Testing hose assemblies is crucial for health and safety. Hose assemblies that have a leak are a danger to yourself and your staff, and can be the root of environmental issues like contamination.
Testing your hose assemblies is also beneficial from a financial perspective – the loss of production due to a damaged hose failing can be very costly indeed. Making sure they are all in a sound working condition will mean that functions will run interrupted.
There are a range of different testing methods available, and whichever you choose will depend on the unit you are testing and the style of hose in use. Hose testing methods include:
Hydrostatic Testing
This type of test involves filling a unit with water and raising the pressure to a pre-specified limit, usually 1.5x the maximum working pressure. It is then held at this pressure for a set amount of time, testing the integrity.
Electric Continuity Testing
In certain applications, an electrical bond is required between the ends of hose assemblies to avoid static build up. To achieve this, conductive material is incorporated within the hose.
Visual Inspection
A visual inspection is very simple, using the human eye to check the hose for any damage or defects.
Internal Inspections
A hose assembly could pass a visual inspection and a hydrostatic test. But still have imperfections in the internal structure. These imperfections could have the potential to cause hose failure.
The only way to find these would be through an internal inspection using videoscope technology. This uses a powerful light source, HD video, magnifiers and a laser measurement system.
Nitrogen Testing
A nitrogen test involves using, you guessed it, the element Nitrogen to test for any small holes in a hose.
Before the test, you will want to carry out a visual inspection and seal the hose where there is any damage. The hose assembly can then be hooked up to a test rig, where nitrogen is pumped through the hose and back into the rig. In the chamber surrounding the hose, the air will be tested for Nitrogen, and if any is present, it indicates a small leak.
Helium Testing
Helium, similar to Nitrogen testing, tests for small leaks in a hose assembly. However, due to helium’s genetic makeup, and the fact that it is a very rare gas in the atmosphere, extremely small holes can be detected.