NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD -- Highly flexible food-grade PUR hose for tight installations

Why this hose?

NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD is a quite different type of product from the rest of the FlexCore food family. It is a small-bore flexible food hose for pneumatic, water and air applications in industry, where a large AIRDUC hose would be overkill. Inner diameter is 2-19 mm, and the hose is specifically designed for compressed air, cooling water, dosing lines and similar.

The hose is food-grade PUR per FDA — that is the basic level, not EU 10/2011 category testing as on the AIRDUC FOOD variants. That reflects the typical applications: NORFLEX 401 FOOD is typically used for air, water and cleaning agents in food-contact-relevant environments rather than direct conveyance of foodstuffs.

The construction is thin-walled and highly flexible (0.75-3 mm wall, down to a 19 mm bend radius for the smallest sizes). That allows compact installations in space-constrained environments — for example around food-production machinery where a particular corner has to be reached. It is transparent (so one can see the medium), and tolerates up to 13-25 bar working pressure depending on dimension.

Important context

Food approval concerns the whole system, not just the hose. The hose materials are tested for food contact (EU 1935/2004, EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177.2600), but couplings, gaskets and assemblies must also be food-grade for the complete installation to be compliant.

CIP/SIP cleaning requires that both hose and couplings tolerate the specified temperatures and chemicals. Always verify full system compatibility before installation.

Where it is used

The hose is used in compressed air systems and cold-water distribution in food production, where small-bore hoses from central installations feed out to specific machines and stations. It is not constructed for pneumatic bulk transfer — that is the AIRDUC FOOD family.

Other typical applications are plant cleaning (cleaning agent and water distribution), heating systems in production halls, and cooling water supply to food-production machinery. The transparent construction makes it easy to verify the flow of the medium without opening the system.

In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used for air supply, water and cooling systems around tablet machines and production lines. In the tobacco industry, it appears in pneumatic dosing systems and air supply. Standard roll length is 50-100 m for the smaller sizes — typical for a product ordered in lengths, not in single pieces.

The formal name is NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD. In daily use it is called "the small food hose" or "NORFLEX FOOD" — it belongs to the NORFLEX series of thin-walled flexible hoses, and so sits outside the AIRDUC family of heavy transport hoses.

Technical specifications

Specifications are valid as of 2026-04-13. Fields without a value are not specified in source data.

Material	Food-grade polyurethane (PUR), thin-walled
Colour	Transparent
Wall construction	Thin PUR wall, self-supporting construction without spiral in smaller dimensions
Conveyed media	Gas, dust, liquid
Temperature range	−40 °C to +90 °C
Short-term peak	+125 °C
Smooth surface	Smooth interior and exterior
Electrical resistance	Insulating — not specified for ATEX use
Food-grade	Yes — EU 1935/2004, EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 177.2600
Cut to length	Yes — Particulair cuts the hose to your dimensions

When NOT to choose 401 FOOD

NORFLEX 401 FOOD is not designed for pneumatic bulk transport of foods or powders. For that application, AIRDUC® PUR 351 FOOD (MD) or AIRDUC® PUR 355 FOOD (HD) is the technically correct choice. 401 FOOD is thin-walled and flexible — perfect for air, water and small dosing lines, but not for industrial-scale dry-bulk transport.

Dimensions and ordering

NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD is supplied in 14 standard sizes from inner Ø 2 mm to 19 mm. Each size has its own article number at the manufacturer. Standard roll length is typically 100 m, and the hose can be cut to length.

Dimensions, pressure and vacuum data for NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD
Inner Ø [mm]	Outer Ø [mm]	Wall thickness [mm]	Working pressure DIN 26057, 10 % elong. [bar]	Bend radius [mm]	Max. length [m]	Weight [kg/m]	Roll [m]	Article no.
2	4	1	20	19	100	0.01	100	40190200000
2.5	4	0.75	13	19	100	0.01	100	40190250000
3	5	1	15	19	100	0.01	100	40190300000
4	6	1	13	28	100	0.02	100	40190400000
5	7	1	10	28	100	0.02	100	40190500000
6	8	1	8	32	100	0.03	100	40190600000
7	10	1.5	10	37	100	0.05	100	40190700000
8	12	2	12	46	100	0.07	100	40190800000
9	12	1.5	8	46	100	0.06	100	40190900000
10	14	2	11	55	100	0.09	100	40191000000
11	16	2.5	10	55	50	0.12	50	40191100000
12	16	2	8	64	50	0.1	50	40191200000
13	18	2.5	8	79	50	0.14	50	40191300000
19	25	3	8	116	50	0.24	50	40191900000

Note: Fields without a value (—) are not specified in the manufacturer's factsheet. Overpressure and underpressure are recommended operating limits; the product can be subjected to higher loads on request. Bend radius is measured along the inside of the hose. Contact us for full specifications or special variants.

Standards and compliance

The hose is tested and certified to the following standards:

EU 1935/2004. European framework regulation for materials in contact with food. The hose's components are tested to meet the general requirements for food contact.
EU 10/2011. Plastics Implementation Measure — specific requirements for plastic materials in food contact. The hose is tested for categories A (aqueous), B (acidic pH<4.5), C (alcohol <20 %), D2 (dairy) and E (dry foods).
FDA 21 CFR 177.2600. US Food and Drug Administration requirements for polyurethanes in food contact. The hose's food-grade approval is tested and documented in compliance with this regulation.
REACH (EC 1907/2006). EU regulation on registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals. The hose's materials are REACH-compliant; manufacturer's declaration is available for download.
RoHS (Directive 2011/65/EU). Restriction of Hazardous Substances — restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances in electronic products. The hose's components comply with RoHS limit values.

Documentation and downloads

Additional documents about this hose, its compliance and installation. Click to download as PDF in a new tab.

Datasheet (Particulair) Complete Particulair-branded datasheet with technical specifications, dimensions and contact information. PDF REACH declaration Manufacturer's declaration of compliance with REACH (EC 1907/2006). PDF · 2026 RoHS declaration Manufacturer's declaration of compliance with the RoHS directive (2011/65/EU). PDF · 2025 ISO 9001 certificate Quality management certificate for the production facility. PDF Installation guidelines General guidelines for correct installation, mounting and use of industrial hoses. PDF · 2025

Industries that use it

The hose is used across a wide range of industries — below is an overview of the most typical industries where NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD is used:

In the food industry, NORFLEX 401 FOOD sits in compressed-air systems and cold-water distribution around production machinery. The flexible construction lets it route through tight installations where a rigid conduit cannot fit.

In the pharmaceutical industry, it is used for air and water supply around tablet presses, dosing installations and packaging machines. In the cleaning industry, it features in mobile cleaning-agent distribution. In the tobacco industry, it appears on pneumatic dosing systems.

In the mechanical engineering and pump industries, it is used in cooling-water and cooling-air systems. In the pneumatic and hydraulic industry, it sits in light dosing lines. What unites these applications is that flexibility and food-contact relevance is the selection criterion, not transport volume — it is not the same class as the AIRDUC FOOD family.

Custom lengths and assemblies

NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD can be cut to length and assembled with couplings, cuffs and threads to fit your installation precisely. We produce complete hose assemblies with crimped ferrules, clamp collars or threaded connections, depending on what the process requires.

For food installations, couplings and gaskets must also be food-grade for the complete installation to be compliant. We select materials matching the hose's certifications.

See our custom hose assemblies

Related hoses

Hoses often considered alongside this one. Suggestions are based on the same category and similar properties.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between FOOD (HD) and FOOD (MD)?

The HD wall construction is more robust and wear-resistant than MD, ideal for high throughputs of abrasive food. MD is lighter and more flexible, suitable for smaller loads and tight installations.

Which food categories can the hose handle?

The hose is tested for all EU 10/2011 categories: A (aqueous foods), B (acidic foods pH<4.5), C (alcoholic beverages <20 %), D2 (dairy products) and E (dry foods such as grain and powder).

Can the hose be cleaned with CIP/SIP?

Yes, as long as cleaning medium and temperature are within specified limits. Steam cleaning up to +130 °C is typically acceptable short-term. Verify against the factsheet when in doubt.

Is the hose ATEX-approved?

Standard FOOD variants are NOT ATEX-approved — they are insulating. The AS variant (with antistatic surface) is ATEX-suitable for Zone 22, and the EC variant is fully conductive.

How long until the hose should be replaced?

Under normal food operation (non-abrasive media) the hose typically lasts 3-5 years. Visual inspection at each cleaning and functional testing during CIP cycles is recommended to catch early signs of wear or cracking.

NORFLEX® PUR 401 FOOD