Product information

In accordance with the manufacturer’s liability for its products as defined in the Product Liability Act (§4 Prod-HaftG), the following information on quick-release couplings, plugs and their accessories must be observed. Failure to comply releases the manufacturer from its liability.

1. Product information and intended use

Quick-release couplings and their accessories in accordance with this definition are products that are generally interchangeable and are built into devices for the use of compressed air or in fluid medium applications. This product information relates to quick-release couplings, plug-in nipples and coupling accessories that are manufactured and sold by STEINCONNECTOR GmbH, based in Wermelskirchen, and its sales partners. For the purposes of this product information, they can be classified into the following areas of application:

• Medical technology
• Machine tools and plant engineering
• Production equipment
• Water, wastewater and disposal
• Respiratory protection
• Fluid media.

2. Proper assembly is part of the intended use:

• The installation location of the quick-release couplings and their accessories must be chosen so that the operating employee cannot be harmed by sources of danger in the immediate vicinity.
• For damp rooms, for direct exposure to weather, near the sea or for use in aggressive, corrosive environments, products must be specified in special designs.
• Liability only applies to our original products. The selection of the quick-release coupling system must be made taking into account the pressure, the temperature, the respective fluid medium and the size. Relevant information can be found on our respective product data sheets. The respective material-specific tightening torques must be taken into account.

3. Product performance

If the product performance is not specified in our catalogues, brochures, performance descriptions, etc., the requirements for our quick-release couplings and their accessories must be agreed with us. Relevant DIN, EN and ISO standards give guidance in this case.

4. Product maintenance

Quick-release couplings and their accessories are almost maintenance-free in standard applications, but the user is responsible for performing a regular external visual inspection to detect any contamination, cracked or damaged parts or leaks plus a function test under maximum operating pressure to check for possible malfunctions or leaks.

Replacement intervals are to be adapted to official or technical standards as well as to operational values based on experience.

5. Incorrect use

The following cases are examples of misuse - i.e. the improper product use of quick-release couplings and their accessories:

• Operation with a higher operating pressure than specified on the product data sheet
• Operation in an unsuitable environment
• Foreign bodies are able to enter the pipe system
• The ambient temperatures are too high or too low
• Contact with particularly corrosive media
• Excessive impacts and falls
• Alterations without manufacturer approval

6. The notification and instruction obligations

Our catalogue and series-related product data sheets with product and user information are available for retailers, further processors and users to fulfil the notification and instruction obligations under the Product Liability Act (ProdHaftG):

To ensure the proper functioning of our quick-release couplings and their accessories

Nationally and internationally, our quick-release couplings are used to connect a wide variety of fluid media under a large range of conditions. With innovative solutions and precision engineered products, we keep setting new standards and revitalising markets with new concepts. We always keep an eye on the current standards and legal requirements so you can be sure that STEINCONNECTOR are always state of the art. In the following, we have compiled all the information you need about STEINCONNECTOR quick-release couplings. In addition to product information and information on intended use, you will find valuable information about our quick-release couplings and the REACH and RoHS directives here.

REACH conformity declaration

The European chemicals regulation REACH was introduced on 1 June 2007.

REACH stands for:

• Registration,
• Evaluation,
• Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.

With the introduction of the regulation, the manufacturers and “downstream users” are responsible for the correct use and provision of information about the chemical ingredients.

It is a declared aim of the REACH regulation to increase awareness of the dangers and risks that chemicals can pose. After certain deadlines, only chemical substances that have been previously registered may be placed on the market within the scope of the REACH regulation.

STEINCONNECTOR GmbH accepts this responsibility and conscientiously fulfils the obligations arising from the regulation. For our products, we are not the manufacturer of the processed substances; instead, we are what is known as the “downstream user”. In our function as a “downstream user” in the supply chain, we are committed to ensuring that all of our suppliers comply with the registration requirements for the pre-registered substances. This status entails special notification obligations within the supply chain, which we carefully fulfil. A corresponding reference to REACH can be found in the respective technical product data sheet.

RoHS conformity declaration

The RoHS directive (Restriction of Hazardous Substances, EU regulation 2011/65/EU) restricts the use of certain hazardous substances. The hazardous substances include, for example, lead, cadmium and chromium-6 compounds. The directive governs the use and introduction to the market of hazardous substances in electrical devices and electronic components.

The substances listed may only be used up to the maximum concentration values specified in the current version of the legislation. The directive provides for a step-by-step expansion of the list of hazardous substances. However, there are exceptions for certain applications. Since 2011, compliance with the RoHS directive has been a prerequisite for affixing the CE mark to corresponding devices. Compliance with the RoHS directive must be confirmed in the EU conformity declaration.

Customer information according to REACH regulation, Art. 33:

A very limited number of products from the STEINCONNECTOR product range contain components with a lead content of more than 0.1%. These are special products made of brass (lead content < 4.0%). There is a temporary exemption for these products until 21/07/2021, which ensures RoHS conformity despite the elevated values.

It is currently unclear whether a further extension of the deadline beyond 21/07/2021 will take place. If the deadline expires, the manufacturer and distributor will be obliged to inform their customers about the lead content.

This formally required information states that these products do not pose any risk if they are used as intended. There are also no special precautionary measures to be observed when using them. Relevant studies have shown that skin contact with such materials is harmless.
A corresponding reference to RoHS conformity can be found in the respective technical product data sheet.

Chemical resistance of the O-rings

Here you can find an overview of the chemical resistances.

Temperature range

The temperature range is an important factor for the durability of a quick-release coupling. A distinction must be made here between the temperature of the fluid medium and the ambient temperature. Please refer to the individual technical product data sheet for the temperature range.

Pressure range (without pulsation)

The pressure range of STEINCONNECTOR products is tested on modern test benches using a standardised test procedure. Please refer to the technical product data sheet for the respective pressure ranges.

Flow capacity

The flow capacity describes the average capacity and can vary depending on the combination of coupling and plug. The specific flow rate can be measured if necessary. Please refer to the technical product data sheet for the quantity information.

Valve

A distinction is made between the following designs for the valve:

• Free flow
  No valve in the plug (male part) or in the coupling (female part)
• Closing on one side
  Valve in the coupling. This means that a coupling is closed in the uncoupled state. The plug-in nipple opens the valve.
• Closing on both sides
  With this technology, there is a valve in both the plug and the coupling.
  When used with fluid media, this prevents any leakage of the fluid medium in the uncoupled state.
  The flat-sealing variant is a special application. Here only the end faces of the valve are wetted.