Hygiene and the Role of Enclosure Design as well as Materials
The need to maintain high standards of hygiene in all food and beverage factories is well understood . Machines , enclosures and systems are all subject to stringent regulations to keep production facilities spotlessly clean .
What is perhaps less well appreciated is a food and beverage factory typically has three different hygiene zones . The three zones are broadly high , medium and low hygiene spaces . Each has specific requirements which must be met by the enclosures that are installed within them .
Here we review the design and build of enclosures , and show how ( and why ) they keep production lines running , minimise maintenance costs , and also maintain the highest standards of hygiene and safety .
It ’ s a misconception that IP ratings are fundamentally the most important focus when specifying an enclosure .
In an environment such as food and beverage manufacturing , an IP rating that matches the harsh washdown procedures is a priority . But there are other considerations which are just as important , notably eliminating the potential for bacterial contamination in enclosures which are either connected to the production line or close to it .
It ’ s also true that not all the machinery or IT systems in food production facilities are located within the “ high hygiene ” area – data centres , for example , will be either within IT rooms or at the very least in the office .
In fact , there are three “ hygiene zones ” within a food production plants , defined as high , medium and low hygiene spaces . Because each zone has its own defining characteristics , Rittal has developed two types of enclosure for food and beverage factories : its worldleading , stainless-steel AE enclosure and its specialised Hygiene Design ( HD ) range .
Each enclosure type has design features and IP ratings that make it more or less suitable for one or more of the zones . This suitability has been proved during rigorous , in-house testing . The results showed , for example , that the HD enclosure comprehensively out-pointing AE enclosures when it came to achieving the highest hygiene standards . This was particularly noticeable in areas such as hinges and the seal where contaminants can linger even after washdown . The tests were conducted over 24 hours using a milk product marked with a fluorescent substance .
Zone 1 is the food zone : it is where food is prepared and it is where the highest standards of hygiene must be adhered to . Rittal ’ s HD enclosures have been developed with these requirements in mind , which is why they have become the standard housing for electrical controls in this space .
The materials used in the HD enclosure ’ s construction are corrosion resistant and easy to clean , while all joints are seamlessly welded or glued . This creates a sealed environment for the electrical components inside , preventing water from entering during the wash-down and sanitation process .
Hygienic Design
Extra cleanliness guaranteed
ENCLOSURES POWER DISTRIBUTION
CLIMATE CONTROL