Section 730.3020  Plant Construction and Design

Plant buildings and structures shall be suitable in size, construction, and design to facilitate maintenance and sanitary operations for food-processing purposes.  The plant and facilities shall:

a)         Provide sufficient space for such placement of equipment and storage of materials as is necessary for sanitary operations and production of safe food.  Floors, walls, and ceilings in the plant shall be of such construction as to be adequately cleanable and shall be kept clean and in good repair.  Fixtures, ducts, and pipes shall not be so suspended over working areas that drip or condensate may contaminate foods, raw materials, or food-contact surfaces.  Aisles or working spaces between equipment and between equipment and walls shall be unobstructed and of sufficient width to permit employees to perform their duties without contamination of food or food-contact surfaces with clothing or personal contact.

b)         Provide separation by partition, location, or other effective means for those operations which may cause contamination of food products with undesirable micro-organisms, chemicals, filth, or other extraneous material.

c)         Provide adequate lighting to hand-washing areas, dressing and locker rooms, and toilet rooms and to all areas where food or food ingredients are examined, processed, or stored and where equipment and utensils are cleaned.  Light bulbs, fixtures, skylights, or other glass suspended over exposed food in any step of preparation shall be of the safety type or otherwise protected to prevent food contamination in case of breakage.

d)         Provide adequate ventilation or control equipment to minimize odors and noxious fumes or vapors (including steam) in areas where they may contaminate food.  Such ventilation or control equipment shall not create conditions that may contribute to food contamination by airborne contaminants.

e)         Provide, where necessary, effective screening or other protection against birds, animals, and vermin (including, but not limited to, insects and rodents).