HACCP stands for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, a food-safety system; walls, ceilings and floors in spaces where food is prepared or processed must be hygienically viable. Think of kitchens, butcheries, bakeries, fish processing, hospitals, cleanrooms and cold stores.
Characteristics
To meet the hygiene requirements, these surfaces must be:
- Smooth and seamless or easy to clean
- Water- and dirt-repellent
- Mould- and bacteria-resistant
- Impact-resistant and durable
Smooth, glass-fibre-reinforced plastic panels or special coatings and poured floors are often used for this. Seams and connections are finished to be watertight and easy to clean, for example with coved skirtings in the corners between wall and floor.
Applications
In the food-processing industry and in healthcare, these finishes are essential to prevent contamination and to meet statutory food-safety requirements. A smooth, seamless finish leaves no dirt, grease or moisture in which bacteria or mould can develop, and can be cleaned quickly and thoroughly.
The coved skirting between wall and floor avoids sharp corners where dirt accumulates, so that water and cleaning agents can reach everywhere. In this way the spaces continue to meet the requirements set by the HACCP system, and daily cleaning is efficient and reliable.
Related terms
- Poured floor
- Cleanroom
- Plastic
- Hygiene
- Coating
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