Sanitary Hoses & Hygienic Hose Assemblies: Lifespan

Hose Lead In

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

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

Pressure surges will also affect the life cycle of sanitary hoses. Occasionally, it is necessary to increase the pump pressure to move the product faster or 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 of up to 400 psi. In this situation, ensure 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

Match Sanitary Hose Assemblies to 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 in the beverage industry as well as the food and dairy industries:

  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.

Sanitary Hose Assemblies FAQs

What contributes to the longevity of sanitary hose products?

The primary factors contributing to a sanitary hose's lifespan are high temperatures, chemical exposure, changes in pressure, the frequency of cleaning, and the duration of these factors.

How do high temperatures and chemicals used for cleaning impact the life of the sanitary hose?

Consult Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to ensure compatibility between hose material, cleaning chemicals, and operating temperatures. If the materials are incompatible, supplying sanitary hose assemblies with improper cleaning agents, liquids and temperatures can lead to material degradation.

How do you increase the lifespan of sanitary hoses?

Conduct routine hose checks, ensure staff receives proper training on sanitary hoses and connections, and maintain a tracking system to manage those routine tasks proactively. Sanitary hoses are instrumental for clean-in-place processes, which are needed to ensure product quality and overall line cleanliness. A smooth systems check specifically designed to check the hose configurator and other applications is paramount to having a hose system that is properly maintained for processing systems handling milk, beer, juice, wine, and more.

How does hydraulic shock affect sanitary hoses?

Water hammer (or hydraulic shock) occurs when fluid in motion is suddenly forced to stop. Avoiding quickly opening or closing valves prevents this. These pressure surges, shocks, or water hammers reduce the hose's lifespan.

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.