You are here:Home » Knowledge Base » Details
Knowledge Base

Design and Construction for Sanitary Fluid Processing Equipment-2

Surfaces Properties

All the contact surfaces should be resistant to corrosive food products and meet the following criteria:

  • Smooth, nonporous, free of cracks and crevices, impervious
  • Nontoxic, non-contaminating
  • Nonabsorbent, nonreactive
  • Durable and maintenance free, cleanable

Surface Treatment

If a contact surface is polished or textured in any way, it must be treated properly so the final surface is smooth, durable, free of cracks and crevices and meets the other sanitary design requirements described above. The 3-A Sanitary Standards have adopted the roughness average or Ra value, an industry recognized method for determining an acceptable food contact surface. The Ra is tested by profilometer, a sensitive instrument employing a diamond tipped stylus to measure peaks and valleys in a relatively smooth surface.

Surface Treatment

If a contact surface is polished or textured in any way, it must be treated properly so the final surface is smooth, durable, free of cracks and crevices and meets the other sanitary design requirements described above. The 3-A Sanitary Standards have adopted the roughness average or Ra value, an industry recognized method for determining an acceptable food contact surface. The Ra is tested by profilometer, a sensitive instrument employing a diamond tipped stylus to measure peaks and valleys in a relatively smooth surface.

Prev: Design and Construction for Sanitary Fluid Processing Equipment-3     Next: Design and Construction for Sanitary Fluid Processing Equipment-1