NSF ANSI 18:2016 pdf free download – Manual Food and Beverage Dispensing Equipment
5.4.2 Permanent joints and seams in a nonfood zone shall be closed. Welded joints and seams in a nonfood zone shall be deburred.
5.4.3 Joints formed by overlapping sheets of material shall not create upwardly-facing horizontal ledges.
5.4.4 Sealants shall only be used to seal joints and seams that are structurally sound and are less than ⅛ in (0.13 in, 3.2 mm) wide before sealing. Sealants may be used to fill spaces around collars, grommets, and service connections.
5.4.5 Solder and other fillet material shall be securely bonded to its substrate. All flux and catalytic materials shall be removed.
5.4.6 Equipment shall be designed and manufactured so that field joints may be made sanitary with the use of trim strips, welding, soldering, properly designed draw fastening, or other appropriate methods.
5.5 Fasteners
5.5.1 Fasteners shall not be used in a food zone.
5.5.2 Fasteners shall be easily cleanable. Fasteners meeting this requirement include, but are not limited to, slot-head and Phillips-head screws, hex head fasteners, and flush-break pop rivets. Hex key screws and non flush-break pop rivets may be used in a splash zone or a nonfood zone provided that the heads are capped or filled.
5.5.3 Fasteners shall be tight fitting to the surface except as permitted in 5.5.4.
5.5.4 No more than one locking washer and one flat washer shall be used per fastener head. The diameter of the washer adjacent to the fastening surface shall not be less than the diameter of the washer under the fastener head. External-tooth lock washers shall not be used.
5.5.5 There shall be no exposed threads, projecting screws, or studs in a food or splash zone. There shall be no more than 2.5 exposed threads or ¼ in (0.25 in, 6.4 mm) of exposed threads, whichever is less, in a nonfood zone. Exposed threads on electrical cord strain relief devices in a nonfood zone shall be exempt.
5.7.1 Exposed reinforcing and framing members and gussets shall be easily cleanable. Reinforcing and framing members shall be designed and manufactured to prevent the harborage of vermin (see figure 2).
5.7.2 Horizontal surfaces of reinforcing and framing members and gussets shall not be located where debris may accumulate.
5.7.3 Vertical channels that form hollow sections shall be closed at each end, open at each end, or readily accessible along the entire channel. All other hollow sections shall be closed at each end.
5.8 Inspection and maintenance panels
Where necessary for equipment inspection and maintenance, removable panels of adequate size shall be provided. Each panel shall be sized to permit removal and replacement by one person.
5.11.1 Hinges located in a food zone shall be easily cleanable while in place or shall be designed to be disassembled, without the use of tools, for routine cleaning. Hinges located in a splash zone shall be easily cleanable while in place or shall be designed to be disassembled (with or without the use of tools) for routine cleaning.
5.11.2 Continuous hinges shall not be used in a food zone.
5.11.3 Hinges on splash zone doors and covers weighing 80 lb (36 kg) or more shall have no more than five knuckles in total per hinge set and shall have sealed joints and seams on the hinge body (except for seams at the pivot joint).