4 replies to this topic

[Rebben456]

Hi Friday happy people, 

 

How do I go about proving that my floor (rubber) is suitable for food safe use? The project is under immense time constraint so I doubt we would have time to wait for someone like undertake a proper investigation. 

 

I realise that the BRC are stating the floor to be safe to be :

 

Floor is suitable hard wearing to meet the demands of the process , and withstand cleaning materials and methods. 

 

They shall be impervious, be maintained in good repair and facilitate cleaning. 

 

I am aware that concrete and Polyurethane is commonly used but this rubber flooring seems to have a decent thickness and a fairly hard wearing top surface. 

 

The manufacturer is not certified food safe. 

 

Many thanks! 

 

Best regards,

 

[ilonar]

Hi Rebben,

 

That chapter of the standard is audited "on the spot". The auditor walks around and sees how the floor looks like. I can't imagine how a rubber floor looks like in food industry, I only have experience with concrete, tiles or raisin based floor. In case you have equipment/machines that are constantly moving on the floor and are damaging it, then it is not suitable hard wearing to meet the demands of your process. If the cleaning materials that are used are damaging its surface, the same problem.  If the surface is not smooth, dirt might accumulate on your floor and cleaning is not facilitated.

 

But your company should ask the manufacturer/service provider if the new floor is meant for food industry. In most of the cases all these companies know and can recommend you something that is suitable for the type of business you are carrying out.  And what do you mean with food safe? You don't need to have any certificate that the product can come into contact with the floor; normally everything that touches the floor will be waste in the food industry.

[SQFconsultant]

I've only been in one facility that had a hard rubber floor and that was because of an issue with a type of flour dust and potential for flash fire due to static.

 

Just get all the specs for the flooring and have that available on file - you should be fine as long as you meet all code requirements.

[Rebben456]

Thank you Both, 

 

That makes it easier to determine its suitability. 

 

Currently there are no forklifts nor machinery, apart from a blender working on the surface. 

 

Have a fantastic weekend! 

 

Many Thanks! 

[Cathysmith]

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