing surfaces of the fittings for damage if the hose is not built in. Pay particular attention to the presence of rust on the sealing surfaces. Furthermore, the sealing rings must not be damaged. If in any doubt, always replace the sealing rings.
Check 4. Clamps
On hoses with gripper clamps or clamping plates, check that the clamps are in good condition. The clamps should always run parallel to the hose. In addition, all of the bolts should still be present and properly secured in the clamps. As steel clamping plates can also affected by rust, making them susceptible to split during use, inspect them carefully for rust. Replace the clamping plates they are not sufficiently secured or are showing signs of rust damage.
Check 5. Installation
Check that the hose is correctly installed. Above all, make sure that there are no sharp kinks behind the fittings and that the hose has been installed free of tension.
Check 6. Operating pressure
Once you have worked through the preceding steps, check the fittings and the hose connection at operating pressure. Please note: Take care when doing so! Slowly and gradually increase the steam pressure to full operating pressure. If no leaks appear, the hose is ready for use again.
If steam leaks do appear in the hose at operating pressure, slowly reduce the pressure again, then disconnect the hose. If the leak occurs at the clamping plates, you can try tightening or replacing them. Take the hose out of use immediately if a leak appears at a different site or if you are unable to tighten the clamping plates any more.
Have your hose inspected
This checklist enables you to quickly identify any damage to the outside of your steam hose. If you encounter any issues when working your way through this checklist, it is a good idea to take the hose out of use immediately and to have the problem corrected. Although it is not as easy to check the inside of a hose, steam hoses may very well become damaged on the inside without you knowing, for example due to popcorning or rusting inlays. Professional help should be sought regularly to check for issues like these that are difficult to detect. A team of specialists will be able to examine and test your hose more thoroughly.
Steam hose tests should be carried out in accordance with the applicable guidelines — ISO 6134 (steam hoses) and NPR 5527. Both recommend that steam hoses should be subjected to a pressure test every six months. Steam hoses are tested at a test pressure of five times the operating pressure. If the inlays of the steam hose (under the surface) have been severely damaged, for example by corrosion, or if the inlays have been weakened by a sharp object, the hose will crack prematurely. Hoses that pass the test can be put safely back into use. If you need help testing your hoses, contact us!
