General

Aflex PTFE hose products have not been designed or tested to be suitable for use in Aerospace or Medical Implantation applications, and such use is therefore strictly prohibited unless written approval from Aflex Hose Ltd has been given.

Similarly, PTFE hose should not be used in any radio active environment as radiation has a detrimental effect on the mechanical and electrical properties of PTFE.

Aflex Hose Ltd will not accept liability for any failures of the Aflex Hose Products which are caused by customers failing to perform their Responsibilities as specified in these Conditions of Sale.

It is the customer’s strict Responsibility to review all of the usage limitations given for the hose which he intends to use in an application, to ensure that the application conditions are in compliance with those usage limitations. The usage limitations are specified both on this page, and throughout the relevant sections under “Products and Information” on the Aflex Hose website. Customers must always consult the latest, up to date information, which is available and downloadable from the Aflex website, or request from Aflex Hose Ltd.

It must be accepted, however, that the usage limitations specified elsewhere in the Hose Product Information and on this page are intended as a guide only, since every possible factor in every type of application cannot possibly be covered. It is therefore the Customer’s Responsibility to ensure the design suitability and safety of the products in their intended applications, giving particular consideration to the chemical and electrostatic compatibility of the fluids or gases passing through, the possibility of diffusion of fluid or gases through the PTFE hose lining, the possibility of external corrosive conditions, the types and likelihood of excessive mechanical abuse, such as abrasion (internal or external), crushing, excessive flexing or vibrations etc, and any excessive temperature and/or pressure “pulsing” conditions, all of which may cause premature hose failure. It is also the Customer’s Responsibility to consider, and take account of the degree of risk involved in any hose failure, including the provision of adequate protection in the event of any risk to employees or the general public. In applications where any type of hose failure would lead to financial losses if the hose is not replaced immediately, it is the Customer’s Responsibility to order and hold in stock spare hose(s) accordingly. It is also the Customer’s Responsibility to advise Aflex Hose in writing if there are any special requirements for the hose, including cleaning, or drying, or extra testing requirements which are in addition to normal industrial standards.

If the Customer has any doubts concerning these or any other usage limitation or safety parameters, it is the Customer’s Responsibility to consult Aflex Hose Ltd, to request a written response to any queries.

It is the Responsibility of the Customer to ensure that if the product is sold on, or passed on, however many times, that all the necessary information including this page and the Aflex Hose website address are also passed on to the final user, together with a specific requirement that the final user must review the usage limitations in terms of his own application.

Hose Service Life

It is not possible to guarantee a minimum service life for any of the Aflex Hose products which can be applicable for every type of application.

(For example, PTFE lined hose has been used in one application where it was cycled with hot steam, then cold water, also flexed every 17 seconds 24 hours per day, and the customer was very satisfied with a service life of 3 weeks before failure. In other light duty applications carrying pharmaceutical products, however, many Corroflon hoses are still performing satisfactorily after 20 years in service).

Service life predictions or guarantees can only be given in cases where all the relevant information concerning the application is given in writing to Aflex Hose, and Aflex Hose subsequently replies in writing prior to the order being placed.

If such a written undertaking is not sought and given, then Aflex Hose cannot be held liable for any hose product failure which the customer considers to be premature, excepting failures which are due to faulty materials or manufacturing defects.

24 Month Warranty

Aflex Hose Ltd warrants its products to be free from faulty materials or manufacturing defects from the date of the initial sale, for 24 months.

Product Failure

In the event of a product failure, Aflex Hose requests that the product should not be cut up or tamered with, but should be de-contaminated and returned to Aflex Hose, plus a decontamination certificate, for examination and analysis of the fault. The customer should also provide full details in writing of the application conditions under which the hose failed, including Pressure, Vacuum, Temperature, Flexing and any cycling of any of these, also the fluid and gases passing through the hose, and the total time that the hose has been in service. The customer may send his own witness to the examination if required. Aflex Hose will provide a full Non Conformance Report for the customer.

If faulty materials or a manufacturing defect in the hose was responsible for the failure to perform then, the maximum liability to be accepted by Aflex Hose would include the invoice value of the failed hose itself, or the invoice value of the whole customer order if appropriate, also any reasonable costs for removal and replacement of the hose, and costs for packing and despatching the failed hose back to Aflex Hose. Aflex Hose Ltd will not accept liability for any other consequential or financial losses, including, but not limited to loss of profits, loss of products or downtime costs.

Untested Hose for Self Assembly by Customers

Aflex Hose sometimes supplies “loose” hose, without end fittings attached to Self Assembly Customers, who will then cut the hose to length and attach end fittings to make up Hose Assemblies.

Self Assembly Customers must then accept the responsibility to carry out pressure testing of 100% of such assemblies to 1 1/2 times the Maximum Working Pressure before supply for end use, to validate both the hose and the end fitting attachment.

Unless the customer requests, and Aflex Hose confirm that their loose hose is pressure tested before supply, such testing is not normally applied by Aflex Hose, because this testing requirement is satisfied by the Self Assembly Customer during his own testing of the finished Hose Assembly.

The Self Assembly Customer must also accept responsibility for determining and approving the Design Suitability of the hose assemblies for their intended use before supply.

This includes determining and requesting or applying any special tests which may be identified as necessary to ensure suitability for the intended use.

Aflex Hose will only accept liability for its hose products which are assembled by customers themselves if all the hose and fitting components were either supplied by Aflex Hose or manufactured in accordance with Aflex Hose drawings, and they were assembled and tested in accordance with Aflex Hose’s current Manufacturing and Testing Instructions.

Untested Hose Assemblies

Aflex Hose is sometimes requested by customers to attach non-standard end fittings to hose assemblies which they supply, and in some cases it is not possible to connect these fittings to the pressure test system. In such cases a Concession not to test is obtained from the Customer, and a label is attached to the hose assembly, warning that it requires pressure testing before use.

Force Majeure

Aflex Hose Ltd stall not be liable for any delay or default in performing in accordance with any Customers’ order if the delay or default is caused by conditions beyond its control, including, but not limited to wars, insurrections, strikes, natural disasters or performance failures by Carriers, sub-contractors or other third parties outside the control of Aflex Hose Ltd.

Legal System

These Conditions of Sale are subject to English Law.