Food Facility Lighting Requirements

Hi there,

I was hoping to get some input about lighting requirements in a beverage processing facility. We are looking to retrofit our facility with LEDs, and I'm a little confused on all the certifications and standards. Does all lighting in processing areas need to be NSF certified or do they simply need to be sheilded or shatterproof? Does anyone know how NSF and NEMA standards overlap?

Thanks,

Kelly

Look up Lumen requirements and get a Lumen Meter or bring in a lighting engineer to do recommendations and/or study.

We use Modules 2 and 13 (Production of Food Packaging) for your FSC (16) you would use Modules 2 and 11.

"11.2.5.1 Lighting in food processing and handling areas and at inspection stations shall be of appropriate
intensity to enable the staff to carry out their tasks efficiently and effectively.
11.2.5.2 Light fittings in processing areas, inspection stations, ingredient and packaging storage areas, and all
areas where the product is exposed shall be shatterproof, manufactured with a shatterproof covering or fitted
with protective covers and recessed into or fitted flush with the ceiling. Where fittings cannot be recessed,
structures must be protected from accidental breakage, manufactured from cleanable materials and addressed
in the cleaning and sanitation program.
11.2.5.3 Light fittings in warehouses and other areas where the product is protected shall be designed such as
to prevent breakage and product contamination."

Outside of that, type is up to you.

Hi, you can look at the ISO 8995:2002.

Hi there,

 

I was hoping to get some input about lighting requirements in a beverage processing facility. We are looking to retrofit our facility with LEDs, and I'm a little confused on all the certifications and standards. Does all lighting in processing areas need to be NSF certified or do they simply need to be sheilded or shatterproof? Does anyone know how NSF and NEMA standards overlap?

 

Thanks,

Kelly

Opinions seem to vary somewhat -

 Light intensities for food processing Plants.pdf   58.17KB   154 downloads

 Lighting Solutions for food processing Industry.pdf   1.15MB   143 downloads

Hi there,

 

I was hoping to get some input about lighting requirements in a beverage processing facility. We are looking to retrofit our facility with LEDs, and I'm a little confused on all the certifications and standards. Does all lighting in processing areas need to be NSF certified or do they simply need to be sheilded or shatterproof? Does anyone know how NSF and NEMA standards overlap?

 

Thanks,

Kelly

It seems to depend on whether you've asked a lighting manufacturer or a research organization . I didn't ask which code you were following? I quoted SQF Module 11 but you would have to look at your specific code requirements. Do they refer to a specific standard? We installed T8 HO lighting throughout our plant about 10 years ago. In hindsight, I wish we had sprung the extra and had HE LEDs installed. We then installed additional fixtures for our Inspection / Sort areas. Our printers have special lighting for inspection built in to the control stands and are replaced on a schedule. This is all "Appropriate" for our purposes. I would determine an adequate Foot Candle level and then add 15% - 25% above that for your target. That's just me rule of thumb though

Thanks everyone for the input! We currently do not have third-party certification, but we hope to get there eventually. I will need to look at lumen requirements, but it's now my understanding that the difference between IP65 and NSF certified lights is that NSF addresses paint peeling, has no flat surfaces to accumulate dust and glass, and is therefore best for lights directly above food. 

I also learned that National Electrical Manufacturers Association and The International Electrical Code give you the levels of water and particulate protection but are redundant. The IP model has gradually replaced NEMA as it's more specific.

Therefore it looks like we will do a combination of NSF certified and IP65/66 lighting.