Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc.

, McLean, VA 88-00

3-A® Sanitary Standard for

Machine Leveling Feet and Supports

Standards Developing Organizations

3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI)
In Collaboration With
United States Public Health Service (USPHS)/
United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
European Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG)

Effective: December 1, 2006

Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE ................................................................................................................................. i
DISCLAIMERS ............................................................................................................... iii
FOREWORD ................................................................................................................... iii

A SCOPE.................................................................................................................. 1
B NORMATIVE REFERENCES .......................................................................... 1

C DEFINITIONS..................................................................................................... 1
C1....................... Product…………………………………………………………1
C2....................... Machine Leveling Feet or Supports……………………………1
C3....................... Surfaces………………………………………………...………1
C4....................... Sealed…………………………………………………………..1
C5....................... Cleaning………………………………………………………..1
C6.......................Surface Modification………………………………….……......1
C7....................... Bond………………………………………………….………...2
C8....................... Soil…………………………………………………………..…2

D MATERIALS ....................................................................................................... 2
D1 ...................... Metals..…………………………………………………………2
D2 ......................Nonmetals..………………………………..……………………2

E FABRICATION................................................................................................... 2
E1...................... Surface Texture…………………………………………………2
E2...................... Permanent Joints…………………………..……………………2
E3...................... Bonded Materials…………………………..…………………...2
E4.......................Coatings………..…………………………..…………………...3
E5......................Cleaning and Inspectability………………..……………………3
E6.......................Draining………..…………………………..…………………...3
E7......................Threads..………..…………………………..…………………...3
E8...................... Seals…………………………………………………………….3
E9..................... Load-Bearing Foot……………………………………………....3
E10.................... Swivel Joints……………………………………………………3
E11...................NamepPlates……………………………………………………..3

APPENDIX
F Surface Finish ........................................................................................................ 3
G Engineering Design and Technical Construction File ........................................... 4
H Examples of Leveling Feet Designs ...................................................................... 5
I Sealing Materials and Compounds ...................................................................... 12
J Bonding/Sealing of Load-Bearing Foot............................................................... 12

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

Disclaimers

3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices are developed through the efforts of experts, working
on a volunteer basis, using science-based information and their professional experiences to reach
consensus decisions on the sanitary (hygienic) criteria in these 3-A documents.

3-A SSI, its employees and its volunteer committees/working groups shall not incur any obligation or
liability for damages, including consequential damages, arising from or in connection with the
development, use, interpretation, or reliance upon this 3-A Sanitary Standard.

3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted Practices do not include provisions for mechanical, electrical, or
personnel safety. Such safety criteria are established by government regulations and other standards
development organizations (SDOs). Other SDO standards may be referenced.

Drawings and illustrations contained herein are examples to assist in understanding the criteria in this 3-A
Sanitary Standard. Appendix drawings and illustrations are not intended to show all variations of the
equipment or system nor are they exclusive of alternate approved methods. Appendix drawings and
illustrations are non-normative.

Foreword
This 3-A Sanitary Standard establishes minimum sanitary (hygienic) requirements for design, materials,
fabrication, and/or installation of Machine Leveling Feet and Supports.
This 3-A Sanitary Standard is for use on a voluntary basis by directly and materially affected organizations
such as equipment and machinery fabricators, processors, regulatory agencies and by other SDOs to assure
adequate public health protections exist for the equipment or systems and covered products. 3-A SSI uses
these documents as its source of sanitary criteria for 3-A Symbol authorization.

This 3-A Sanitary Standard was developed jointly by 3-A SSI, the United States Public Health Service
(USPHS), the United States Department of Agriculture – Dairy Programs (USDA), and the European
Hygienic Engineering & Design Group (EHEDG).

It is our intent to encourage inventive genius and provide a forum to discuss new developments.
Suggestions for improvement and new technology are welcome at any time for consideration by 3-A SSI.
Please forward comments to the 3-A Secretary, 1451 Dolley Madison Boulevard, Suite 150; McLean, VA
22101-3850, USA or by fax: 703-761-6284, or by e-mail to: 3-ainfo@3-a.org.

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA
A SCOPE
A1 This standard covers the sanitary aspects of
machine leveling feet and supports used on
equipment in a wet processing area of dairy, food
and other comestible products plants, including dry
processing areas cleaned with water. These feet or
supports attach to the equipment and support the
equipment from the floor. The feet or supports
begin at the point where the feet or supports attach
to the leg(s) or the body of the equipment and end at
the support point on the floor. This standard does
not include supports that attach to a wall or ceiling.
These feet and supports are not product contact
surfaces but have a hygienic significance because
they may become a harborage of soil and create a
source of secondary contamination to the products.
This standard does not cover Casters.
This standard does not cover mounting to a Slab or
Island.
A2 In order to conform to this 3-A Sanitary Standard,
machine leveling feet or supports shall conform to
the following criteria for design, material of
construction, fabrication techniques and installation,
as appropriate, and the current revisions or editions
of all referenced documents cited herein.
B NORMATIVE REFERENCES
Ref. No. Title
1. Advanced Materials and Processes, Volume 137(1),
“Coatings and Coating Practices” by H. Herman,
“Surface Modification” by F. A. Smidt. ASM
International, Materials Park, OH 44073, Phone:
(216) 338-5151.
2. AMS-S-13165, Shot Peening of Metal Parts.
Society of Automotive Engineers (AWS), 400
Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001.
3. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21,
Parts 175 – Indirect Food Additives: Adhesives and
Components of Coatings. For sale by the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402,
Phone: (202) 512-1800 or at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html.
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4. AISI Steel Products Manual, Stainless & Heat
Resisting Steels, Table 2-1. American Iron and Steel
Society, 410 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale,
PA 15086, Phone: (412) 776-1535.
5. Steel Founders Society of America, Cast Metal
Federation Building, 455 State Street, Des Plaines,
IL 60016, Phone: (708) 299-9160.
C DEFINITIONS
C1 Product: Milk, milk products, or food products.
C2 Machine Leveling Feet or Supports: Those
equipment components that are attached to the legs
or base of equipment and which may be adjustable
to provide a means for leveling the equipment.
They may also provide for other attributes such as
anti-slip, raising or lowering the equipment,
vibration dampening, or to secure the equipment to
the floor.
C3 Surfaces
C3.1 Exposed Surfaces: Areas which are not sealed, and
which are in contact with the surrounding
environment.
C3.2 Non-exposed Surfaces: Surfaces which are not
exposed, including internal components which are
sealed from contact with the surrounding
environment.
C4 Sealed
C4.1 Sealed: A juncture, which is provided with a gasket
or other type of seal to prevent the entry of air or
water under ambient conditions.
C5 Cleaning
C5.1 Manual Cleaning: Soil removal is effected with
chemical solutions and water rinses with the
assistance of one or a combination of: brushes,
nonmetallic scouring pads and scrapers, high or low
pressure hoses, and with all cleaning aids
manipulated by hand.
C5.2 Cleanability: Shall mean the suitability of
materials, design and fabrication used for the
equipment to be freed from soil.
Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA
C6 Surface Modification
C6.1 Surface Treatments: Processes where chemical
composition or mechanical properties of the
existing surface are altered. There is no appreciable
build-up of new material or removal of existing
material. (See section B, Ref. No. 1)
C6.1.1 Surface treatments include:
1. Mechanical (shot peening, glass beading,
and polishing) (See section B, Ref. No.2.)
2. Electropolishing
C6.2 Coatings, Overlays and Encapsulations: A process
where a different material is deposited to create a
new surface. There is a build-up of new material.
The coating, overlay, or encapsulation material does
not alter the physical properties of the substrate.
C6.2.1 Coating processes include:
1. Thermal spraying (e.g., flame, plasma, arc
spray, chromium)
C7 Bond: The adhesive forces holding materials
together. This definition excludes press and shrink
fits.
C8 Soil: Unwanted organic residue or inorganic matter
on the exposed surfaces.
D MATERIALS
D1 Metals
D1.1 Exposed surfaces shall be of stainless steel of the
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 300 Series,
excluding 301, 302, and 303 (See section B, Ref.
No.4) or corresponding Alloy Cast Institute (ACI)
types (See section B, Ref. No.5) or metal which
under conditions of intended use is at least as
corrosion resistant as 304 stainless steel, and is
nontoxic and nonabsorbent. (See Appendix,
Section F.) Where welding is involved, the carbon
content of the stainless steel shall not exceed
0.08%.
D1.2 Leg components and adjustable foot assemblies
may also be made of other nontoxic metal(s) that
have their surfaces modified by coating(s).
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D2 Nonmetals
D2.1 Rubber, rubber-like and plastic materials may be
used for gaskets, seals, swivel joint inserts, feet, and
footpad inserts. These materials shall be relatively
nonabsorbent, durable and cleanable.
D2.2 Adhesives used for bonding rubber and rubber-like
materials and bonding plastic materials shall be
nontoxic, relatively nonabsorbent, durable and
cleanable. (See section B, Ref. No.3.)
E FABRICATION
E1 Surface Texture
E1.1 All exposed surfaces shall have a smooth finish
such that soil may be cleaned from the surface using
manual cleaning techniques and be free of pits,
folds, cracks, crevices, and other imperfections in
the final fabricated form, when installed on the
machinery and within the specified load conditions.
E1.2 Knurled surfaces shall not be used.
E2 Permanent Joints
E2.1 All permanent joints in metallic surfaces shall be
continuously welded, except that:
E2.1.1 Press or shrink fits may be used to produce crevice-
free permanent joints between a support and a foot.
Joints of these types may only be used to assemble
parts having circular cross sections, free of
shoulders or relieved areas.
E2.2 Legs or components of machine leveling feet or
supports made of hollow stock shall be
continuously welded except for adjustable
components covered by E8.1.
E3 Bonded Materials
E3.1 Rubber and rubber-like materials and plastic
materials may be bonded. The bond shall be
continuous and mechanically sound. The rubber
and rubber-like material or the plastic material shall
not separate from the base material to which it is
bonded when exposed to the conditions encountered
in the environment of intended use, including
cleaning.
Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

E4 Coatings E9.2 If the load-bearing foot is manufactured with rubber

or rubber-like materials on the contact side to the
E4.1 Coatings, if used, shall be free from surface floor, it shall be suitable for sealing to the floor.
delamination, pitting, flaking, spalling, blistering,
and distortion when exposed to the conditions E9.3 The manufacturer of machine leveling feet or
encountered in the environment of intended use, supports shall provide user instructions that clearly
including cleaning. state when machine leveling feet or supports are
properly mounted on the equipment, they shall
E4.2 Plastic or rubber and rubber-like materials, when provide a minimum clearance between the lowest
used as a coating, shall be free of delamination, part of the equipment and the floor of not less than
pitting, flaking, spalling, blistering, and distortion 4.0 in. (102 mm) when the equipment base outlines
when exposed to the conditions encountered in the an area in which no point is more than 12.5 in. (318
environment of intended use, including cleaning. mm) from the nearest edge of the base, or a
clearance of at least 6 in. (152 mm) when any point
E5 Cleaning and Inspectability is more than 12.5 in. (318 mm) from the nearest
edge, or the minimum required by the 3-A Sanitary
E5.1 Exposed surfaces shall be cleanable and Standard of the equipment to which the machine
inspectable. leveling feet are mounted.

E6 Draining E10 Swivel Joints

E6.1 All exposed surfaces shall be self-draining except
for typical clingage or normal adherence and shall
not have pockets which retain liquids.
E6.1.1 Surfaces which are not self-draining and non-
exposed surfaces shall be sealed.
E10.1 The mating surfaces of swivel joints may include
metal to metal contact components, provided that
the internal mating surfaces of such swivel joints do
not have surfaces where soil can collect.
E11 Nameplates

E7 Threads E11.1 Any name or information plate affixed to a machine

leveling foot or support shall be attached in such a
E7.1 There shall be no threads on exposed surfaces in the way as to be effectively sealed.
installed configuration.
APPENDIX
E7.2 Enclosed threads on non-exposed surfaces shall be
sealed. F SURFACE FINISH

E8 Seals F1 Examples of acceptable finishes are mill finish,

electro polishing, shot peening and glass beading on
E8.1 Seals or sealant used to seal exposed from non- pipe, sheet, or bar stock and structural shapes that
exposed surfaces of adjustable components shall be are free from pits, folds and crevices. It is the intent
located so that the exposed gap between the of this requirement that the surface may be cleaned
adjacent surfaces is no deeper than its width. using manual cleaning techniques. Examples of
surfaces that are not cleanable by manual cleaning
E8.2 The exposed gap shall drain, except for normal techniques are knurled surfaces, threaded surfaces,
adherence. name plates that are riveted to the surface and other
similar cracks and crevices, the slots in slotted head
E9 Load-Bearing Foot screws and bolts, socket head cap screws and bolts
or other fasteners that create similar pockets or
E9.1 Machine leveling feet and supports shall have cracks.
rounded ends or a flat, load-bearing foot suitable for
sealing to the floor.

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

G ENGINEERING DESIGN AND TECHNICAL G5 References

CONSTRUCTION FILE
The following is an example of an engineering
design and technical construction file (EDTCF) to
be maintained by the fabricator as evidence of
conforming to 3-A Sanitary Standards or 3-A
Accepted Practices. (The file may contain more or
less information as applicable to the equipment or
system.)
G5.1 List any additional regulations that apply to the
equipment or system covered by this EDTCF.
G5.2 Date of conformity or 3-A Symbol Authorization
and certificate number, if authorized.
G6 Design and Technical Construction File

G1 Purpose G6.1 The Engineering Design and Technical

Construction File may consist of the following:
G1.1 To establish and document the material, fabrication,
and installation (where appropriate) requirements a. an overall drawing of the subject
for the engineering design and technical equipment;
construction files for all products, assemblies, and b. full detailed drawings, accompanied by
sub-assemblies supplied by the manufacturer any calculations, notes, test results, etc.
thereof to be in conformance to the sanitary criteria required to check the conformity of the
found in 3-A Sanitary Standards or 3-A Accepted equipment with the 3-A Sanitary
Practices. It is recommended that the engineering Standards or 3-A Accepted Practices;
and construction file or files be submitted with c. a list of:
applications for 3-A Symbol use authorization. (1) the essential requirements of the
standards or practices;
G2 Scope (2) other technical specifications,
which were used when the
G2.1 This EDTCF applies to equipment specified by: equipment was designed;
d. a description of methods adopted;
G2.1.1 3-A Sanitary Standards for Machine Leveling Feet e. if essential, any technical report or
and Supports Number 88-00. certificate obtained from a competent
testing body or laboratory;
G3 Responsibilities f. any technical report giving the results of
tests carried out internally by
G3.1 This EDTCF is maintained by: The Engineering Engineering or others;
Manager (or other company official) is responsible g. documentation and test reports on any
for maintaining, publishing, and distributing this research or tests on components,
EDTCF. assemblies and/or the complete product
to determine and demonstrate that by its
G3.2 Implementation: All divisions, specifically design and construction the product is
development engineering, standards engineering, capable of being installed, put into
sales engineering, and product departments are service, and operated in a sanitary
responsible for implementing this EDTCF. manner (optional);
h. a determination of the foreseeable
G4 Applicability lifetime of the product (optional);
i. a copy of the instructions for the product
G4.1 The 3-A Sanitary Standards and 3-A Accepted (Instruction Manuals/ Instruction
Practices are voluntarily applied as suitable sanitary Books);
criteria for dairy and food processing equipment. j. for serial manufacturing, the internal
3-A Sanitary Standards are referenced in the Grade measures that will be implemented to
A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance: "Equipment insure that the equipment will continue
manufactured in conformity to 3-A Sanitary to be manufactured in conformity to the
Standards complies with the sanitary design and provisions of the 3-A Sanitary Standards
construction standards of this Ordinance." or 3-A Accepted Practices;
k. engineering reports;
l. laboratory reports;

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

m. bills of material; H Examples of Leveling Feet Designs

n. wiring diagrams, if applicable;
o. purchase order engineering files; Diagrams. These diagrams are intended to demonstrate
p. hazard evaluation committee reports, if general principles only, and are not intended to limit
executed; individual ingenuity. The design should conform to the
q. change records; sanitary requirements set forth in these 3-A Sanitary
r. customer specifications; Standards. The Following examples are included in this
s. any notified body technical reports and Appendix.
certification tests;
t. copy of the 3-A Symbol authorization, if H1 Flat Foot
applicable. H2 Flat Foot with Adjustable Leg
H3 Adjustable Flat Foot
G6.2 The file does not have to include detailed plans or H4 Ball Foot with Adjustable Leg
any other specific information regarding the H5 Ball Foot with Adjustable Leg Resting on a
sub-assemblies, tooling, or fixtures used for the Flat Plate
manufacture of the product unless a knowledge of H6 Adjustable Leg with Rubber Swivel Foot
them is essential for verification of conformity to H7 Swivel Foot with Embedded/Bonded Rubber
the basic sanitary requirements found in 3-A Pad. Spindle Mechanical Connected with
documents. Load-Bearing Foot
H8 Swivel Foot in Solid Steel. Spindle
G6.3 The documentation referred to in G6.1 above need Mechanical Connected with Load-Bearing Foot
not permanently exist in a material manner in the
EDTCF, but it must be possible to assemble them
and make them available within a period of time
commensurate with its importance (one week is
considered reasonable time). As a minimum, each
product EDTCF must physically contain an index of
the applicable document of G6.1 above.

G6.4 The EDTCF may be in hard copy or software form.

G7 Confidentiality

G7.1 The EDTCF is the property of the manufacturer and

is shown at their discretion, except that all or part of
this file will be available to the 3-A Sanitary
Standards, Inc. or a regulatory agency for cause and
upon request.

G8 File Location

G8.1 The EDTCF shall be maintained at the office of the

manufacturer.

G9 File Retention

G9.1 The EDTCF (including all documentation referred

to in G6.1) shall be retained and kept available for
12 years following the date of placing the product in
use or from the last unit produced in the case of
series manufacture.

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

H1 Flat Foot

H2 Flat Foot with Adjustable Leg

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H3 Adjustable Flat Foot

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

H4 Ball Foot with Adjustable Leg

H5 Ball Foot with Adjustable Leg Resting on a Flat Plate

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

H6 Adjustable Leg with Rubber Swivel Foot

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

H7 Swivel Foot with Embedded/Bonded Rubber Pad. Spindle Mechanical Connected with Load-
Bearing Foot

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

H8 Swivel Foot in Solid Steel. Spindle Mechanical Connected with Load-Bearing Foot

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Copyright© 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., McLean, VA 88-00

I Sealing Materials and Compounds

I1 Sealing materials should be manufactured from a

flexible, non-corrosive, temperature-and chemical
resistant material. Standard O-Rings and special
designed rings/gaskets made of rubber are
commonly used.

If necessary, internal non-exposed cavities can be

sealed using a RTV compound. The compound
shall be added before assembling. The compound
must not be affected by cleaning.

J Bonding/Sealing of Load-Bearing Foot

J1 In order to seal the possible cavity between the

load-bearing foot and floor, bonding material can
be injected under/around the edge of the load-
bearing foot. Such bonding material may include
Grout, RTV sealants, Epoxy, or similar materials.

The load-bearing foot may also include a rubber

layer underneath or rubber can be embedded in
the load-bearing foot. The rubber used shall be of
sufficiently low Durometer to provide a tight,
continuous seal with the flooring material. Care
must be taken during installation to assure that the
foot pad does not span over cracks, grout lines, or
other floor imperfections.

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