Steam Service Safety Tips
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| Phone (937) 558-2497 Fax (937) 698-1247 |
| Make Your Selection With Safety in Mind • Be sure to select a hose identified as steam hose. • Hose identification should be in the form of permanent branding on the hose outer cover, not just on the package. • You must identify the type of service the steam hose is required to accomplish. a) Is the hose manually handled? b) What is the anticipated frequency of use? c) What is the actual pressure of the steam service? d) Is it subject to surges or peak pressures? e) What is the temperature of the steam? f) Saturated (wet) or superheated (dry) steam? g) What are the external conditions in the area where the hose will be used? • You should recognize that spillage or accumulations of corrosive chemicals or petroleum based materials externally can have a deteriorating effect on the hose cover. |
| Making Sure the Hose is Installed Properly • Be certain to use hose couplings designed for steam hose service. Follow the coupling manufacturer’s instruction for coupling attachment. Check tightness with each use. • Avoid extreme flexing of the hose near the coupling. If necessary use elbows in the piping system to assure a straight line connection with the hose. • Installing and using a shutoff valve between the steam source and the hose will maximize service life and operator safety, and we consider such a value mandatory for safe operation. • The use of spring guards can relieve some of the acute flexing encountered in heavy manual handling applications. • Provide a suitable means of storing the hose when not in use. A permanent rack or tray will minimize the damage to the hose in storage. Do not hang the hose on a hook, nail, or other device which could cut or damage the hose. |
| Common Sense with Steam Hose • Provide operators with adequate safety clothing. Including gloves, rubber boots, full length protective clothing and eye protection. The objective is to provide protection from scalding burns resulting from splash back of steam or hot water. • Ensure that the work area is free of tripping hazards and other clutter. • Check the tightness of the coupling with each use. • Do not allow the hose to remain pressurized when not in service. Turning off the pressure can provide dramatic increases in steam hose service life. • Periodic maintenance of steam hose can pay big dividends. All steam hoses are expected to wear out in time. It is important to continually be on the lookout for hose that has deteriorated to the point where it can no longer provide safe service. The following guidelines can help in that determination. |
| Operators should be aware of the obvious signs of trouble. They include: • Cover blisters or lumps • Cuts or gouges in the outside of the hose which expose the reinforcement • Hardened or inflexible hose • Steam leakage at the coupling ends or anywhere along the length of the hose • Flattened or kinked areas which have damaged the hose • A reduction of steam flow indicating that the tube is swelling. When any of the above abnormalities appear it is good safety sense to immediately remove the hose from service. Once removed, the hose can be carefully inspected before further use. Steam hose failures occur near the ends due to flexing and strain at the couplings. In those cases the hose can frequently be cut back and recoupled, providing additional service life. Hose used in continuous high pressure/ temperature service should be inspected periodically for signs of tube hardening. In most cases it is necessary to remove a coupling for tube inspection. |
Ohiocraft Industrial Products P.O. Box 81, West Milton, Ohio 45383 Phone: (937) 558-2497 Fax: (937) 698-1247