Hose or hose assemblies fabricated from age-sensitive materials are subject to age control. The following definitions are provided to clarify age control, acceptance life, shelf life, and service life:

Age controlThe efforts made during manufacture, purchase, and the storage of age-sensitive items and parts made from natural or synthetic rubber materials to assure conformance to the applicable material and performance specifi-cations. Age control is further defined in terms of acceptance life and shelf life.

Acceptance lifeThe period of time from cure date to the procuring activitys (organizational-, intermediate-, or depot-level activity) date of acceptance.

Shelf lifeThe period of time from the date of acceptance or delivery by the organizational-, intermediate-, or depot-level activity to the date of use.

Service lifeThe period of time from the date of installation to the date of removal. Installation date of the hose or hose assemblies must be identified by a tag. See figure 5-5.

The acceptance life (MIL-STD-1523) and shelf life (DOD 4140.27M) for synthetic rubber hose and hose assemblies are established as follows: 

Synthetic rubber hose, bulk or assembly, must not exceed 8 years (32 quarters) from the cure date, which must be stenciled on the rubber covering of the bulk hose or provided on an identification band on the metal braid hose or on the hose assemblies.

Synthetic rubber hose and hose assemblies must not exceed 5 years (20 quarters) from the date of delivery to the organizational-, intermediate-, or depot-level activity. The repair activity maintains a record of delivery dates for bulk hose and hose assemblies to monitor shelf life expiration dates.

NOTE: Teflon (PTFE) rubber hose and hose assemblies do not have shelf life limitations.

Service life is 7 years (28 quarters) for synthetic rubber hoses in critical applications; that is, medium-and high-pressure synthetic rubber hoses exposed to heat, weather, or fuel.

NOTE: Service life for Teflon (PTFE) hose assemblies is determined by CFA and may be on-conditional replacement or hard-time replacement.