Static Dissipating Hose

First of all, what is a static charge and what creates it? According to dictionary.com, static charge is defined as, “a stationary electric charge built up on an insulating material.” When items contact each other, the friction can rub off electrons, and when one of those materials is an insulator, meaning it will not release those electrons easily, it stores them up until it comes in contact with a grounding source. That buildup is what causes lighting to occur, so the power of a static charge can be very big under the right conditions!

When dealing with applications that generate a static charge, having a hose that does not hold that electrical load is very important. There are not only comfort concerns, because people don’t like being shocked, but real safety and functionality concerns as well. The release of static can ignite flammable liquids or gases nearby, and materials can cling to the sides of a charged hose.

So what kind of hoses are anti-static? The main types are those with a conductive grounding wire through them that actively moves any built-up load through the tube, and those with a passive conductivity in the material itself, like solid rubber with a high carbon black content. A solid plastic hose, or plastic hose with an embedded metal helix is likely to hold a static charge. If you’re moving bulk material or you are working around flammable items, these hose design options need to be considered.