Types of Hoses | A Quick Guide on Industrial Hose Types

Industrial hoses fall under a broader category of hoses and ducts that are available in a wide range of options, sizes, materials, and applications. This blog post will provide an overview of the industrial hoses offered at Flexaust, a guide to choosing the right industrial hose, and why you might want to consider Flexaust as your industrial hose supplier.

Types of Industrial Hoses

Industrials hoses are typically for lightweight material handling and fumes, with many types available to suit different work environments. At Flexaust, we have hundreds of industrial hose categories, but here we break down five of them according to specific working conditions:

Chemical fume extraction hoses. These hoses are primarily used to safely ventilate fumes generated by harsh process chemicals. As such, they feature good resistance to chemicals.
Light material handling hoses. Material handling hoses are most commonly used to transport dry powders and goods, such as food powders and various abrasives.
Ventilation hoses. Ventilation hoses handle air, gas, smoke, fumes, and other pollutants. Chemical, agricultural, manufacturing, and other industries that work with potentially hazardous fumes or gases all rely on ventilation hoses to safely move hazardous gases and particulates out of harm’s way.
Dust collection hoses. Dust collection hoses are great at collecting dust, woodchips, and other fine materials found in a variety of industrial and commercial operations.
High-temperature hoses. As the name suggests, high-temperature hoses are ideal for industrial and commercial applications that involve high operating temperatures.

Hose Materials, Properties, Common Application and Benefits

Industrial hoses also come in a wide range of materials. Proper material selection is important to ensure that hoses will perform correctly within their applications. The following chart will explore the common properties and uses of the materials we work with most at Flexaust.

Material	Common Properties	Industrial Uses	Product Options
Coated fabric	Flame retardant, high temperature resistance up to 1200° external abrasion and drag resistance, compressible	High temperature & fume extraction: Aluminum refractory Mining	CWGP Flex-Lok GS
Conductive PVC	Smooth interior for efficient air flow, flexible design, high conductivity reducing static	Dust Collection/Light Material Handling: Industrial Vacuum Pharmaceutical	FlexTube PV-SC
Static dissipative polyurethane	Surface resistivity level: 10⁸-10¹⁰, high-tear strength	Dust Collection/Material Handling Static Control Clean rooms	Flx-Thane SD Flx-Thane LD-SD FlexStat
Polyethylene	Crush resistance, abrasion resistance, flexibility	Chemical fume extraction: Industrial Vacuum Bus Ventilation	Commercial Flx-Plus Uni-Loop Tigertail FlexTube PE
Polyolefin	Smooth interior, chemical resistance, eco-friendly	Chemical fume extraction & dust collection: Pollution control Insulation removal	FlexTube EF
Polypropylene	Long flex life, UV & moisture resistance	Light material handling: Lawn & leaf collection	LCDC
Polyurethane	Heavy, puncture resistant, high tear strength, low-temperature resistance, versatile, chemical resistance, high pressure uses	Dust Collection/Material Handling: Agricultural Silica Dust Woodworking	Flx-Thane LD/MD/HD/VHD FlexTube PU FlexTube PU60HF
PVC	Ultra-smooth interior, flexible, economical	Ventilation/Light Material Handling: Furnace duct cleaning Textile collection	FlexTube PV R-4
Silicone	Lightweight, flexible, oil resistance, solvent resistance, alkali resistance	High Temperature: Dry cleaning Exhaust Systems Paper Mills	GS NS Flex-Vest Flex-Lok 550/600
Thermoplastic rubber	Oil resistant, wide temperature range, UV resistance, versatile	Chemical fume extraction: Chemical plants Injection molding	T-7 T-7W FlexTube TR

Selecting the Right Type of Hose

When selecting the right type of hose, there are seven critical factors you need to consider. These include

Size
Temperature
Application
Media
Pressure
End fittings
Delivery

At Flexaust, we refer to these factors by the acronym “STAMPED." Following these guidelines will help to ensure you select an appropriate hose for your application.

Why Flexaust

At Flexaust, we provide a broad selection of durable and reliable flexible hose solutions ideal for use in chemical fume extraction, dust collection, material handling, ventilation, and high-temperature applications. We manufacture flexible hoses made from a variety of materials. Some of many industries we serve include:

Contact Us for Your Industrial Flexible Hose Needs

At Flexaust, we have been manufacturing industrial hoses for over 80 years. It is our company's mission to find innovative and creative solutions for all of your industrial hose needs, delivering the highest quality products every time. If you would like to learn more about Flexaust and our industrial hose products, feel free to contact us or request a quote today.