The latest updates from NAHAD’s Hose Safety Institute Standards Committee and Advisory Council – Empowering Your Business through Hose Assembly Safety.
One way the Institute expands its visibility in the industry is through its Advisory Council, a group of end users collectively dedicated to hose safety. Through whitepapers, NAHAD members team with selected Council members to address a variety of safety issues impacting a particular industry. The following is an excerpt from a recent Whitepaper targeting vacuum hose applications, which was presented at the Water Jet Technology Association Expo held November 3-4 in New Orleans, LA. The full whitepaper may be downloaded from the Institute website.
In-Service Considerations for Hose Assemblies: Inspections
A hose and fitting maintenance program is critical to maintaining a safe functional hose system and will reduce equipment down time and maintain peak operating performance. Hoses should be inspected and pressure tested in house or by a third party prior to placement into service and whenever a defect is suspected or at a minimum of annually. A visual inspection should be conducted prior to each use as well as end of job use. Retesting hose is a recommended procedure to insure the safe continued serviceability of hose assemblies. Retesting is recommended every 12 months.
Inspections should include:
• Visual inspection
• Pressure testing
o New hoses and hoses for re-certification should be pressure tested at 1.5 times maximum allowable working pressure for a minimum of 5 minutes; consult manufacturer for specific requirements. Note: the maximum allowable working pressure for a hose assembly is dictated by the component of the assembly (hose, fitting, etc.) with the LOWEST pressure rating.
o Hose assemblies shall be inspected and tested immediately after the hose is subjected to abnormal abuse such as: severe end pull, flattening or crushing or sharp kinking. Any hose that has been recoupled shall be proof tested and inspected before being placed in service.
• Inspection Results Documentation
Visual Inspections
The operators of the hose are a company’s last line of defense against spills resulting from damaged hose. Companies should have training programs that educate the operators on what to look for before the hose is placed into service. The operators should be trained to always err on the side of safety and “When in doubt, remove the hose from service.”
For additional information, see the Institute’s Whitepaper on Vacuum Hose.