Chemical-resistant · Chemical-resistant

SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN

Extremely flexible suction and pressure hose for aggressive chemicals, designed for the chemical and petrochemical industries. The UPE liner provides broad chemical resistance, and the combination of textile reinforcement and steel spiral delivers high burst strength (64 bar) at a working pressure of 16 bar.

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EN 12115:2021 TRbF 131 / Flammable liquids WP 16 bar / Burst 64 bar Antistatic <109 Ω
  • Aggressive chemicals
  • 16 bar working, 64 bar burst
  • Antistatic <109 Ω
  • Extremely flexible
  • −30 to +100 °C
  • EN 12115 + TRbF 131

Why this hose?

Aggressive chemicals place demands on the hose's material, construction and electrical properties at the same time. SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN is built for all three. The UPE liner (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) provides broad chemical resistance, and the smooth interior surface reduces deposit build-up and makes cleaning between media changes easier.

The construction combines textile reinforcement with a steel spiral embedded in the wall. This delivers a high burst pressure of 64 bar against a working pressure of 16 bar — a safety factor of 4 against static load. The EPDM cover externally protects against ozone, UV and abrasion, and the wrapped construction allows extreme flexibility without sacrificing burst strength.

The hose is imprinted with the EN 12115:2021 code directly on the cover, allowing visual conformity verification. It is also TRbF 131-approved (German regulations for flammable liquids, section 5.5), making it suitable for loading and unloading of flammable liquids provided proper grounding is in place.

Flammable liquids and grounding

The hose is not ATEX-certified, but it is TRbF 131-compliant for flammable liquids. The distinction matters: ATEX covers the explosion safety of the entire equipment in a zone classification, while TRbF 131 specifically regulates hoses for flammable liquids. The hose's electrical conductivity (<106 Ω both cover and core) is activated by proper grounding at both ends. Without grounding, the electrical property is ineffective.

Where it is used

SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN is used where liquids are aggressive enough that ordinary polymer hoses cannot withstand them, and where system safety requires conductive dissipation. It is a core application in the chemical and petrochemical industries, but also in specialty vehicles handling dangerous goods.

In practice we see it most often used for loading and unloading of chemicals at tank trucks, where loading/unloading cycles place demands on both chemical resistance and static dissipation. It is also used for internal process transport of aggressive solvents between reactors, storage tanks and packaging.

In surface finishing industries it is used for transport of acids, bases and etching agents. In water and wastewater treatment it handles concentrated chemicals such as sulphuric acid, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide. The UPE liner handles most of these — but always check specific resistance for the actual medium.

The formal name is SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN. In daily use, many simply call it "the UPE hose", "the Superchem hose" or "the chemical hose". All three work.

Technical specifications

Specifications are current as of 13 April 2026 and refer to 20 °C unless otherwise stated.

Inner liner UPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene), smooth surface
Outer cover EPDM, viklet konstruktion
Reinforcement Textile plies and steel spiral
Colour Black (outer cover)
Imprint Superchem®/UPE - EN 12115:2021 - UPE - SD - ID mm - WP 16 bar - /T TRbF 131/T2 § 5.5
Conveying media Liquids (aggressive chemicals, flammable liquids)
Temperature range −30 °C to +100 °C
Working pressure 16 bar (all dimensions)
Burst pressure 64 bar (all dimensions)
Vacuum 0.9 bar (all dimensions)
Electrical resistance (contact) Antistatic <109 Ω
Electrical resistance (cover and core) Conductive <106 Ω
Cut to length Yes
Manufacturer SKU (model group) 3805

Dimensions and ordering

SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN is supplied in 8 standard sizes from inner Ø 19 mm to 100 mm. Each size has its own article number from the manufacturer. Standard roll length is 40 m for most dimensions, with the 100 mm variant supplied in 20 m. The hose can be cut to length.

Dimensions, pressure and vacuum data for SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN
Inner Ø
[mm]
Outer Ø
[mm]
Wall thickness
[mm]
Working pressure
DIN 26057, 10 % elong. [bar]
Burst pressure
[bar]
Vacuum
axially fixed [bar]
Bend radius
[mm]
Max. length
[m]
Weight
[kg/m]
Roll
[m]
Article no.
1931616640.9187400.71403805019000
2537616640.9225400.89403805025000
32446.516640.9262401.08403805032000
38516.516640.9337401.27403805038000
5066816640.9412402.1403805050000
6379816640.9450402.51403805063000
7591816640.9525402.92403805075000
100116816640.9675204.15203805100000

Note: Working pressure and burst pressure are constant across all dimensions (16 bar / 64 bar). Wall thickness varies from 6 mm on smaller dimensions to 8 mm on larger ones. Bend radius is measured along the inside of the hose bend. The reinforcement construction (textile plies + steel spiral) is the same for all dimensions.

Standards and compliance

The hose is tested and documented to European and German standards for chemical-resistant hoses. The standard code is imprinted directly on the cover.

  • EN 12115:2021. European standard for rubber and thermoplastic hoses and hose assemblies for the conveyance of chemicals. Specifies requirements for materials, construction, pressure and electrical resistance. The hose is imprinted with the standard code directly on the cover, allowing the inspector to verify conformity visually.
  • TRbF 131, Part 2, § 5.5. German technical regulation for flammable liquids (Technische Regeln für brennbare Flüssigkeiten). Section 5.5 specifically covers requirements for hoses used in loading, unloading and transport of flammable liquids. The hose's electrical conductivity (conductive cover and core) makes it suitable for this application.
  • REACH. EU regulation 1907/2006 on the registration, evaluation and authorisation of chemicals. The hose meets REACH requirements for materials in contact with conveyed media.
  • RoHS. EU directive 2011/65/EU on the restriction of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.

The hose is not ATEX-certified. For ATEX zones, you must verify that the specific hose is ATEX-approved for the relevant zone. TRbF 131 is a German national regulation for flammable liquids and is not the same as the ATEX directive's explosion protection.

Industries that use it

SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN is used in industries where aggressive liquids are the core application. Common to all of them is the combination of chemical resistance, high burst strength and static dissipation.

In the chemical industry and petrochemical industry the hose is a workhorse for loading, unloading and internal transport of solvents, acids and bases. The conductivity makes it suitable for flammable liquids, and the UPE liner's broad chemical resistance reduces the need to change hoses between media types.

In the tank truck industry it is used for loading and unloading at terminals and depots, where the safety factor of 4 against burst is a necessary margin under frequent pressure cycles. In specialty chemicals and pharma it handles aggressive solvents where traceability and documented conformity are critical.

In water and wastewater treatment it handles concentrated chemicals such as sulphuric acid, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide. In surface finishing industries it is used for plating baths and etching agents where the material must withstand both aggressive chemicals and frequent movement.

Custom lengths and assemblies

SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN can be cut to length and assembled with chemical-resistant couplings and flanges, so it fits your installation precisely. We supply finished hose assemblies with crimped ferrules or bolted flanges, depending on what the process requires.

For flammable liquids it is particularly important that couplings and flanges preserve the hose's electrical continuity, and that the entire system is properly grounded. The whole chain needs to dissipate static electricity, not only the hose itself. We advise on coupling selection at order.

See our custom hose assemblies

Frequently asked questions

Which chemicals can SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN handle?

The UPE liner (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) has broad chemical resistance to acids, bases, solvents and many aggressive media. The specific compatibility for a given chemical depends on concentration and temperature. Always consult a chemical resistance chart or contact us for assessment of specific media.

Can the hose be used for flammable liquids?

Yes. The hose is TRbF 131-approved (section 5.5) for loading, unloading and transport of flammable liquids. The electrical conductivity (cover and core <10⁶ Ω) ensures that static electricity can be dissipated, provided the entire system is properly grounded. Note: TRbF 131 is not the same as ATEX approval — for ATEX zones, check whether the hose is specifically ATEX-certified.

What is the difference between antistatic and conductive here?

The hose combines two electrical properties. Electrical contact resistance is antistatic (<10⁹ Ω) — it limits charge build-up at surface contact. At the same time, the cover and core are conductive (<10⁶ Ω) so that static electricity can be conducted through the material to ground. The combination is necessary for transport of flammable liquids where both contact charge and volume charge must be managed.

What is on the hose imprint?

The hose is imprinted with text that includes: the standard code EN 12115:2021, the material designation UPE, an SD marker (Specification Documented), inner diameter, working pressure 16 bar, TRbF 131/T2 § 5.5 reference, and production quarter/year. The imprint allows visual verification of the hose's conformity during installation and inspection.

Can the hose be supplied in custom lengths?

Yes. The hose can be cut to length and assembled with chemical-resistant couplings and flanges through Particulair's custom hose assemblies. Standard roll length is 40 m for most dimensions, with the 100 mm variant supplied in 20 m. Maximum production length is as listed in the dimensions table.

What is the burst pressure and why does it matter?

Burst pressure is the internal pressure at which the hose is expected to fail under pure static load. SUPERCHEM®/UPE/EN has a burst pressure of 64 bar against a working pressure of 16 bar — a safety factor of 4. This provides significant margin for pressure pulses and wear over time. Burst pressure is not an operating limit — it is an ultimate failure threshold that must not be approached in service.