4 replies to this topic

[mwedel]

Is anyone aware of a regulation or industry standard for the distance food and/or equipment carrying food (i.e. conveyor belt) should be off the floor?

[Charles.C]

Is anyone aware of a regulation or industry standard for the distance food and/or equipment carrying food (i.e. conveyor belt) should be off the floor?

 

Hi mwedel,

 

Regulatory numbers are elusive, eg FDA –

 

We recommend that to prevent contamination of RF-RTE foods and food-contact surfaces from floor splash, you should sufficiently elevate food-contact surfaces (including conveyors) above the floor.

http://www.fda.gov/F...P/ucm073110.htm

(LINK now > general search page, added Charles.C,161020)

 

Mettler’s Guideline -  

 

Product contact areas are 18” above the floor minimum floor clearance of 12” - prevents splash and makes clean out easier.

 mettler - White Paper Sanitary Design.pdf   984KB   122 downloads

 

i guess it may depend somewhat on the specific situation.

[FSQC Biz]

General rule is at least 6 inches from the floor to allow access for cleaning. May need to be higher if there is overflow water, etc., that reduce the 6 inch separation and pose rsik of contamination.

 

Imholte publishes a good book on food plant design.

 

Here are some links to published standards.

 

Unversity of Florida IFAS Extension Service:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.../FS/FS11900.pdf

 

USDA Guidelines for Sanitary Design:

http://www.ams.usda....STELPRDC5048589

(LINK now > general search page, added Charles.C,161020)

[Charles.C]

Hi FSQCBiz,

 

Thks for the links.

 

IMEX, the problem with conveyors is that (rightly or wrongly) they are frequently semi-exposed to the floor, cf. the example on Pg6 of Florida link.

 

I cannot see any numerical suggestion for  food-contact surfaces in above documents in respect to contamination from the floor. (similar problem to which i previously experienced ).

It seemed to me that the 6in.(G1a) mentioned in 2nd link is unrelated ?

[Tony-C]

To add to the previous posts the design of the conveyor is a consideration such as if it prevents contamination from splashes from the floor.

 

Regards,

 

Tony