Yeah, I hear you. I had already run all the conduit feeding the brewhouse control panel (which will frequently be hosed down) and all the components (3 phase motors, temp sensors, 120V and 24V limits and sensors, etc.) in EMT and a little sealtight with RT fittings and bell boxes and the inspector signed it off with flying colors. This was my first brewery and hopefully my last. It was not an enjoyable project. Looking back, there were a lot of things I would've done differently.
For reference and future, would it be best to do an install like this in PVC or GRMC? What is the best style pull/splice boxes?
What kind of washdown frequency will there be, will there be use of caustic and/or acid agents when washing?
The more corrosive potential you have the more stainless and plastics/fiberglass become a must.
You may pass electrical inspections with less, but other certifications from food and beverage industry may demand more, or you at least find that having things that don't corrode will be easier down the road to pass such certification inspections as they don't deteriorate in same fashion as other materials.
Done a lot of work in dairy plant in the past. Stainless is always preferred, easy to keep clean, doesn't rust, flake off into product, etc.
Third parties that give you a score for use by potential clients are very particular. You can have some of the things that aren't preferred, but mild steel needs painted or treated so it doesn't rust. After time even that paint will tend to flake off and even if you don't have a severe rust problem, they don't like flaking paint that potentially can end up into product. Having things made out of non corrosive material and designed so it can easily be washed and not have "dead spaces" that are hard to clean and potentially house bacteria are the best way to pass these third party inspections, this has little to do with the electrical itself, but as an electrical installer in this kind of place you need to know what kind of needs your client/boss/etc. has. Unless they have some rather extreme penny pinchers running the place, they should understand some of this is going to be expensive up front, but will be better to do it right from the start.