Designing Effective Falls to Drains: Meeting Australian Standards for Food Facilities

In the world of food and beverage manufacturing, precision matters. One often-overlooked yet critical aspect is designing effective falls to drains. This technical discussion will delve into the details of falls to drains, focusing on meeting Australian standards and catering to the specific requirements of large food and beverage manufacturing facilities.

Falls to drains involve determining the slope of the floor that directs liquid toward drainage points, typically floor drains. It’s essential to adhere to Australian standards, specifically AS 4674-2004, to ensure compliance with safety and hygiene criteria.

The formula for calculating slope is straightforward:

Fall or Gradient (rise over run)   = Change in Height (mm) / Length (mm)

The fall is typically expressed as a ratio or a percentage.

A gradient of 1 in 100 or 1% is a common recommendation for falls to drains in food manufacturing facilities. This slope provides effective drainage while balancing several important factors such as safe forklift and pedestrian use. For large food and beverage manufacturing facilities where high production volumes are the norm, more aggressive falls may be necessary to handle substantial liquid runoff efficiently.

Considerations for determining the ideal falls include;

• Production Volume: Facilities with high production volumes will often benefit from falls greater than 1 in 100 to accommodate the increased liquid runoff, ensuring swift drainage. In addition processes that
• Type of Production: The nature of production also plays a significant role. For example, abattoirs dealing with blood and animal fluids require unique drainage solutions, while facilities that deal with very viscous or thick substances may be more effectively managed with greater than standard falls to drains.
• Spill Frequency: Consider the frequency of spills and liquid discharges in different areas of your facility. Kitchens and processing areas typically experience frequent spills, necessitating more aggressive falls to drains to swiftly remove liquids and minimize slip hazards. Similarly, some beverage facilities may need to accommodate infrequent but large accidental spills given the volume of product being passed through multiple dependent processes.

Meeting the Needs of Large Food and Beverage Manufacturers

Large food and beverage manufacturing facilities deal with significant volumes of varied ingredients, products, and liquids. Appropriate falls to drains are essential to accommodate this scale of operations. The slope calculations should be engineered to handle the substantial flow of liquids, including washdown water, cleaning solutions, and food byproducts. Inefficiencies in drainage can disrupt production, jeopardize hygiene, and pose safety risks.

How Allied Finishes Can Assist

At Allied Finishes, we’re your trusted flooring & drainage experts for the food and beverage manufacturing industry. We excel in managing comprehensive flooring projects, encompassing design, precise drawings, and meticulous plans for falls to drainage. From the initial concept to installation and ongoing care, we ensure your facility’s flooring not only meets but exceeds industry standards for hygiene, safety, and durability. Partner with us for a seamless flooring solution that stands the test of time.

Have a project in mind? Reach out to us today to discuss!

1800 033 444 | helpdesk@alliedfinishes.com