Beverage hoses

How is a beverage hose constructed?

In the most common variety, beverage hose is constructed of three layers:

• inner - it is hygienic, inert, and free of toxic additives that could leach into food;
  
• reinforcement - comes in the form of a textile or synthetic braid and increases the hose's resistance to working pressure; 
• outer - provides resistance to environmental conditions in the workplace and mechanical strength.

In addition to the above, there are two other types of hose. The first is very simple in terms of design, as it is distinguished by its single-layer construction without reinforcement (this type of hose is usually made of transparent PVC).

In contrast, the second has a spiral reinforcement instead of (or in addition to) a braid. It is a suction and delivery hose, which is suitable for both pressurised (pumping of the medium) and vacuum (suction of the medium) operation.

From what materials are beverage alcohol hoses constructed?

In terms of the manufacturing material of the beverage hose, you have the following to choose from:

• PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - a flexible, strong, lightweight, and low-cost material with good chemical resistance and a moderately large operating temperature range; 
• PE (polyethylene) - another flexible, highly chemically resistant, and relatively inexpensive plastic with a moderately large operating temperature range;
• IIR (butyl rubber) - a material that is flexible and resistant to many chemicals and ageing, which also has low permeability and is a good insulator, enabling it to work in a wider temperature range than plastics.

Although the above materials for beverage hoses are the most popular, you will also find other options on the market. In addition, there are food grade beverage hoses with an inner layer suitable for food transport (e.g. butyl rubber) and an outer layer with more robust properties (e.g. EPDM rubber).

Therefore, choosing the right hose depends on individual preferences and needs.

How to choose the right beverage hose?

To choose the right beverage hose, consider a few key factors.

The first is the type of medium you will be transferring. This is important because not every hose is suitable for transporting all types of alcohol. A wrong choice in this respect can cause the material to react with the medium being transported, leading to contamination.

Therefore, a hose for concentrated alcohol (e.g. spirits) should be resistant to the high ethanol concentration of the liquid in question.

This is particularly important for plastic hoses, which, according to European Regulation 10/2011/EU, are approved for specific foods based on resistance to model liquids. The division is as follows:

• less than 6% alcohol (model liquids B and C);
• between 6% and 20% alcohol (simulant C); 
• above 20% alcohol (simulant D1); 
• ethyl alcohol (simulants B and D2).

Therefore, a plastic beer or wine hose is not necessarily suitable for transporting vodka or other strong spirits. However, on the other hand, hoses for concentrated spirits will also cope with liquids with a lower ethanol concentration.

But know that this division does not apply to rubber hoses or silicone hoses. Therefore, when you choose a product made of these materials, be guided by the application specified by the manufacturer and the individual certificates.

What are the other aspects of bevarage hoses?

Once you have determined which hoses you will need (e.g. beer & wine tubes), pay attention to a few other important points as well. We mean:

• operating temperature range and pressure - match these parameters to the needs of the installation, as some hoses are designed for higher pressures and temperatures; 
• characteristics of the application - this is as much about the particular installation as it is about the environmental conditions to which the hose should be able to withstand (some hoses are designed for specific applications, such as distilleries).