Industrial hoses

Industrial hoses - for fuels, water, air, steam and chemicals - you will find them at RATEBO

An industrial hose is a flexible line for media other than hydraulic oil: fuels, water, air, steam, coolants and chemicals. At RATEBO you will find fuel and oil, Teflon PTFE, steam, multipurpose EPDM, cooling system, sandblasting, pressure washer and pneumatic hoses. For every product we give the parameters that decide the selection: nominal diameter DN, working pressure, temperature range and the medium the hose is intended for.

What is the difference between an industrial and a hydraulic hose?

A hydraulic hose carries oil under high pressure and has a reinforcement that carries that pressure, most often of steel wire. Industrial hoses are selected first of all for the medium and the temperature: the tube has to resist what flows inside and the cover has to resist the conditions outside. Working pressures are usually lower than in hydraulics - for hoses for fuels, water and air it is most often up to 20 bar - but there are exceptions, such as PTFE hoses and pressure washer hoses, which work at pressures of several hundred bar. If you need a hose for hydraulic oil, go to the Hydraulic hoses section.

Which hose for which medium?

• Fuels and oils - delivery and suction-delivery hoses for diesel, petrol and oils, with a tube resistant to petroleum products; the range includes delivery versions up to 20 bar and suction-delivery versions up to 10 bar.
• Teflon PTFE - hoses resistant to aggressive chemicals and temperatures up to +260°C, in a stainless steel braid, smooth and corrugated.
• Steam - a double braid hose for steam at temperatures up to +210°C and a working pressure up to 18 bar.
• Multipurpose EPDM - one hose for air, water (also hot) and mild chemicals, up to 20 bar, in the range from -40 to +120°C.
• Cooling - hoses for the cooling systems of engines, machines and devices in which water or glycol circulates.
• Sandblasting - a durable hose for sandblasting and shot blasting with an antistatic rubber tube.
• Pressure washers - hoses for hot water (up to +155°C) and detergents for pressures up to 650 bar, and textile hoses for car wash installations.
• Pneumatic - hoses for air and water up to 20 bar, pneumatic coiled hoses with quick-release couplings and thin polyamide tubing.

How to select an industrial hose?

Before you order, answer four questions: what will flow in the line, at what temperature, at what pressure or vacuum, and in what conditions the hose will work. Below we go through each of them, and when in doubt, contact us - we will select a hose for your medium.

Medium and tube material

This is the most important decision, because the tube material has to resist what flows in the hose. Hoses for fuels and oils usually have a tube of NBR rubber, hoses for water, air and mild chemicals have an EPDM rubber tube, and hoses for aggressive chemicals have a PTFE tube. Do not use a hose for water and air for fuels or oils, and do not use a fuel hose for steam or chemicals. With fuels and sandblasting choose antistatic or conductive versions, which discharge static electricity. Always check the compatibility of the tube material with the specific medium in the manufacturer's data sheet.

Working temperature

The temperature range depends on the material. Hoses for fuels and oils usually have an upper working limit from +70 to +100°C, multipurpose EPDM hoses work in the range from -40 to +120°C, steam hoses up to +210°C, and PTFE hoses even up to +260°C. Remember that at a higher temperature the permissible pressure may be lower, so check the exact values for a given diameter in the manufacturer's data sheet.

Pressure and vacuum

The hose must have a working pressure not lower than the highest pressure in the installation. The burst pressure is a safety margin, not an operating range. When sucking, e.g. when pumping fuel, resistance to vacuum also matters, so then choose suction-delivery hoses that state it (the range includes e.g. up to -0.92 bar). Hoses for pressures up to 20 bar are usually enough for compressed air, water and fuels, while higher pressures, as in pressure washers, need special hoses.

Working conditions and installation

Choose the DN diameter for the required flow: a diameter that is too small means large pressure losses, and one that is too large means unnecessary cost and a stiffer line. Do not bend the hose more sharply than the manufacturer states and do not let it twist. Where the hose rubs against sharp edges or lies on the ground, protect it with a protective guard or sleeve.

Industrial hose manufacturers in our range

In our range you will find hoses from proven manufacturers: Polyhose, M-FLEX, Semperit, MultiPRESS and EXITFLEX. Each manufacturer's page gathers its products from different sections in one place, so it is easy to compare what a given brand offers.

When to replace an industrial hose?

An industrial hose is a wear part, so it is worth inspecting regularly. Replace it when you notice cracks or blisters on the cover, abrasion exposing the braid, leaks, or when the cover has hardened and the tube has softened or swollen under the influence of the medium. Replace hoses for fuels, steam and chemicals in line with the manufacturer's recommendations, because a failure means a leak of a dangerous medium.

Orders and support

RATEBO is a platform for businesses: prices and availability are visible after a free registration that takes about a minute. After signing in you can send quotation requests and order online. If you are not sure which hose to choose, call +48 22 33 44 777 or write to [email protected] - we will select a hose based on the medium, temperature and pressure in your installation. You will find our contact details on the Contact page and delivery information on the Shipping page.

Frequently asked questions about industrial hoses

Can one hose be used for both water and fuel?

No. For fuels choose a hose with a tube resistant to petroleum products, that is a fuel and oil hose, for water and air a multipurpose EPDM hose, and for steam a steam hose. Using a hose for a medium other than the one it is intended for shortens its life and can be dangerous.

What temperature does a Teflon hose withstand?

The PTFE hoses in our range work from about -54 to +260°C and withstand aggressive chemicals. Smooth hoses (SAE 100R14) withstand pressures up to 300 bar, and corrugated ones are more flexible. See the Teflon hoses in a stainless steel braid.

Is an ordinary water hose enough for steam?

No, steam needs a hose designed for it. The steam hose in our range has two braids and a tube and cover of EPDM rubber, and it works with steam at temperatures up to +210°C at a working pressure of up to 18 bar.

Can a multipurpose hose be used for hot water?

Yes, multipurpose EPDM hoses work from -40 to +120°C and up to 20 bar. For hot water under high pressure, e.g. in pressure washers, choose pressure washer hoses instead, which work with water at temperatures up to +155°C.

How to select a hose for compressed air?

Check the working pressure (the air and water hoses in our range withstand up to 20 bar), the DN diameter and the type of end fittings. For pneumatic tools a coiled hose with quick-release couplings will work well, and for small installations - polyamide tubing.

What is a sandblasting hose for?

For sandblasting and shot blasting. The sandblasting hose is resistant to abrasion from the inside and has an antistatic rubber tube, and in our range it comes in DN25 and DN32 sizes for pressures up to 12 bar.