tHhoes fea lrlaec-ieensd binegh:ind ‘saving a bit of money’
Fluid power hose re-ending is a dangerous business. Not only does it y in the face of industry standards, but it can
also prove highly destructive… and even lethal if the remade joint fails catastrophically. Add a lack of warranty and
supplier liability and it is hard to understand why the procedure still exists, argues the British Fluid Power Association
(BFPA). It explains the rationale behind outlawing the practice and what responsible engineers should do instead
Quality is probably one of the
By Adam O ord
most important metrics in
the industrial world. When
people pay for a product or
service, they expect to get
the best possible solution to their needs
– not just in terms of cost, but also tness
for purpose, capabilities and, of course,
safety.
Like so many things in life however, the
expression ‘you only get what you pay for’
rings true; with lower costs
often equating to less
exacting workmanship,
increased wear,
reduced operational
life, or, indeed, all
three. If you have
money to burn, this is
your choice, but when
safety is a major part
of the equation, you must
consider if your short-term
cost savings are really the most prudent
and ethical (or even legal) course of action.
To help people make these sorts of
decisions, and to promote best practice,
standards exist to cover almost all facets
of the industrial universe. The problem is,
if these standards are not enforceable by
law, you must rely on people applying them
from a best practice standpoint.
Q-APPROVED
It is in these situations that trade bodies
play a vital role, persuading and supporting
their members to adhere to good
engineering practice – not only to bolster
quality and the reputation of the industry,
but also to ensure that any safety concerns
are readily explained, understood
and adhered to. For example, the
approved hose assemblies
scheme (www.is.gd/adodin)
was introduced in 1995 by a
division of the BFPA, British
Fluid Power Distributor’s
Association’s (BFPDA). The
scheme’s ‘Q-Approved’ logo
has become a symbol of quality,
integrity and safety in the uid
power industry.
Comprising an accreditation process
and resulting customer assurances,
the scheme – developed by a panel of
industry experts – sets an industry-wide
standard for the assembly, storage and
supply of hydraulic hoses. It delivers best-
practice guidelines, as well as countering
and addressing the health and safety
issues associated with the practice of
re-ending hoses. The core message behind
these guidelines is that best practice
recommends – very plainly – that you don’t
re-end hoses.
At the core of the scheme are the
guidelines laid down by international
standards. They state that all hose
assembly practices must conform to the
international recommendations within BS
EN ISO 4413 Hydraulic uid power: general
rules and safety requirements for systems
and their components (www.is.gd/ihawog)
and BS EN ISO 4414 Pneumatic uid power:
general rules and safety requirements for
systems and their components (www.is.gd/
uyeluk), and meet the guidelines. Both are
harmonised standards of the Machinery
Directive (www.is.gd/dacexo), which is
written into legislation.
Clause 5.4.6.5.1a in the former states:
“Hose assemblies shall be constructed
from hoses that have not been previously
used in operation as part of another hose
assembly and that ful l all performance and
marking requirements given in appropriate
standards.” It is worth noting at this stage
that in CEN and ISO parlance, the word
‘shall’ is taken as ‘must comply’ – it is nonnegotiable.
It is therefore quite clear that
PNEUMATICS & HYDRAULICS – HOSE SAFETY
24 www.operationsengineer.org.uk Autumn 2020
/adodin)
/ihawog)
/
/dacexo)
/www.operationsengineer.org.uk