The Hose Selection Guide: The Paper Trail

When you, as a service technician, order or install a new industrial hose, it's tempting to focus solely on pressure, temperature and the fluid being transported. These are the parameters you see on a day-to-day basis. But in the food and pharmaceutical industries, documentation is at least as important as the hose itself if you want to be confident ahead of the next audit. 

That is why, in this edition of the Hose Selection Guide, we are focusing on documentation, traceability and certificates – topics that often only become relevant when something goes wrong in production. 

Read on and stay ahead! 

The Declaration of Compliance is your proof that a material has been tested and granted approval for contact with your specific media. It is about ensuring that neither chemicals nor particles from, for example, a hose migrate into your product.  

When we talk about regulations such as EU 1935/2004, EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, it's this declaration that ties it all together: 

• Regulatory compliance: Documents compliance with applicable regulations. 
• Process validation: Confirms that the material can withstand your specific temperatures and chemicals. 
• Audit readiness: Minimises the risk of non-conformities and production stoppages. 

Although the hose is approved for food contact, the associated couplings must also meet industry requirements. Here, the 3.1 certificate (EN 10204) plays a central role. The certificate is your guarantee that the stainless steel in the couplings has the correct chemical composition, which is essential for preventing corrosion in aggressive environments. 

At the same time, you should focus on surface roughness (Ra value). We supply union parts with Ra < 0.8 µm as standard, but for processes with stricter requirements – typically in the pharmaceutical sector – we can supply aseptic fittings down to Ra < 0.4 µm. A smooth surface is, in fact, a prerequisite for effective cleaning and the elimination of biofilm. 

Once a hose has been fully assembled in our assembly workshop, it undergoes a pressure test to confirm that it can withstand the exact pressure conditions it will encounter in your production. It's not enough to assume that the assembly will hold; we test the integrity of both the hose and the coupling by subjecting the assembly to a controlled overpressure before delivery. 

The pressure test certificate is your documented guarantee that the component is safe to use. A validated test ensures your operations across several parameters: 

• Operator safety: Prevents sudden bursts or leaks. 
• Operational guarantee: Replaces gut feelings with validated test data. 
• Leak prevention: Identifies potential weaknesses in the assembly before installation. 

The foundation of your risk management is often hidden in the small numbers engraved on the hose couplings. Batch numbers and customer-specific labelling together create a direct link between the physical product and the technical data the operator needs in their daily work. Without this marking, it would be almost impossible to locate the source of a defect or ensure correct application in a busy production environment. 

By requiring full traceability and visible specifications, you achieve a level of transparency that enables you to react quickly and effectively: 

• Rapid isolation & history: The batch number makes it possible to replace only the affected components and provides full insight into the material’s origin. 
• Correct application: Visible specifications and instructions for use ensure that the equipment is always used as intended and within the correct pressure limits. 
• Logistical overview: Information on ownership makes it easy to identify exactly where in the plant each individual hose belongs.

If you’d like to see how this traceability works in practice, we recommend watching the latest video from our ‘Peter’s Week’ series. Here, our Warehouse Manager explains how the batch number on a hose coupling helps us maintain an overview of the entire supply chain and ensures your quality assurance.  

With the documentation in place, we've reached the end of The Hose Selection Guide. We've tried to cover everything you need to know when it comes to choosing the best industrial hose for your application. And yes - there are many things to keep in mind. We hope you got something out of following along!

Here are the previous editions for a quick overview:

1. The Hose Selection Guide: Your task, your choice
2. The Hose Selection Guide: Heat and cold
3. The Hose Selection Guide: Under pressure
4. The Hose Selection Guide: Perfect fit

And remember...

If you are in doubt about anything, you are always welcome to contact our sales consultants, who know all about choosing the right industrial hose for any production purpose. They are available by phone +45 7020 0422 and will of course also answer your email via inquiry@alfotech.eu.

Happy hose hunting!