Industrial Piping in Food Processing Facilities: Safety and Efficiency

Industrial piping systems play a vital role in many industries. From chemical processing facilities to oil refineries, these pipe systems must reliably serve their purposes. In particular, food processing plants need sanitary piping and other industrial pipes to remain pristine and meet strict sanitation requirements. Food, byproducts, liquids, gases and solids must pass through a piping system without risking contamination. This guide to industrial piping will explore the role these systems serve and the standards they must meet.

Understanding Industrial Piping Systems

A piping system is like the veins in our body, transporting essential materials. It usually involves interconnected pipes that use specialized parts. The following components connect and support industrial piping systems.

• Pipe fittings: A pipe fitting carries fluids and securely connects pipe sections. These pieces create pipelines when linked with other fluid control products like pumps and valves.
• Joints: Pipe joints are vital parts of a piping system. Like pipe fittings, they connect pipes to allow the smooth flow and transfer of fluids, gases and other mediums. Pipe joints are essential in plumbing, gas lines and industrial plants. They come in various shapes and sizes to create any layout you need.
• Tanks: Industrial storage tanks connect to piping systems as an endpoint. They store large volumes of fluids and gases long-term.
• Flanges: Flanges are another component that connects valves, pumps, pipes and other equipment to a piping system. They provide leak-proof joints for fluids and gases moving at high pressure or temperatures, making them critical in food manufacturing piping. Various flanges serve different purposes in a pipe network.
• Pumps: Pumps are vital in any food process piping system. They move liquid from low elevations and pressures to higher ones.
• Gaskets: A gasket minimizes the vibrations that resonate throughout pipes. They prevent leaks and improve the mounting process by effectively sealing joints.
• Steam traps: These automatic valves remove air, condensation and other non-condensable gases from a piping system, preventing damaging pressure buildup. Traps minimize the passing of steam. They allow condensation to collect and reduce steam lines’ flow capacity and heat transfer equipment’s thermal capacity.
• Valves: Valves control the flow of various media in industrial piping systems. Various types suit different situations.

Industrial Sanitary Piping for Food Processing Plants

Sanitary piping systems in the food processing and production industry must ensure the hygienic and sanitary transportation of gases and liquids. Multiple factors should be up to code to meet strict FDA restrictions. You should know these critical concepts in food production and piping.

• Steel pipes: Steel pipes are the most popular material in food processing piping systems. Their strength, pressure resistance, thermal resistance and durability make them ideal for the job. Stainless steel is easy to clean and can provide the best sanitary piping for food production plants.
• Other piping metals: Some food processing pipes consist of copper and carbon steel. However, these materials are rarer than stainless steel because they need proper coatings and linings to meet safety standards.
• Sanitary process piping: Process piping ensures sanitary operations for food production plants. Stainless steel pipes are half an inch to 20 inches in diameter. Larger pipes transport food waste, while smaller ones move cleaning agents like sodium chloride and ammonia. The pipes also carry various fluids and gases to chambers, tanks and other destinations.
• Hygienic design: Hygienic design minimizes the areas where bacteria can build up, like dead-end pockets, rough surfaces and crevices.
• Slope and drainage: Any stagnant liquid will soon become a bacterial breeding ground. Complete drainage is the goal, and sloping is crucial for achieving this.
• Clean-in-place systems: Food processing facilities use CIP systems to keep pipes clean by circulating cleaning agents throughout them.

Industrial Sanitary Piping Standards and Regulations

The Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization’s Good Manufacturing Practices set strict standards for food processing facilities and their piping systems to ensure all food is sanitary and safe for distribution and consumption. Plants must follow many regulations for food processing piping systems, including the following factors.

• Layout: The ideal plant layout uses the space logically and limits the areas where bacteria might grow. Ensuring the smooth flow of materials and upholding sanitation codes are critical for making your plan layout up to standard.
• Piping design standards: Design standards require your piping system to have all the necessary components to work effectively. It also needs the best hygienic design standards and the implementation of CIP systems. The routing must provide sufficient support, avoid dead zones, have no return connections and provide permanent piping. The piping system should be easy to access for manual cleaning, repairs or intervention.
• Piping surfaces: All piping and other surfaces the food comes in contact with in a processing plant must be visible for proper inspection. Failing this, the pipes should be sanitary to eliminate the risk of contamination. Surfaces need to be smooth and non-porous to prevent bacteria from growing.

Our Experience and Commitment to Excellence

Foss General Contractors brings integrity and transparency to every job we work on. We provide industrial piping solutions in Los Angeles, and also handle construction, custom, plumbing and pipefitting projects. We have extensive expertise, with a long list of projects in our portfolio. We take pride in offering only the highest-quality services for industrial plants and facilities.

Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help you build, plan and maintain your piping systems. We use all our knowledge to provide the best food facility piping services in California.