Rubber hose products in storage can be affected adversely by temperature, humidity, ozone, sunlight, oils, solvents, corrosive liquids, fumes, insects, rodents and radioactive materials. The following are the precautions to ensure longer life of the hose:
Hoses should be preferably stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Exposure to direct or reflected sunlight-even through windows- should also be avoided.
Please take care while using knives or sharp tools while unpacking the hose.
Hose should not be piled or stacked to such an extent that the weight of the stack creates distortions on the lengths stored at the bottom. In case of large bore hose, reinforced with wire and with end fittings, hose should be kept in straight condition without stacking over one another. Hose trans-shipped straight should be stored straight.
Rubber hose should not be stored near electrical equipment that may generate ozone. Uncovered hose should not be stored under fluorescent or mercury lamps which generate light waves harmful to rubber. Hose should be kept away from arc welders.
Items should be stored on a first-in, first-out basis, since even under the best of conditions; an unusually long shelf life could cause deterioration of certain rubber hoses.
Hose should not be dragged over sharp or abrasive surfaces unless specifically designed for such service..
Care should be taken to protect hose from severe end loads for which the hose or hose assembly were not designed.
Hose should be used at or below its rated working pressure; any changes in pressure should be made gradually so as not to subject the hose to excessive surge pressure. Hose should not be bent beyond the designed bend radius
Hose should not be kinked or be run over by equipment or vehicles viz. forklifts. In the case of the hose with end fittings-avoid sharp bends at nipples and end connections. Hose should not be pulled by its coupling. It can lead to a dangerous failure.
In handling large size hoses, hose dollies should be used whenever possible; slings or handling rigs, properly placed (apporx. every 10 feet), should be used to support heavy hose used in oil suction and discharge service. Large diameter hose should be lifted by the middle with ends hanging down. This can damage the hose's internal reinforcement. Where hose is exposed to excessive wear at one spot, add an extra protective cover, such as a nylon sleeve or a pad.
Coupling slippage or seepage should be checked frequently. In case of oil suction and discharge hoses, hoses should not be allowed to lie in polls of oil. After usage the hose must be drained completely.
An inspection and hydrostatic test should be made at periodic intervals to determine if a hose is suitable for continued service. A visual inspection of the hose should be made for loose covers, kinks, bulges or soft spots which might indicate broken or displaced reinforcement
The couplings or fittings should be closely examined and, if there is any sign of movement of the hose from the couplings, the hose should be removed from the service.
The periodic inception should be include a hydrostatic test for one minute at 150% of the recommended working pressure of the hose. During the hydrostatic test, the hose should be straight, not coiled or in kinked position. Water is recommended as the test medium. Air or any other compressible gas must never be used as the test media because of the explosive action of the hose should a failure occur. A detailed test procedure must be obtained from the manufacture before conducting hydrostatic testing.
Before conducting any pressure tests on hose, provisions must be made to ensure the safety of the personnel performing the tests and to prevent any possible damage to property. Only trained personnel using proper tools and procedures should conduct any pressure tests.
Air or any other compressible gas must never be used as the test media because of the explosive action of the hose should a failure occur. Such a failure might result in possible damage to being filled with the test medium.
Air should be removed from the hose by bleeding it through an outlet valve while the hose is being filled with the test medium.
Hose to be pressure tested must be restrained by placing steel rods or straps close to each end and at approximate 10 foot (3m) intervals along its length to keep the hose from "Whipping" if failure occurs; the steel rods or straps are to be anchored firmly to the test structure but in such a manner that they do not contact the hose which must be free to move.
The outlet end of the hose is to be bulwarked so that a blown-out fitting will be stopped.
Provisions must be made to protect testing personnel from the forces of the pressure media if a failure occurs
Testing personnel must never stand in front of or in back of the ends of a hose being pressure tested. Failure to properly follow the manufacturer's recommended procedures for the care, maintenance and storage of a particular hose might result in its failure to perform in the manner intended and might result in possible damage to property and serious bodily injury. Hose has a limited life and the user must be alert to signs of impending failure, particularly when the conditions of service including high working pressures and/or the conveyance or containment of hazardous materials. The periodic inspection and testing procedures described here provide a schedule of specific measures which constitute a minimum level of user action to detect signs indicating hose deterioration or loss of performance before conditions leading to malfunction or failure are reached.
When liquids such as gasoline, oil, solvent, or other hazardous fluids are used as the test fluid, precautions must be taken to protect against fire or other damage should a hose fail and the test liquid be sprayed over the surrounding area. The Rubber manufactures association has published separately a series of hose technical information bulletins describing maintenance, testing, and inspection recommendations.