Customer Service 0232 479 15 50

Application Considerations: What’s best for your system?

Application Considerations: What’s best for your system?


Proper hose selection is critical in order to realize a safe hydraulic system. The first step in having a safe hydraulic system is selecting the proper components that meet the individual needs of each system. Compromises in hose selection may create situations of danger, as well as affect the performance and durability of the system. The choice may work for the short run, but may not be a good long-term decision. This guide uses the STAMPED process. STAMPED is an acronym for the 7 major information areas required to provide a quality hose assembly. In this post, we will be focusing on A for Application.

Application: The conditions under which the hose assembly will be used

The type of application in which a hose assembly will be used is very important in determining what type of hose should be selected. The most common types of applications are listed below.

  • High Impulse: Hydraulic system is subjected to frequent pressure spikes.
  • Low Impulse: Hydraulic system is seldom subjected to pressure spikes.
  • Non-flexing Applications: Hose assemblies are not subjected to bending or flexing from articulation of the equipment.
  • Flexing Applications: Hose assemblies are subjected to bending or flexing due to articulation or movement of the equipment.
  • Vacuum: Hose assembly is exposed to negative pressure (less than atmospheric).

Environmental conditions such as ultraviolet light, salt water, air pollutants, temperature, ozone, chemicals, electricity, abrasion and paint application will all negatively impact hose assembly life

Static discharge can become an issue when non-polar liquids or mixtures including non-polar liquids are conveyed in non-conductive hose. A static charge will build and on discharge perforate the hose tube, to avoid this use conductive tube products when conveying non-polar, or mixtures of non-polar, liquids.

Electrical conductivity of hydraulic hoses or conveyed fluids is an issue with equipment used to work around electrical lines. If hydraulic equipment is to be used around electrical lines, always use hydraulic hoses rated as non-conductive.

Be sure to select products that will meet any regulatory standards required in the application. Examples of these standards would include: SAE, USCG, EN/DIN, ABS, etc.

Never place hoses in a position where they are pulled on. Hoses are designed to hold pressure and convey fluids, exposing them to axial loads will cause premature failure. Any special or unusual applications should always be approved by the hose manufacturer, otherwise additional independent testing may be required.

The following questions may need to be answered, such as:

  • Where will hose be used?
  • Fluid and/or ambient temperature?
  • Hose construction?
  • Equipment type?
  • Fluid compatibility?
  • Thread end connection type?
  • Working and surge pressures?
  • Environmental conditions?
  • Permanent or field attachable couplings?
  • Suction application?
  • Routing requirements?
  • Thread type?
  • Are government and industry standards being met?
  • Unusual mechanical loads?
  • Minimum bend radius?
  • Non-conductive hose required?
  • Excessive abrasion?

The above is an excerpt from NAHAD’s Hose Safety Institute HANDBOOK, which provides performance standards for hose assembly specification, design, handling and management.