Lighting for Sanitation in Food Service Equipment

Introduction to sanitation standards and regulations

Across the globe, strict sanitation standards are applied to food and beverage equipment and facilities. Compliance to NSF sanitation standards recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is important to the North American industrial and commercial kitchen appliances and equipment market.

These established requirements are applied to industrial plants and commercial kitchens and restaurants. Evaluation of safe temperatures, materials that resist contamination, durability and potential toxicity to food and beverages are all considered before sanitation certifications are awarded.

The NSF has multiple standards related to food sanitation. Similarly, organizations like IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) have set recommended lighting levels for various food processing activities.

UL Solutions offers the UL Mark for sanitation, which appears on food equipment products complying with NSF/ANSI sanitation standards and other food equipment hygiene codes and requirements.

Lighting for sanitation

Lighting in industrial or commercial kitchens, and appliances that utilize lighting for sanitation purposes, must adhere to specifications that support sanitary and sometimes hazardous conditions.

Since lighting products do not come into direct contact with food, only the "Non-Food Zone and Splash Zone Guidelines" in NSF/ANSI Standard 2 (or NSF 2), are applicable.

The advantages of LED lighting

Manufacturers of equipment are utilizing long-lasting and energy efficient LED technology to bring products to market within compliance to the many hygienic, safety, environmental, and photometric requirements posed by the food industry for lighting equipment.

The use of LED technology in food sanitation applications provides more benefits than traditional lighting, such as:

• High efficacy, light output and efficiency at a wider temperature range
• Adjustability and controllability of color
• Non-toxic and lightweight materials that have less fragility (compared to glass)
• Low maintenance costs and longer life spans

Achieving the UL Mark for sanitation

Our expert engineers have the qualifications to evaluate product construction, prepare the necessary reports and certify lighting products that are used in commercial kitchens and industrial food applications demonstrate compliance to ANSI/UL 2333 and NSF/ANSI 2 sanitation standards.

Sanitation lighting product categories and their corresponding UL Solutions category numbers (CCNs) include:

• Fluorescent Surface Mounted Luminaires (IEUZ, TSQU)
• Shatter Containment of Lamps for Use in Regulated Food Establishments (TSXX)
• LED Lamps (OOLV)
• LED Luminaire Retrofit Kits (IFAR)
• LED Surface Mounted Luminaires (IFAM)
• Low Voltage Lighting Systems (IFDH, IFDR)
• Portable Cabinet Luminaires (QOVA, QOVJ)