Kayak
Member
- Location
- Port St. Lucie, Florida
Has anyone ever used PVC conduit and fitting in a food processing facility?
PVC Conduit in Food Processing Facilities
- Thread starter Kayak
- Start date
- Status
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I have never "used" it personally but I have seen it used there. Some of the chemicals used for cleaning can be a little rough on steel conduit.
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I have worked in one...all stainless conduit, fittings and supports. They did not use any PVC, but I am sure some do as stainless is very expensive.
MattS87
Senior Member
- Location
- Yakima, WA
Must have been nice. I worked in one for awhile that was all EMT and galvanized. A lot of corrosion and rust/rotting issues.
Don't remember ever seeing or using PVC there though
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
I thought that the FDA required stainless or PVC in food processing plants.
MattS87
Senior Member
- Location
- Yakima, WA
I'll have to look that one up. It was a bottling plant so maybe different rules?
- Location
- Illinois
- Occupation
- retired electrician
Maybe.
jumper
Senior Member
- Location
- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
Have worked in dairies and wineries. Stainless in all critical areas, actual processing areas, or however one properly defines those areas. Keeps the health department happy.
MattS87
Senior Member
- Location
- Yakima, WA
Did a search but didn't have any luck finding regulations mandating this.
kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
- Occupation
- EC
depends on who is certifying you to some extent.
Anything that flakes off (rust, paint, etc.) gives you bad grade on certifications.
Anything that is can easily house bacteria gives you even worse grade on certifications.
Stainless is more expensive but can cost less in the end when you consider the troubles it eliminates because it is easier to keep sanitized.
Anything that flakes off (rust, paint, etc.) gives you bad grade on certifications.
Anything that is can easily house bacteria gives you even worse grade on certifications.
Stainless is more expensive but can cost less in the end when you consider the troubles it eliminates because it is easier to keep sanitized.
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
I have always seen SS conduit on the equipment itself but away from it I have seen some PVC now and then.
I have also seen the PVC coated stuff once in a while.
One place even had some painted rigid. The paint looked like something much better than normal paint though. Some kind of plasite maybe.
- Status