Air filter validation study

We are having our SQF Audit and the inspector is asking for a validation study for compressed air filter. We have an ATLAS COPCO PDP35. Our supplier does not know of one. Anyone know any validation study we can use? Also he asks for a validation study on hand sanitizer, we use GOJO. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

We are having our SQF Audit and the inspector is asking for a validation study for compressed air filter. We have an ATLAS COPCO PDP35. Our supplier does not know of one. Anyone know any validation study we can use? Also he asks for a validation study on hand sanitizer, we use GOJO. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dear eduardocastaneda,

Probably in the wrong forum but never mind.

Is this for food processing or ? SQF standard = ?

This (SQF) general topic has come up here before. Auditor interpretations of the standard requirements appear to vary. Maybe depending on actual case.

In order to usefully help, a relevant question is - what is yr auditor specifically requiring you to validate ?, eg something related to 99.99% ?

Rgds / Charles.C

Yes it is food (pecans). For SQF Level II Certification

He says that would be good but he would accept APC <100 and Yeast and Mold <50

Also the hand sanitizer validation I have no clue where to go with this. keep in mind I am no QC or SQF Practitioner, but am helping as much as I can with finding this out.

Yes it is food (pecans). For SQF Level II Certification

 

He says that would be good but he would accept APC <100 and Yeast and Mold <50

 

Also the hand sanitizer validation I have no clue where to go with this. keep in mind I am no QC or SQF Practitioner, but am helping as much as I can with finding this out.

Thks for reply. Not a user of SQF myself but maybe the standard"s requirements depend on RTE or not. Don't remember.

I presume there were units also. Probably cfu / "something"

The above 2 items have been, I think from other threads here, requested elsewhere for SQF but with varying numbers. AFAIK, there is no official standard reference hence the auditor variations.

Regardless, I predict any validation is going to require some data from yr own facility. There are some supplier filter validation studies available for certain products (I attached one in previous thread) but mainly evaluated in air purity terms (eg the 99.99) not, from memory, in micro. type values.

Other SQF posters here will have better direct experience than myself so I suggest you wait a little for something specific before i speculate too much.

This recent thread is relevant -

http://www.ifsqn.com...ion/#entry63923

Similar query for hand sanitizer. validate what ? probably another micro.target ?

And probably same as above. you will need some data as to validate meeting desired target.

Rgds / Charles.C

So I was able to find the validation study for the air filter. Now I am looking for the hand sanitizer one. is there a way to share the Air filter validation study? Maybe someone else can use it.

So I was able to find the validation study for the air filter. Now I am looking for the hand sanitizer one. is there a way to share the Air filter validation study? Maybe someone else can use it.

Dear eduardocastaneda,

Pleased you could find a solution to air filter. Thanks for wishing to share. If you have a link, eg URL can post this direct of course  but i assume  you have a file ?

In order to share file you have to -

(1) upload the file and

(2) attach the uploaded  file to a post.

The 2nd step is simple (one click) and spelled out within post after you upload. 1st step also not difficult but requires a little work. The ability to upload may slightly relate to yr post's format, eg word, excel, pdf files no problem but direct/complete website pages, eg.html, may require a conversion to pdf. Max size probably around 10MB although zigzags may be possible if this a problem.

It is possible to edit previous post and attach it there (eg click "edit" to re-open post > "use full editor" /click to open a new view > follow later instructions below) or you can simply start a new post. New post may be easiest for first time.

(1) The official procedure for uploading is in forum  "help" page which is -

http://www.ifsqn.com...ore&module=help

(click "posting"[5th item] and scroll down the expanded menu to "attachments"[near end]. Then follow instructions.[current setting will probably be "default" uploader])

Personally I found the official procedure a bit awkward to follow in some steps so i rewrote it in (hopefully) more simple terms. My version here -

http://www.ifsqn.com...nts/#entry66529

Please have a look at above and either try out or revert if unclear. Or both.

Regarding hand sanitizer, i predict you will need to get swab data for probably APC and maybe coliforms/E.coli. Then show that the results are within appropriate limits. the limits in use may vary depending on factors like country location. Some examples are compiled here -

http://www.ifsqn.com...ces/#entry60958

(see summary / excel sheet, "hands" are equated to "food contact surfaces" for many cases where unspecified)

In many threads here an APC limit of 100cfu/cm2 seems popular for hands but strictness may depend on legislation/product/specific situation, etc

ATP data may also be acceptable to the auditor.

Rgds / Charles.C