Food-Grade Tubing ACCUAFLY™ NSF51 PE Ø9×12, Natural

1. Purpose and Operating Principle

The tube is produced by co-extrusion from fully non-toxic raw materials that comply with FDA requirements, confirmed by NSF51 certification. Thanks to its smooth inner surface and the absence of additives, the tube leaves no deposits from the transported product, requires no flushing during normal operation, and does not need replacement during routine maintenance (except in cases determined by the user).

The Ø9×12 size (9 mm inner diameter × 12 mm outer diameter) corresponds to manufacturer part number PEAC912, supplied in the standard natural color (clear/translucent); other colors are available on request, subject to a minimum order quantity.

2. Technical Specifications

3. Design Features

Designation Breakdown

Marking on the Tube (printed every 50 cm)

ACCUAFLY NSF51 PE Ø9X12 LOT…/.. MADE IN ITALY - MAX 80°C - MEDIFLY

Design Solutions

• Co-extrusion produces a uniform wall with no layers prone to delamination
• Smooth inner surface — minimal flow resistance, no zones for product build-up
• No additives whatsoever in the composition — compliant with food-contact requirements
• When ordering a colored version with a stripe, the stripe is applied only on the outer part of the tube wall, with no contact with the transported product

4. Installation Recommendations

• Do not use fittings/connectors that over-stretch the tube end — polyethylene cannot withstand end expansion beyond approximately 15%. Exceeding this limit can lead to material creep and gradual loosening of the joint over time.
• Choose a fitting sized strictly for the 12 mm outer diameter and 9 mm inner diameter — using a fitting larger than the allowable expansion leads to a gradual loss of joint tightness.
• Account for the temperature dependence of working pressure: as temperature rises, the allowable working pressure decreases. Approximate correction factors for the base 8 bar working pressure (at 23 °C): –20 °C — ×1.87, 0 °C — ×1.4, 23 °C — ×1 (baseline), 30 °C — ×0.80, 40 °C — ×0.60, 50 °C — ×0.50, 60 °C — ×0.40.
• Do not bend the tube to a radius smaller than 120 mm at 23 °C — this pinches the internal channel and reduces flow capacity.
• Before putting the tube into service in food production, request a M.O.C.A. certificate of conformity from the supplier if needed (materials intended for contact with food) — issued on separate request at the time of order.

5. Cross-References and Comparison

Cross-References

⚠️ Exact cross-reference part numbers from other food-grade polyethylene tubing manufacturers (Fitt, REHAU, etc.) for the Ø9×12 size have not been verified. For this type of product, it’s more reliable to match an equivalent by parameters (inner/outer diameter, working pressure, NSF51/FDA certification) rather than by a direct cross-reference number — send a technical spec or a sample and we’ll find the exact match.

Neighboring Sizes in the ACCUAFLY™ NSF51 PE Range

6. Common Mistakes

• Choosing a fitting “by eye” without accounting for the allowable end expansion — deformation beyond ~15% leads to material creep and subsequent loss of joint tightness.
• Ignoring the temperature correction of working pressure — running the tube at the full 8 bar rating at elevated temperature (e.g., 40–50 °C) exceeds the actual allowable pressure under those conditions.
• Bending the tube to a radius smaller than 120 mm — pinches the inner channel, reduces flow, and creates local stress concentrations in the wall.
• Using the colored-stripe version where 100% product flow transparency matters — if visual monitoring is important, check with the manager whether the colored stripe affects your specific application (although the stripe has no contact with the product).
• Storing the coil in sunlight or at high temperatures for a long time before installation — can affect the tube’s geometry before installation; store per general recommendations for polyethylene products.

7. Application

• Transport of drinking water and beverages in food production
• Food-grade bottling, dosing, and liquid food product transport lines
• Equipment requiring food-contact certification (NSF51, FDA, EC Reg. 1935/2004)
• Applications where resistance to product deposits and no need for regular line flushing are important

8. Expert Opinion

“With food-grade tubing, the key thing is not to confuse the nominal working pressure, rated at 23 °C, with actual operating conditions. If the line runs at elevated temperature — for example, when bottling a warm product, or in a poorly ventilated room in summer — the actual allowable pressure drops significantly, and it’s easy to overlook this if the tube is selected by diameter alone. Ø9×12 is a versatile mid-range size in the ACCUAFLY™ line, but before ordering a large batch I always recommend checking both your system’s working pressure and its temperature regime, rather than just matching the diameter to fittings you already have.”

Vitali Boluchevski, Lead Engineer, Acvatron SRL, 18 years of experience

9. FAQ

❓ What does Ø9×12 mean in the tube’s designation? Inner diameter 9 mm, outer diameter 12 mm. The wall thickness is therefore 1.5 mm.

❓ Can this tube be used for hot liquids? The rated operating temperature range is –20 °C to +60 °C. As temperature rises, working pressure must be reduced per the correction factor table (see Section 4). The tube’s marking shows “MAX 80°C” — this is the upper limit value from the manufacturer’s standard marking template; to confirm suitability above 60 °C, check with the manager.

❓ Is this tube suitable for pressurized drinking water systems? Yes, the tube is NSF51-certified and is designed, among other uses, for transporting drinking water, provided the working pressure (8 bar at 23 °C, corrected for operating temperature) is not exceeded.

❓ Can the tube be ordered in a different color? Yes, besides the standard natural color, colored versions and a “natural with colored stripe” version are available on request, subject to a minimum order quantity.

❓ Is a separate certificate of conformity needed for food production? On request, a M.O.C.A. certificate of conformity (materials and articles intended to come into contact with food) is issued separately at the time of ordering.