5 Keys to successful
hose clamp connections
Hose clamps have a set of rigorous standards to ensure proper functioning.
There are five crucial elements, which significantly can influence their capacity to not only meet but also exceed performance expectations.
In this article, you will find out:
- The five critical elements you should consider when selecting clamps for your projects.
- How to find the perfect fit.
A successful connection
Avoiding costly mistakes and
ensuring customer satisfaction
For any contractor, the goal is to encourage repeat business without repeating previous work.
When designing or installing a system that requires hose-to-spigot connections, hose clamps represent the “small” parts that may have big consequences. In addition to considering the hose and spigot materials, contractors must pay careful attention to multiple hose clamp parameters – from size and torque ratings to material construction and temperature tolerances – to meet or exceed customer expectations.
The following are the five critical elements you should consider when selecting clamps for your projects:
Different pipe and hose materials – metals, plastics – can withstand different material conditions and/or potential exposure to corrosion. For example, some metals can handle higher heat than others, while some plastics are vulnerable to various chemicals and oils. In any event, the right clamp must work with expected material exposures.
In addition to offering lined clamps that resist damage and corrosion in pipe and hose connections, NORMA offers a range of steel clamps from the galvanized W1 clamps for standard applications to W5 stainless steel clamps for optimal corrosion resistance. In extreme environments (marine, chemical processing, oil and gas production), consider the ABA Original SMO 360 built with austenitic stainless steel for maximum resistance against pitting.
Many systems must perform within dramatic temperature swings that result in material contractions and expansions. To accommodate these dynamic changes, the right clamp must move with the connections without losing grip.
NORMA products address the challenge with specialty clamps that accommodate thermal expansion including the TORRO® WF with wave spring technology and the Constant Torque Standard (HKFK) line of clamps that automatically accommodate changing diameters.
Get a grip – your selected clamps must have sufficient load bearing capacity and tensile strength to handle the necessary torque for sufficient sealing power. Stronger is not necessarily better: you must apply the right torque to the right clamp to maintain pressure without damaging the material components. Yet more important than the clamping force itself is the even distribution of the torque force around the complete hose. Depending on your system requirements, you may want to consider the following options:
- HD worm-drive clamps that handle torques up to 17 Nm
- Hi-Torque clamps for torques up to 20 Nm
- GBS clamps up to 45 Nm
The location of your system matters, too. Depending on the application – such as boiler rooms or marine vessels – clamps may be exposed to direct sunlight, mechanical heat, extraneous movements, vibrations, and/or corrosive atmospheres. It’s important to select clamps rated for likely environmental conditions.
To address one of the most challenging conditions, corrosive environments, NORMA submits its clamps to salt spray testing; the more hours they can withstand without damage, the greater their corrosion resistance. For example:
- W1 clamps can sustain salt spray exposure for 144 hours
- W5 clamps can sustain 1,000 hours
- S60 clamps reach more than 4,000 hours!
Last but not least, there is size. Certainly, you want to match your clamp size to the diameter of your pipes and hoses. But in addition, you want the width of the clamping strap to increase with size as well to ensure strength and durability. NORMA presents a variety of sizes to choose among:
- Clamps for pipe diameters range from 6 mm to 625 mm
- Bandwidth sizes from 5 mm to 30 mm
- NORMETTA system connections that allow you to custom create hose clamps in any size
Clamp smart, seal well
Find the perfect fit!
You don’t need a clamp; you need the right clamp!
Fortunately, NORMA makes it easy to find the perfect one for an almost unlimited range of applications. Simply turn to our broad product portfolio to find the best clamp options for your crucial projects.
You may find more information on temperature ranges and other parameters among our freely available datasheets, manuals, and catalogs. Visit out download center now!
