How to Light Food Process Areas

In all food processing facilities, well distributed and good quality lighting is required throughout the facility. The overall intensity of illumination in workrooms is well defined by both the USDA and FDA. For example, the intensity of illumination in workrooms should be no less than 30 foot candles. At locations where inspection or grading takes place a minimum of 150 foot candles is required. Any deviation from the above could result in the manufacturing process being curtailed. Thus, the lighting fixtures in a food processing facility must be capable of maintaining the proper lighting specifications.

Because sanitation is such a critical part of our food processing industry, a great deal of time and energy is spent washing and sanitizing all processing equipment and the rooms containing this equipment. The machinery, equipment, floors, walls, ceiling, and the lighting fixtures must be capable of performing in a wet and damp environment.

High pressure washdown with hot water and/or sanitation chemicals may approach 1000psi water pressure. Lighting fixtures must be constructed in such a manner that they do not leak, corrode, or cause fires or electrical problems. Likewise, the lamps must be protected so that should they break, for any reason, glass or other matter would not be dispersed throughout the production area.

For the food processing industry all lighting fixtures should be listed for wet locations as a minimum requirement. A fixture that has a marine listing indicates that the fixture is suitable for extremely harsh washdown procedures.

For a fixture to have NSF Certification indicates that the fixture and the manufacturing facility that manufactured the fixture have passed a battery of tests that pertain to the stringent requirements of the FDA and USDA. Guth Lighting Food Processing Product Line

What is the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)?

• A not-for-profit, independent, third party certifier of products and systems for conformity with consensus and official regulations and specifications, industry standards, and product specific test protocols.

How do I know that the NSF is a viable independent third party certification organization?

The NSF is itself certified by: 1. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI);
• a federation of more than 250 technical organizations, 30 government agencies, and 1,200 companies;
• the recognized accreditor of third party certifiers and quality system registrars in the United States;
• the recognized accreditor of consensus standards in the United States; standards adopted by ANSI are American National Standards; 2. The Dutch Council for Certification (RvC);
• the official accreditation body for third party certification bodies and registrars in the Netherlands;
• the only accreditor for third party certification bodies and registrars active worldwide;
• NSF is recognized internationally for its services to clients in over 30 countries outside the United States;
• NSF is active in United States - European Community private sector standards and conformity assessment negotiations.

Why should NSF listing of product be meaningful to me?

• NSF requires all materials, which could come in contact with food products, to meet the stringent requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDA) as amended.
• In order to ascertain its suitability for use in food processing and food handling areas, the equipment and the manufacturer must pass a rigorous battery of tests. Additionally, NSF performs unannounced inspections and audits to ensure on going conformance.
• This is your safeguard against unfit products, and/or negligent manufacturing practice.

Who performs the testing, and where is the testing done?

• All testing and analysis is performed by NSF staff scientists which include, but are not limited to, toxicologists, chemists, micro-biologists, mechanical engineers, and other industry experts.
• NSF maintains its own modern and current testing laboratories in several locations in the U.S. and abroad.

How can I tell if a product is NSF listed?

• Look for the NSF mark on the label affixed to the fixture.

What are the listings that apply to lighting products?

• Lighting equipment falls under the NSF C-2 listing procedure, Special Equipment and/or Devices.
• The C-2 procedure has protocols which analyze the physical design of, the specific properties of each substance used in the manufacture of, and the fabrication of the fixture. Additionally, NSF investigates the reliability of the manufacturer and the manufacturing process as it relates to the listed product.
• These are three certifiable locations for equipment used in food processing, the first two of which apply to lighting fixtures: NON-FOOD ZONE, SPLASH ZONE, and FOOD ZONE.