The right hose clamp for each application

25 October, 2016

As an engineer in the field, there are few things more infuriating than finding you have the wrong size or type of fitting to complete the job. No matter how well-stocked the van is it is impossible to carry every component for every eventuality.

This is increasingly the case in the fluid handling industry with regard to hose clamps. With so many types, including nut and bolt, double ear, single ear, self-closing, over-centre, Herbie clip, to name a few, the decision as to what to stock your tool box with can be a difficult one. So, which do you choose?

It is important to remember many hose clamps have been designed to do the specific job at the lowest possible price. As such, many manufacturers will use clamps only suitable for a certain size of hose and which are only convenient in the manufacturing stages. What we need is a strong, easy-to-use clamp with a large adjustment range to cover many different hose sizes, and the only clamp to fulfil all these criteria is the humble worm drive hose clip.

Up to the job

How can we be sure the worm drive clip is up to the job? For standard duty clips there are a number of different applicable standards depending on the country and industry. The chart below shows the most common, and, as you can see, operating requirements for the British Standard BS5315 are far in excess of all other standards.

The only way to ensure you have a clip that meets this high standard is to look for the British Standard Kitemark. For example, all JCS Hi-Grip products, zinc-plated mild steel, BS.304 and BS.316 stainless steel all carry the BSI Kitemark. In fact, to ensure all clips exceed this standard JCS internal standards are set at least 20% above the operating requirements of BS5315.

Some manufacturers offer hose clamps with continuous perforations along the band. These are normally sold on the misconception that the clamp has a larger adjustment range. In reality, the reason for manufacturing clamps this way is because it is cheaper. The BS5315 states the recommended size adjustment range. This is because, dependant on the size, the screw housing is radiused to closely fit against the relevant hose diameter.

There will, of course, be applications where the standard worm drive hose clip will not be suitable; wire reinforced hoses – particularly for large or high pressure applications – included. For this, JCS offers a range of Heavy duty clamps known as Hi-Torque. Although similar in appearance to the standard duty Hi-Grip, that is where the similarities end.

Hi-Torque clamps have a unique straight line housing which ensures every thread of the hardened rolled stainless steel screw is fully engaged with the fully perforated band. This special feature, together with the high tensile stainless steel band (tensile strength: 75tons/in2), means Hi-Torque offers twice the strength of ordinary worm drive hose clips – even our own Hi-Grip.