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The combination of technological advancements, increased regulation and efficiency initiatives have transformed many industries, perhaps none more than food manufacturing. A prime example of this can be seen in the design and composition of doors and walls for cleanroom and wash-down applications. Product integrity and contamination control are ever-present concerns in any food processing facility, and clean rooms and wash-down protocols play a key role in ensuring both. Removing contaminants from production processes also prevents premature spoilage and enhances product longevity. While clean rooms in different industries aren’t exactly the same, they are designed with the same goals in mind — to remove particles, fibers, chemicals and bacteria. These environments have a controlled level of contamination specified by the number of particles per cubic meter at a specified particle size. The Role of High-Speed Doors High-speed doors and fabric curtain walls play an essential role in maintaining clean operations and food product integrity. Designed to address food facility needs for environmental control, productivity and safety — as well as cleanliness — they are used not only to prevent cross-contamination, but also to help air circulation rates and optimal operating efficiency. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleanroom standards outline recommendations and requirements for manufacturers. The starting point is to look for doors compliant with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), the FDA and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). While these agencies do not specify clean room regulations in the food industry, they do provide guidelines based on Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) best practices. As such, designers should seek out products that specifically cite their compatibility with these protocols. Key considerations for any door configuration are ease of cleaning and durability. Especially in food operation cases, doors must be able to stand up to repeated […]