General Information
Safety Warning
Testing can be dangerous and should be done only by trained personnel
using proper tools and procedures. Failure to follow such procedures
might result in damage to property and/or serious bodily injury.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recognizes, accepts and recommends the testing methods
of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).
Unless otherwise specified, all hose tests are to be conducted in accordance with ASTM Method No.
D-380 (latest revision). Where an ASTM D-380 test is not available, another test method should be
selected and described in detail.
RMA participates with ASTM under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in
Technical Committee 45 (TC45) of The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in developing
both hose product and hose test method standards. Many of the hose test method standards published by
ISO duplicate or closely parallel those shown in ASTM D-380. Many are unique and, in those cases, the RMA
may be able to provide the necessary test standard references which may be purchased from the ANSI.
Hydrostatic Pressure Tests
Hydrostatic pressure tests are classified as follows:
1.
Destructive Type
a. Burst test
b. Hold test
Destructive Tests
Destructive tests are conducted on short specimens of hose, normally 18 inches (460mm) to 36 inches (915mm) in length
and, as the name implies, the hose is destroyed in the performance of the test.
a.
Burst pressure is recorded as the pressure at which actual rupture of a hose occurs.
b.
A hold test, when required, is a means of determining whether weakness will develop under a given pressure for a specified
period of time.
2.
Non-Destructive Type
a. Proof pressure test
c. Change in outside diameter
e. Rise test
h. Volumetric expansion test
b. Change in length test
or circumference test
f. Twist test
(
elongation or contraction)
d. Warp test
g. Kink test
Non-Destructive Tests
Non-destructive tests are conducted on a full length of a hose or hose assembly. These tests are for the purpose of
eliminating hose with defects which cannot be seen by visual examination or in order to determine certain characteristics of
the hose while it is under internal pressure.
a. A proof pressure test
is normally applied to hose for a specified period of time. On new hose, the proof pressure is usually
50%
of the minimum specified burst except for woven jacket fire hose where the proof pressure is twice the service test
pressure marked on the hose (67% of specified minimum burst). Hydrostatic tests performed on fire hose in service should
be no higher than the service test pressure referred to above. The regulation of these pressures is extremely important so
that no deteriorating stresses will be applied, thus weakening a normal hose.
b.
With some type of hose, it is useful to know how a hose will act under pressure. All change in length tests, except when
performed on wire braid or wire spiralled hose, are made with original length measurements taken under a pressure of 10
psi (0.069 MPa). The specified pressure, which is normally the proof pressure, is applied and immediate measurement of
the characteristics desired are taken and recorded.
Reprinted from RMA hose handbook IP-2 2003
Hose Testing Methods
326
Appendix
C
Air & Multipurpose
General Purpose
Heavy Duty
Push-on
Chemical Transfer
Cleaning Equipment
Food
Transfer
Washdown
Marine
Material Handling
Abrasives
Bulk Transfer
Cement & Concrete
Mining
Petroleum
Aircraft Fueling
Dispensing
Dock
Transfer
Spray
Steam
Vacuum
LPG Delivery
Water
Discharge
Suction & Discharge
Washdown
Welding
Coupling Systems
Equipment
Appendix