4 Advice to Choose a Flanged Flexible Metal Hoses

21 Jul.,2025

 

How to Choose the Right Flexible Hose - Flextech Industries

How to Choose the Right Flexible Hose

Posted: November 29, | Category: Flexible Hoses

When choosing a flexible hose for your operation, it can be difficult to determine which option is best for your needs. Every flexible hose is designed to meet different specifications or to handle different substances, so it is crucial to choose a product that is suitable for your application. Choosing the wrong hose can drastically increase the risk of various safety hazards and equipment damage while reducing system performance and efficiency. That is why the experts at Flextech Industries have compiled some information to help you determine how to choose the right flexible hose and ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency for your system.

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Learn about 4 important components of a flexible hose.

4 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Flexible Hose

When looking at your options for flexible hoses, it is crucial to consider the following factors before making a final decision:

1. The Intended Application

When choosing a flexible hose, you will need to consider the intended application. For example, hoses that transfer air will differ in many ways when compared to hoses that transfer water or gasoline. Other application-related considerations include the frequency at which the hose will be used and whether it needs to meet certain industrial or government standards. The environmental conditions that the hose will be exposed to will also affect which type of flexible hose is suitable for your needs, so it is crucial to consider each of these elements before making a final purchase.

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2. Working Pressure

The common working pressure of your application will have a direct impact on your options for flexible hoses. Whether the application calls for positive (PSI) or negative (Hg) pressure, choosing an inadequate hose can result in bursting or equipment damage. Be sure to understand your working pressure requirements to ensure that you are only looking at hoses that meet these specifications.

Learn all about high temperature flexible hoses.

3. Size/Dimensions

The selected hose must meet the diameter and length requirements of the job. Incorrect sizing will often result in clogs if the hose is too small or leaks if it is too large. This can be especially dangerous if the hose is used to transport fuel, hazardous materials, or substances that are extremely hot.

Is it time to replace your flexible hose?

4. Temperature Ratings

All flexible hoses have a temperature rating that determines their resistance to extreme heat or cold. Failure to match these requirements with your application can result in frozen or melted hoses. Internal and external temperatures directly impact the type of hose that should be selected for the job, so be sure to consider both before selecting a product.

To learn more about our selection of flexible hoses and other specialty products, get in touch with the team at Flextech Industries. We can be reached through our online contact form and will work with you to provide the perfect solution for your needs.

Flexible Metal Hoses: All You Need To Know - Aeroflex Industries

The type of piping used to connect two distant points to transport or transfer fluid is known as a flexible hose. Most flexible piping & metal hoses look similar. However, their dimension, thickness and size may vary according to the requirement of the application.

A flexible metal hose helps absorb vibrations, pipe movements, and noise. They are designed to connect misaligned rigid piping. They also help connect moving parts of machinery or equipment and are practical for hooking up frequently moved or dismantled equipment.

At Aeroflex, we manufacture customised flexible metallic hoses that are durable and corrosion & temperature resistant.

Upgrade Your Systems with Flexible Metal Hoses

A] Flexible Metal Hose/Flexible Piping: What’s Inside?

A metal hose, commonly known as a hosepipe, is made from four basic components. Individually, these parts may appear very simple. But, when combined in a flexible metal hose assembly, they become an optimal solution for varied industries and applications.

1. Corrugated Tubing

Corrugated tubing is the main component of a flexible metal hose. It plays a key role in the significant value-added attributes of the assembly, such as flexibility, corrosion resistance, and pressure rating.

  • Flexibility: Flexibility in a hose refers to the “minimum dynamic bend radius” (MDBR). Here, if an application needs a tighter MDBR, then a close-pitched corrugated metal hose is ideal. Why? because it helps distribute the bending stress over more corrugations, thereby allowing the hose to bend more tightly.
  • Corrosion Resistance: Corrosion resistance is inter-connected to choosing the right alloy for the media being conveyed. For instance, 321 stainless steel provides optimal corrosion resistance for almost all applications. However, if an application requires chemical resistance, 316 stainless steel is well-suited as it includes other alloy elements that increase resistance to chemicals. Likewise, if the media transferred is chlorine, it may require a superior alloy that offers the highest degree of corrosion resistance.
  • Pressure Rating: The term pressure rating or working pressure is used to express the hose’s ability to handle the internal pressure. The pressure rating helps create value for an assembly, depending upon its use.

All corrugated tubing options vary in corrosion resistance ratings, pressure ratings, and levels of flexibility they can offer, making them the most important features of every flexible hose.

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2. Braid

The braid is the second vital hose component that contributes to an assembly’s ability to withstand high pressures. Multiple factors contribute to a braid’s functionality, like the diameter of the wire, the wire number per carrier, the number of carriers on the braiding machine, and the percentage of braid coverage. You can also increase the pressure rating by adding additional layers of braid to the assembly.

The design of the braid can have a significant effect on the pressure rating and the life cycle of the hose. Thus, a braid package consisting of a high-percentage braid coverage (braided directly into the hose) should be used to ensure the braid is well-secured on the hose. This protects the assembly from potential deformation while ensuring a maximum life cycle.

3. Braid Collar

Though braid collars only account for a small portion of the hose assembly, they are important. Inner corrugated hose and the braid are joined together in a seamless unit by braid collars during the cap welding process.

Besides helping join the hose components, the braid collars protect and isolate corrugations near the cap weld from any movement. Once the cap welding process is done, these corrugations turn into a “heat-affected zone”. This ensures the optimal functionality and durability of each hose.

Also, braid collars ensure that any bending stresses are evenly distributed over the right corrugations, thereby preserving the life cycle of the assembly.

4. End Fittings

The end-fittings are the final components added to an assembly. These fittings are available in numerous options, allowing flexible metal hose assemblies to be customised to suit varied applications. Before you select the fittings, ensure to verify the size, alloy, and pressure requirements of the application.

B] Types of Flexible Metal Hoses

Flexible meta hose are manufactured in two basic styles, including corrugated stainless steel hose and interlock hose.

1. Corrugated Hoses

A regular hose cannot sustain the longitudinal pressure stress and tends to squirm under internal pressure. Thus, to resist the longitudinal pressure stress and prevent it from squirming, corrugated hoses are often constructed with braid wrappings around the outer surface. A corrugated hose is constructed with a long length bellow, and the braid protects the corrugation from scratch and wear. This type of hose is suitable for handling any type of gases and liquid that are compatible with the material of the hose.

Learn more about corrugated hose and its applications here.

2. Interlock Hoses

The construction of an interlock hose involves links that are kept tight with the packaging material. Clearances are provided between these links to make them capable enough to accommodate some axial movement that gradually closes as the hose is bent.

When the clearances are completely closed, the hose becomes stiff, restricting any further bending. This sudden stiffness is a warning to the handler, preventing the interlocked hose from being over-bent and causing potential damage.

The automatic warning feature makes this hose ideal for manual handling. Also, the outer surface of the interlocked hose is relatively smooth, making handling easy without any covering.

However, its packaging does not offer a perfect seal. Hence, it is satisfactory for carrying low-pressure air, steam, and water but not apt for conveying gases and liquids such as kerosene and alcohol.

Upgrade Your Systems with Flexible Metal Hoses

C] Factors to Consider for Installation of Metal Flex Hoses

Be it standard metal hoses or braided flexible hoses, all hoses are flexible, which makes the process of installation easy. Nevertheless, a few general precautions needed to be taken during the installation to avoid hose failures or damage.

  • The hose should not be subjected to any sort of twisting. The hose should be installed in such a way that flexing takes place only in the plane of bending.
  • Make sure that the hose length is sufficient to accommodate the offset and movement.
  • The space where the hose has to be installed should be adequate to accommodate its length.
  • Avoid sharp bends while installing flexible hoses. Follow the ‘Technical Data Section’ of the vendor catalogue to maintain the minimum centerline bend radius for intermittent flexing.
  • Ensure to maintain a minimum bend radius with the respect to the hose during the initial layout and throughout the installation process.

Read: Installation Precautions

D] Flexible Metallic Hoses – Application Areas

Flexible metallic hoses have a wide range of applications. Some of them include:

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