SPECIAL FEATURES OF A MILK AND DAIRY HOSE
Since milk and dairy hose must comply to FDA & EU standards, special attention is required for its maintenance. The following considerations must be taken into account during hose maintenance.

RESISTANT TO STANDARD CLEANING AGENTS
Milk and dairy hoses are impervious (not affected by) to standard cleaning agents like acid/alkalis and chlorine compounds. Generally, an alkaline cleaner or a chlorinated cleaner is used to clean these hoses. The alkalis, phosphates, wetting and chelating agents in alkaline cleaner dissolves milk fats, protein and carbohydrates. Additionally, the chlorine prevents the formation of films. Acid rinse is also performed to remove mineral deposits from the milk.

STERILIZING WITH STEAM
Steam is the most effective way of sterilizing dairy hoses and equipment. Ideally, the hoses will be exposed to steam for 20-30 minutes. The steam will destroy bacteria and other contaminants and the heat subsequently makes the equipment dry. The temperature and pressure of the steam, however, depends upon the material of the hose.

FITTINGS & ACCESSORIES
To connect the hoses to additional dairy equipment, fittings are used. The specifications for fitting should be considered thoroughly to ensure perfect fabrication, no contamination and a longer service life. The fittings for food grade hoses should also meet FDA food approval. FDA approved fitting materials used in dairy industry includes:

Type 303/302 Stainless Steel
Type 304 Stainless Steel
Type 316 Stainless Steel
EPDM
Common fitting types used are:

Slotted nuts (Figure 3 left)
Linear hose fittings (Figure 3 middle)
Hose thread fittings (Figure 3 right)
The Seven Types of Brewery Hose Materials
Chlorobutyl.
FDA UHMW.
PVC.
Silicone.
Nitrile.
EPDM.
PTFE (Teflon)