General construction, repair, and installation.

The equipment and utensils used for the processing of milk and manufacture of dairy products shall be constructed to be readily demountable where necessary for cleaning and sanitizing. The product contact surfaces of all utensils and equipment such as holding tanks, pasteurizers, coolers, vats, agitators, pumps, sanitary piping, and fittings or any specialized equipment shall be constructed of stainless steel, or other equally corrosion-resistant material. Nonmetallic parts other than glass having product contact surfaces shall meet 3-A Sanitary Standards for Plastic or Rubber and Rubberlike Materials.

All equipment and piping shall be designed and installed so as to be easily accessible for cleaning, and shall be kept in good repair, free from cracks and corroded surfaces. New or rearranged equipment shall be set away from any wall or spaced in such a manner as to facilitate proper cleaning and to maintain good housekeeping. All parts or interior surfaces of equipment, pipes (except certain piping cleaned in place) or fittings, including valves and connections, shall be accessible for inspection. Milk and dairy product pumps shall be of a sanitary type and easily dismantled for cleaning or shall be of specially approved construction to allow effective cleaning in place.

All CIP systems shall comply with the 3-A Sanitary Practices for Permanently Installed Sanitary Product, Pipelines, and Cleaning Systems.

Weigh cans and receiving tanks. Weigh cans and receiving tanks shall meet the 3-A Sanitary Standards and shall be easily accessible for cleaning both inside and outside and shall be elevated above the floor and protected sufficiently with the necessary covers or baffles to prevent contamination from splash, condensate, and drippage. Where necessary to provide easy access for cleaning of floors and adjacent wall areas, the receiving tank shall be equipped with wheels or casters to allow easy removal.

Can washers. Can washers shall have sufficient capacity and ability to discharge a clean, dry can and cover and shall be kept properly timed in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer. The water and steam lines supplying the washer shall maintain a reasonably uniform pressure and if necessary be equipped with pressure regulating valves.

Product storage tanks or vats. Storage tanks or vats shall be fully enclosed or tightly covered and well insulated. The entire interior surface, agitator and all appurtenances shall be accessible for thorough cleaning and inspection. Any opening at the top of the tank or vat including the entrance of the shaft shall be suitably protected against the entrance of dust, moisture, insects, oil, or grease. The sight glasses, if used, shall be sound, clean, and in good repair. Vats which have hinged covers shall be so designed that moisture or dust on the surface cannot enter the vat when the covers are raised. If the storage tanks or vats are equipped with air agitation, the system shall be of an approved type and properly installed in accordance with the 3-A Accepted Practices for Supplying Air Under Pressure. Storage tanks or vats intended to hold product for longer than approximately 8 hours shall be equipped with adequate refrigeration and/or have adequate insulation. All new storage tanks or vats shall meet the appropriate 3-A Sanitary Standards and shall be equipped with thermometers in good operating order.