Compressed Air used in CIP
Hello all, I have a question regarding the use of compressed air in our CIP centralized system. We follow BRC standards. We are a seafood plant having both a raw side and a RTE side. All cleaning chemicals are pre diluted and we have various drop lines throughout the plant. The centralized system also has a air line from the compressor to each drop line (point of use). My concern is in my previous position at a different employer, we checked air purity at point of use, primarily air wands in a completely different industry. Is my concern valid to want to have the compressed air tested? It is mixing with the water/chemical and being put directly on product contact surfaces. As for risk assessment I do not have a baseline to assess this risk as air testing has never been conducted here.
For compressed air - A general guidance would include a result of <100 for APC and <10 for Y&M in the California. It might be varied in different states and countries. It is a guideline not legal requirement.
For compressed air - A general guidance would include a result of <100 for APC and <10 for Y&M in the California. It might be varied in different states and countries. It is a guideline not legal requirement.
Hi Raja,
Thks but the above data is meaningless without units. Such values can derive from active or passive sampling.
Context can also be relevant, eg what kind of business ?
You will need to conduct a risk assessment of the compressed air that you are using for mixing CIP chemicals and part of that assessment is to understand the contaminants you have in your compressed air, as it will depend on how the compressed air was made. If you are using oil lubricated compressors with additives, the level of oil contamination can pose as risk if the filtration is inadequate and it ends up in your CIP medium. Moisture and micro contamination may be low risk since you are mixing the gas with the CIP chemicals. Particulate contamination can be a concern if the compressed air distribution pipes are made of cast iron. Hope this helps.
Thank you for the responses. I have a few ideas on how to approach this.
Thank you for the responses. I have a few ideas on how to approach this.
I note that yr OP makes no mention of a filter. As indicated in Post 4, this is a critical component regarding which yr equipment supplier should be able to help.
Target "baselines" for air quality are available in the Literature and are also discussed on this Forum.
PS - From yr Post in other thread I daresay you are already familiar with the above comments -
Hi Charles,
Thank you, I do understand what is involved with compressed air, testing, filter requirements. My past history is with compressed air directly contacting open product. At my new facility the compressed air is mixed with the chemical and water and is used with CIP. In you opinion would you recommend a compressed air program for CIP? CIP is new to me and I want to make sure i understand this before implementing another program. Thank you.
Hi Charles,
Thank you, I do understand what is involved with compressed air, testing, filter requirements. My past history is with compressed air directly contacting open product. At my new facility the compressed air is mixed with the chemical and water and is used with CIP. In you opinion would you recommend a compressed air program for CIP? CIP is new to me and I want to make sure i understand this before implementing another program. Thank you.
Hi Tyler,
Is the air only used for flushing lines or is this also some kind of boosted foam type of setup ? eg -
https://www.food-saf...tion-procedures
I do have experience with low/high risk seafood plants but TBH have never encountered automated systems such as above so cannot comment much except that second one looks distinctly "not simple" regarding any baseline :smile:. I assume the reason for CIP is size of Process installation and/or labour costs ?
The multiple lines aspect looks maybe analogous to the situation discussed in a parallel BRC thread -
https://www.ifsqn.co...se/#entry172440
Regardless, I guess the overall compressed air purity requirement remains as discussed in various, lengthy, older threads here, eg -
https://www.ifsqn.co...ent/#entry80297
https://www.ifsqn.co...ion/#entry63923
(i also noticed this (2013) Literature article which IMO quite eloquently summarised the evaluation difficulties and offered some (ideal?) "Best Practices" -