| Ask a Question: | | | | states: |
| What does OSHA say about hose safety? | | | | Compressed air leaks can account for 20% to 30% of |
| Answer: An OSHA guideline publication states: | | | | compressors cfm output in small to medium size |
| Hoses, cables, and other equipment shall be kept clear | | | | plants. |
| of passageways, ladders and stairs. | | | | In other words- you could be losing up to 30% of your |
| OSHA says reduce your slips, trips and falls. Slips, trips | | | | compressed air because of AIR LEAKS! That is your |
| and falls constitute the majority of general industry | | | | money leaking away! It is worth the effort to find and |
| accidents, which cause 15% of all accidental deaths, | | | | fix your air leaks. |
| and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of | | | | Ask a Question: |
| fatalities. The OSHA standard for walking and working | | | | How do you estimate the SIZE and COST of an AIR |
| surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, | | | | LEAK? |
| except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural | | | | Answer: |
| work is performed. Consider adding reels to increase | | | | Here is how to estimate the size of air leaks: |
| safety & efficiency with your electrical cords, | | | | It is not very hard. We will use the "TIME METHOD" to |
| welding cables, air hose, oil, grease, liquid/water or fuel | | | | estimate percentages of loss due to air leaks in your |
| hoses. | | | | plant. |
| Ask a Question: | | | | 1.Turn OFF all air operated end-user equipment. |
| Why should my plant use Air Hose Reels with our air | | | | 2.Start your air compressor and let it cycle 5 times. |
| tools? | | | | 3.Time the OFF-LINE/UNLOAD TIME (not pumping |
| Answer: If your business or plant has multiple air hoses | | | | time) using your watch. (Example: 5 minutes) |
| running from your air compressor to a variety of air | | | | 4.Time the ON-LINE/LOAD TIME (pumping time) using |
| tools, then industrial air hose reels can be one of your | | | | your watch. (Example: 2 minutes) |
| most effective equipment additions you will ever make, | | | | 5.Calculate total percentage of air leaks as follows: |
| as well as one of the safest! | | | | Add the OFF / UNLOAD and the ON / LOAD times |
| Here are 5 Reasons to use Air Hose Reels: | | | | together: Example: T(5 minutes) + T (2 minutes)= 7 |
| 1. Efficiency | | | | minutes) Divide ON / LOAD time T (2 minutes) by the |
| Hose reels make all your hose handling more efficient. | | | | total minutes: 2 ÷ 7 = 0.29 |
| An organized, clean workplace is proven to be more | | | | The result tells you 29% of your air compressors |
| efficient. | | | | CFMs are doing nothing but maintaining your AIR |
| 2. Safety | | | | LEAKS. |
| Hose reels decrease you chances of injuries from | | | | How to figure the cost of air leaks: |
| tripping hazards. Reduce accidents and insurance | | | | Based on values from the Compressed Air & |
| expense: Slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of | | | | Gas Handbook, we can assume |
| work stoppage in industry. | | | | 4* CFM per air compressor horsepower. So, if you |
| 3. Protects Equipment | | | | have a 100 HP compressor and the above determined |
| Hoses (and cords) last five times longer when stored | | | | 29% air leaks -use this formula: |
| on a reel. This can save you from replacing hoses as | | | | 100 HP x 4*=400 CFM x 29% (.29 air leak loss) = 116 |
| often. | | | | wasted CFM. |
| 4. Stops Leakages | | | | As the chart below shows, you now know that you |
| Hoses on reels can reduce the threat of expensive air | | | | are losing over $13,000 a year because of AIR |
| leakages. | | | | LEAKS. |
| 5. Increase Productivity | | | | SIZE OF YOUR LEAK CFM AIR LOSS WASTED |
| Locating your air hoses when and where you need | | | | DOLLARS PER YEAR |
| them increases productivity. All these factors help | | | | Orifice -----Diameter------Inches |
| improve your work environment, which saves you | | | | 1/32 -----------1.6 ----------211.70 |
| time, equipment and money. | | | | 3/32 ----------14.5 ---------1905.30 |
| Have you ever wondered what that hissing sound is | | | | 1/4 -----------104.0 ------13665.60 |
| when you walk through your plant or shop area? Most | | | | 1/2 -----------415.0 -------54531.00 |
| likely it is a COMPRESSED AIR LEAK. But what about | | | | These figures are based on values from the |
| the air leaks you can't hear? Size cannot be judged by | | | | Compressed Air & Gas Institute Handbook. |
| sound. | | | | Calculations assume a conservative cost of $.25 /1000 |
| Do You know how much your AIR LEAKS are | | | | cubic feet of compressed air, 100% coefficient of flow |
| costing you? A Department of Energy publications | | | | and working 8,760 hours/year at 100 psig. |