How to Select the Right Industrial Hose for Your Application

Selecting the right industrial hose is not simply a matter of choosing a material or matching an inner diameter. A hose must withstand the actual combination of working media, temperature, pressure or vacuum, movement, abrasion, chemical exposure, and installation conditions.

An incorrectly selected hose may become hard, soft, swollen, cracked, permeated, deformed, or prematurely worn during service. For this reason, industrial hose selection should begin with the operating environment and then work backward toward the appropriate material, reinforcement, dimensions, and construction.

Our flexible and reinforced hose range includes PVC, TPU, PU, TPR/TPE, silicone, fiberglass-reinforced, and steel-wire-reinforced constructions for different industrial applications.

1. Identify the Conveyed Media

The first step is to determine exactly what will pass through the hose.

Common media include:

• Water
• Air
• Compressed air
• Oil
• Fuel
• Chemicals
• Dust
• Powder
• Granules
• Fibers
• Hot air
• Industrial fluids

Different polymers have different levels of resistance to chemicals, oils, solvents, fuels, and other media. For example, a general-purpose PVC hose may be suitable for water or air transfer but may not be the best choice for continuous exposure to aggressive chemicals or certain oils.

For pneumatic conveying, dust extraction, or abrasive material transfer, abrasion resistance may be more important than chemical resistance. For oil-containing applications, an oil-resistant PU or other compatible construction may provide better long-term performance.

Media compatibility should therefore always be considered before selecting the hose material.

2. Check the Working Temperature

Temperature can significantly affect the performance and service life of a flexible hose.

When evaluating temperature requirements, consider both:

• Continuous working temperature
• Short-term or peak temperature

A hose that performs well at room temperature may become excessively soft, brittle, or lose mechanical strength at elevated or low temperatures.

Silicone and silicone-coated fiberglass constructions are commonly selected for high-temperature air, exhaust, ventilation, and thermal applications. TPR/TPE formulations can also be developed for applications requiring a combination of flexibility and elevated-temperature resistance.

For standard industrial applications, PVC, TPU, and PU may provide an economical balance of flexibility and mechanical performance when the operating temperature remains within their suitable range.

Temperature should always be evaluated together with pressure, vacuum, and chemical exposure because these factors can interact and affect the actual service conditions.

3. Determine Pressure and Vacuum Requirements

Pressure and vacuum performance are two different requirements and should not be treated as interchangeable.

A pressure hose must resist expansion and structural failure under positive internal pressure. A suction or vacuum hose must resist collapse when negative pressure is applied.

For vacuum applications, reinforcement is particularly important.

Steel wire embedded into a PVC hose wall can significantly improve structural stability and vacuum resistance while maintaining flexibility. This construction is widely used for:

• Vacuum cleaners
• Dust collection systems
• Suction equipment
• Industrial vacuum systems
• Material recovery systems
• Air and particle extraction

The required pressure or vacuum rating should be determined according to the actual operating conditions, including temperature, hose diameter, bending, pulsation, and frequency of movement.

4. Consider Flexibility and Minimum Bend Radius

A hose may have excellent pressure resistance but still be unsuitable if it cannot bend sufficiently within the installation space.

For applications involving:

• Repeated movement
• Robotic equipment
• Machinery connections
• Tight installation spaces
• Portable equipment
• Continuous bending

flexibility and minimum bend radius become important selection criteria.

TPU, PU, PVC, and certain TPE constructions can provide different combinations of flexibility and mechanical strength.

However, flexibility should not be considered independently. A very soft hose may be easier to bend but may have lower resistance to crushing or vacuum collapse. The ideal construction is the one that provides sufficient flexibility without sacrificing the required structural performance.

5. Evaluate Abrasion Resistance

If a hose transports abrasive materials, the inner wall may experience continuous wear.

Typical abrasive media include:

• Sand
• Dust
• Powder
• Plastic pellets
• Granules
• Fibers
• Metal particles
• Industrial waste

PU and TPU are often considered when high abrasion resistance and flexibility are required. The hose wall thickness, material formulation, conveying velocity, particle size, and bending conditions should also be considered.

For applications with severe abrasion, selecting a hose based only on nominal pressure or diameter may result in an unnecessarily short service life.

6. Check Oil and Chemical Resistance

Oil, fuel, solvents, cleaning agents, and industrial chemicals can affect polymer materials in different ways.

Possible effects include:

• Swelling
• Softening
• Hardening
• Loss of tensile strength
• Surface cracking
• Embrittlement
• Dimensional changes

For oil-containing environments, an oil-resistant PU or other compatible material may be more appropriate than a general-purpose PVC construction.

For chemical applications, the exact chemical name, concentration, temperature, exposure time, and pressure should be provided when selecting the hose.

A hose that is chemically compatible at room temperature may behave differently at elevated temperatures or under continuous exposure.

7. Determine Electrical Requirements

Some industrial environments require control of static electricity.

This is particularly relevant for applications involving:

• Powder conveying
• Dust extraction
• Pneumatic material transfer
• Solvent-related environments
• Industrial vacuum systems

In these situations, anti-static or conductive hose constructions may be considered.

Oil-resistant and anti-static PU hoses, for example, can combine flexibility and abrasion resistance with electrical properties designed for applications where static accumulation needs to be controlled.

The required electrical resistance should be specified according to the equipment and applicable safety requirements.

8. Select the Appropriate Reinforcement

Reinforcement determines much of a hose’s mechanical behavior.

Common reinforcement materials include:

Steel Wire

Steel wire reinforcement improves vacuum resistance, structural stability, and resistance to deformation.

It is commonly used in:

• Vacuum hoses
• Suction hoses
• Material conveying hoses
• Dust extraction systems

Textile Reinforcement

Textile or polyester reinforcement can improve pressure resistance while maintaining relatively good flexibility and low weight.

Fiberglass Fabric

Fiberglass reinforcement provides dimensional stability and high-temperature performance and is particularly useful in flexible hot-air ducts and exhaust applications.

Multi-Layer Construction

Some industrial hoses use multiple material layers to combine different properties. One layer may provide chemical or oil resistance while another provides mechanical reinforcement.

9. Choose the Correct Dimensions

The most important dimensional parameters normally include:

• Inner diameter
• Outer diameter
• Wall thickness
• Hose length
• Bend radius
• Connection dimensions

Inner diameter directly affects flow capacity and pressure loss.

An excessively small diameter can increase flow resistance, while an unnecessarily large diameter may increase cost, weight, and installation space.

For hoses connected to equipment, the actual connection dimensions should be measured rather than relying only on nominal specifications.

10. Consider the Installation Environment

The same hose may perform differently depending on how it is installed.

Consider whether the hose will be:

• Stationary
• Frequently moved
• Continuously bent
• Exposed to sunlight
• Installed outdoors
• Exposed to oil
• Installed near heat sources
• Subjected to vibration
• Pulled or compressed
• Installed in a confined space

Environmental conditions can determine whether a standard flexible hose is sufficient or whether a reinforced, heat-resistant, oil-resistant, or anti-static construction is necessary.

11. Match the Hose to the Application

The following general guide can help narrow down the selection:

Application Requirement	Common Hose Direction
General water and air transfer	PVC flexible / reinforced hose
Vacuum and suction	Steel-wire-reinforced PVC hose
Vacuum cleaner systems	PVC steel wire vacuum hose
Abrasive material conveying	TPU / PU hose
Pneumatic conveying	PU / TPU / suitable flexible hose
Oil-containing applications	Oil-resistant PU or compatible material
Anti-static conveying	Anti-static / conductive PU hose
High-temperature air	Silicone / fiberglass duct
Flexible industrial fluid transfer	PVC / TPU / TPE / compatible fluid hose
High flexibility	TPU / PU / TPE constructions
OEM equipment connection	Customized material and dimensions

This table should be treated as a starting point rather than a final material recommendation. Actual operating conditions should always be evaluated.

12. Provide the Complete Technical Information

When requesting an industrial hose from a manufacturer, providing complete application information can significantly improve the accuracy of product selection.

We recommend specifying:

Media: What will be conveyed?

Temperature: What are the continuous and peak temperatures?

Pressure: What is the normal and maximum working pressure?

Vacuum: Is suction or negative pressure involved?

Diameter: What inner and outer diameters are required?

Length: What is the required hose length or coil length?

Movement: Is the hose stationary, flexible, or continuously moving?

Environment: Will it contact oil, chemicals, sunlight, abrasion, or other external factors?

Electrical Properties: Is anti-static or conductive performance required?

Quantity: What is the expected annual or batch quantity?

The more complete the technical information, the easier it is to select the appropriate hose construction.

Industrial Hose Selection from Application to Production

Choosing an industrial hose is ultimately a balance between material compatibility, mechanical performance, temperature resistance, flexibility, reinforcement, dimensions, and cost.

There is no single hose material that is ideal for every application.

PVC may be an effective choice for many general-purpose applications. TPU and PU can provide excellent flexibility and abrasion resistance. TPR/TPE can offer a balance of rubber-like flexibility and thermoplastic processing. Silicone and fiberglass constructions are suitable for demanding temperature environments, while steel wire reinforcement can improve vacuum resistance and structural stability.

As an industrial hose manufacturer, we can evaluate the operating conditions and develop the appropriate combination of material, wall thickness, reinforcement, diameter, hardness, and construction for your application.

If you are unsure which flexible hose is suitable, provide your media, temperature, pressure/vacuum, diameter, application, and quantity, and our technical team can help identify a suitable hose construction.