Becoming a food manufacturer can be a lucrative endeavour. Tapping into this venture lets you create and distribute products that people consume daily. It also provides opportunities for creativity, as you can combine different ingredients and flavours to develop unique products.
However, being a responsible food manufacturer goes beyond creating new offers. You must also ensure cleanliness and sanitation to prevent deadly bacteria from contaminating the food supplies. Although sanitary drains can help drain liquids properly, they can also harbour dangerous bacteria.
If you want to minimise the risk of contamination and employee injuries, this article will enumerate what to consider when choosing a sanitary drain. We’ll also give some types you can consider.
5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Sanitary Drain
Here are the five factors to consider when selecting the best one for your needs.
1. Safety
Good manufacturing habits in the food industry require safe draining-cleaning methods prioritising employee safety. Your drains should prevent accidents, and you must place them away from areas where people produce food or the entry points. You should also separate your sanitary drains from others to meet the safe quality foods (SQF) standards.
2. Ease of Cleaning
When selecting a drain for your food processing facility, you must consider the ease of cleaning. Remember that tiny entry points, heavy grates, and sharp angles can make cleaning difficult and increase the risk of bacteria growth. We recommend using stainless steel drains, as their slick and rust-resistant properties make them ideal for food processing drains.
3. Compliance with Codes and Regulations
Food processing facilities must have floor drains that meet strict regulations for safety and sanitation. They should be durable and cleanable, withstand hot water, high pressure, and chemical exposure, not contaminate the product or be toxic, and cannot contain harmful materials. Stainless steel is a common choice that meets all of these requirements.
4. Usage Needs
The materials and liquids going down your drain affect the best drainage system for your food production facility. Stainless steel is the best material for resisting damage from highly corrosive agents and facilitating easy cleaning. While you can also consider other options like fibreglass and galvanised steel, they’re not as easy to clean and durable as stainless steel drains.
5. SQF Standards
The SQF is a set of regulations that food processing facilities should follow, and all clients prefer to work with an SQF-certified facility. The set criteria for food processing floor drains require their materials to be dense, smooth, impact-resistant, easy to clean, and not too close to food production lines. Your facility should also slope the floors around spot drains to let liquids drain quickly during normal working conditions.
Three Types of Drains You Can Get for a Food Processing Plant
After enumerating the factors, here are the three common types of drains to get for your food processing facility.
1. Spot Drains
Spot drains are tiny floor openings with a slight decline in the surrounding area. However, they can be challenging to clean, as their pipes usually go deep beneath the floor and have only one tiny entry point.
2. Slot Drains
This drain is the best choice for food processing facilities, as manufacturers create them from stainless steel. They’re also safer, easier to clean than other drain options, and have a wider opening for fast draining.
3. Trench Drains
Trench drains are larger without sloping and have heavy grates covering their opening. However, they’re difficult to clean due to heavy grates and sharp angles that can trap mud and bacteria. They can also break over time with heavy equipment traffic.
Conclusion
Running a food manufacturing business can be rewarding, but you must ensure safety and sanitation, as harmful bacteria live in your facility. Investing in stainless steel drains can avoid legal trouble and protect your employees and consumers.
If your food manufacturing plant needs high-quality stainless steel drains in Australia, visit Yeti Civil Products! We’re committed to helping you create a safer facility with our reliable and superior drainage systems. Browse our catalogue now to find the best choice for your needs!
