(a) product area, (b) sharp internal angle

Figure 2
Welded joints in corners. (2.1), (2.2) Welded seams in corners create uncleanable areas;
(2.3) radiused corners and correctly welded seams in the plain area avoid any hygiene risk.

If adhesives are used for permanent joints they must be compatible with materials, products and
cleaning/disinfecting agents with which they are in contact. All bonds shall be continuous and mechanically
sound and flush with the wall and without any crevice so that the adhesives do not separate from the base
materials to which they are bonded. Cleanability should be proven.

Dismountable joints (e.g. of plates or appendages) attached by fasteners (e.g. screws or bolts) must only be
used if dismantling is unavoidable. There shall be no exposed screw threads on the product contact side.
Joining components with nut-and-bolt pairs which protrude into the product is not acceptable because of the
crevice between the bolt-head or nut and the food-contact surface, unless this can be sealed effectively (see
below). Sealing these areas will also protect the annular clearance between the shank of the bolt and the hole
through which it passes (Figure 3.1). The use of blind bolts or pins (Figure 3.2), however, is acceptable, as are
flange-like bolted connections (Figure 3.3).

Where components butt against one another in the product area, the crevice between them should also be
sealed. Compression of the seal can be controlled by metal to metal contact, the fasteners being on the
opposite side from the product. Where a connecting component is to be bolted to each part of the joint the
tolerances on screw threads will not allow adequate control and interference-fit location pins must be used
(Figure 3.2). A flange like connection can control compression (Figure 3.3). The design of the groove for the
seal must allow space for expansion in order to avoid extension of seal material into the product area during
heating.

DOC 13©EHEDG 9 of 24
(a) product area, (b) crevice, (c) exposed thread, (d) metal-to-metal contact, (e) screw, (f) cylindrical pins, (g) seal with
controlled compression, (h) expansion area, (i) improved design of fastener

Figure 3.
Dismountable joints. (3.1) From overlapped screw joints hazards arise from crevices between the
sheet edges, poorly designed exposed nuts or screw heads and un sealed threads;
(3.2 underside and cross-section) appropriate design uses sealed edges of overlapped sheets,
controlled seal compression (by pins or bolts) and screw joints on the reverse side to the product;
(3.3) for optimum design flanged sheets with sealed edges and screw joints on the reverse side to the
product can be applied.

If a connection or fastening must be made with screw heads in the product area, their design must preclude
crevices, grooves and dead areas (Figure 4).

(a) product area, (b) metal-to-metal contact, (c) dead area, (d) crevice

Figure 4.
Hazards due to unhygienic design of screws exposed to product are caused by metal to metal contact,
crevices, gaps and dead areas.

DOC 13©EHEDG 10 of 24
The correct design of screw-heads or nuts, and their effective sealing with metal-backed elastomers gaskets,
can render them hygienic (Figure 5).

(a) product area, (b) domed head, (c) elastomer, (d) metal, (e) circular collar, (f) sloped, (g) domed, (h) hexagon, (i) stud

Figure 5
Hygienic design of screw joints. (5.1) The exposed domed head is easily cleanable and the metal
backed gasket is used to seal the thread; (5.2) if applicable, any risk can be avoided by using a stud
welded on the non product side.

7.2 Drainability

Food-containing equipment (tanks, vessels, troughs, reservoirs, hoppers, bins, chutes) with discharge
openings must be fully self drainable as shown in Figs. 6.1 - 6.6. For good drainability and cleanability sharp
corners must be avoided. They must be properly radiused (Ref [1]). Horizontal surfaces must have a slope of
more than 3° towards the outlet (Figure 6).

(a) product area, (b) residual soil

Figure 6
Principles of equipment drainability. (6.1, 6.2) Discharge outlets above the lowest level of equipment
will prevent self-draining; (6.3 - 6.6) demonstrate self-drainable designs with discharge outlets at the
lowest level, sloped bottoms, and well-rounded corners.

DOC 13©EHEDG 11 of 24