[Code of Federal Regulations] [Title 49, Volume 4] [Revised as of October 1, 2002] From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access [CITE: 49CFR393.45] [Page 1066-1067] TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION CHAPTER III--FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PART 393--PARTS AND ACCESSORIES NECESSARY FOR SAFE OPERATION--Table of Contents Subpart C--Brakes Sec. 393.45 Brake tubing and hose, adequacy. (a) General requirements. Brake tubing and brake hose must-- (1) Be designed and constructed in a manner that insures proper, adequate, and continued functioning of the tubing or hose; (2) Be installed in a manner that insures proper continued functioning of the tubing or hose; (3) Be long and flexible enough to accommodate without damage all normal motions of the parts to which it is attached; (4) Be suitably secured against chafing, kinking, or other mechanical damage; (5) Be installed in a manner that prevents it from contacting the vehicle's exhaust system or any other source of high temperatures; and (6) Conform to the applicable requirements of paragraph (b) or (c) of this section. In addition, all hose installed on and after January 1, 1981, must conform to those applicable subsections of FMVSS 106 (49 CFR 571.106). (b) Special requirements for metallic brake tubing, nonmetallic brake tubing, coiled nonmetallic brake tubing and brake hose. (1) Metallic brake tubing, nonmetallic brake tubing, coiled nonmetallic brake tubing, and brake hose installed on a commercial motor vehicle on and after March 7, 1989, must meet or exceed one of the following specifications set forth in the SAE Handbook, 1985 edition: (i) Metallic Air Brake Tubing--SAE Recommended Practice J1149-- Metallic Air Brake System Tubing and Pipe--July 76. (ii) Nonmetallic Air Brake Tubing--SAE Recommended Practice J844-- Nonmetallic Air Brake System Type B--OCT 80. (iii) Air Brake Hose--SAE Recommended Practice J1402--Automotive Air Brake Hose and Hose Assemblies--JUN 85. (iv) Hydraulic Brake Hose--SAE Recommended Practice J1401 Road Vehicle-Hydraulic Brake Hose Assemblies for Use with Non-Petroleum Base Hydraulic Fluid JUN 85. (v) Vacuum Brake Hose--SAE Recommended Practice J1403 Vacuum Brake Hose JUN 85. (2) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, brake hose and brake tubing installed on a motor vehicle before March 7, 1989, must conform to 49 CFR 393.45 effective October 31, 1983. [[Page 1067]] (c) Nonmetallic brake tubing. Coiled nonmetallic brake tubing may be used for connections between towed and towing vehicles or between the frame of a towed vehicle and the unsprung subframe of an adjustable axle of that vehicle if-- (1) The coiled tubing has a straight segment (pigtail) at each end that is at least 2 inches in length and is encased in a spring guard or similar device which prevents the tubing from kinking at the fitting at which it is attached to the vehicle; and (2) The spring guard or similar device has at least 2 inches of closed coils or similar surface at its interface with the fitting and extends at least 1\1/2\ inches into the coiled segment of the tubing from its straight segment. (d) Brake tubing and brake hose, uses. Metallic and nonmetallic brake tubing is intended for use in areas of the brake system where relative movement in the line is not anticipated. Brake hose and coiled nonmetallic brake tubing is intended for use in the brake system where substantial relative movement in the line is anticipated or the hose/ coiled nonmetallic brake tubing is exposed to potential tension or impact such as between the frame and axle in a conventional type suspension system (axle attached to frame by suspension system). Nonmetallic brake tubing may be used through an articulation point provided movement is less than 4.5 degrees in a vertical plane, and 7.4 degrees in a transverse horizontal plane. (49 U.S.C. 304, 1655; 49 CFR 1.48(b) and 301.60) [38 FR 4333, Feb. 13, 1973, as amended at 44 FR 25457, May 1, 1979; 45 FR 46424, July 10, 1980; 47 FR 47837, Oct. 28, 1982; 53 FR 49400, Dec. 7, 1988]