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How to select the correct size and length of firesleeve
How to select the correct size and length of firesleeve....
Hydraulic hoses and hoses used as fuel, oil or coolant lines have dash sizes associated with them which is often printed on the hose included in the part number. As an example; "-6". This number represents the inside diameter of the hose measured in 16th's of an inch. So a "-6 hose" is 6/16 of an inch, or 3/8" I.D. (Inside Diameter).
Firesleeve also has a dash size associated with it. It also represents the inside diameter of the sleeve.
When choosing the size of the industrial or as1072 aviation/marine firesleeve, you must take into account the wall thickness of the hose, tube or line it is covering. As an example, a -6 hose may have a 1/8", 3/16", 1/4" or some other wall thickness depending on the type and brand of hose, so you need to measure the OUTSIDE Diameter of the hose to determine the correct INSIDE Diameter of the firesleeve to use. Convert the Outside Diameter into 16th's (rounding up) to determine the minimum dash number of the firesleeve to use.
Many hoses of common use from various manufacturers have known or standard wall thicknesses, and to determine the outside diameter of these hoses you can use the manufacturer's catalogs or data sheets to determine the outside diameter, or you can use our lookup chart for many of the common hoses to determine the correct size of firesleeve to use.
Under normal circumstances for short straight runs, the length of firesleeve you will need is the same length as the hose, plus a short additional amount to cover further up the socket so that there is enough material for the clamp that you will use to retain the firesleeve onto the socket outer shell. Depending on the fitting, the firesleeve may be extended to just short of the retaining nut.
For longer lengths of hose where the path of the hose may end up being flexed or curved during or after installation, you will need to use a longer length of firesleeve to cover the hose than initially expected. This is due to the firesleeve length needing to be the same length as the total outside length of the curve of the hose (the larger the hose, the longer this "outside" curve will be), otherwise flexing of the hose without taking this into account would cause the firesleeve to be under tension and pull on the clamps that are holding it in place and perhaps overcoming the clamping force. Increasing the Inside Diameter of the firesleeve also makes it easier to install over long lengths. You can view our installation tips and techniques videos.
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