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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A SCOPE 4. AISI Steel Products Manual, Stainless & Heat

Resisting Steels, Table 2-1. American Iron and Steel
A1 This standard covers the sanitary aspects of Society, 410 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale,
machine leveling feet and supports used on PA 15086, Phone: (412) 776-1535.
equipment in a wet processing area of dairy, food
and other comestible products plants, including dry 5. Steel Founders Society of America, Cast Metal
processing areas cleaned with water. These feet or Federation Building, 455 State Street, Des Plaines,
supports attach to the equipment and support the IL 60016, Phone: (708) 299-9160.
equipment from the floor. The feet or supports
begin at the point where the feet or supports attach C DEFINITIONS
to the leg(s) or the body of the equipment and end at
the support point on the floor. This standard does C1 Product: Milk, milk products, or food products.
not include supports that attach to a wall or ceiling.
C2 Machine Leveling Feet or Supports: Those
These feet and supports are not product contact equipment components that are attached to the legs
surfaces but have a hygienic significance because or base of equipment and which may be adjustable
they may become a harborage of soil and create a to provide a means for leveling the equipment.
source of secondary contamination to the products. They may also provide for other attributes such as
anti-slip, raising or lowering the equipment,
This standard does not cover Casters. vibration dampening, or to secure the equipment to
the floor.
This standard does not cover mounting to a Slab or
Island. C3 Surfaces

A2 In order to conform to this 3-A Sanitary Standard, C3.1 Exposed Surfaces: Areas which are not sealed, and
machine leveling feet or supports shall conform to which are in contact with the surrounding
the following criteria for design, material of environment.
construction, fabrication techniques and installation,
as appropriate, and the current revisions or editions C3.2 Non-exposed Surfaces: Surfaces which are not
of all referenced documents cited herein. exposed, including internal components which are
sealed from contact with the surrounding
B NORMATIVE REFERENCES environment.

Ref. No. Title C4 Sealed

1. Advanced Materials and Processes, Volume 137(1),
C4.1 Sealed: A juncture, which is provided with a gasket
“Coatings and Coating Practices” by H. Herman,
or other type of seal to prevent the entry of air or
“Surface Modification” by F. A. Smidt. ASM
water under ambient conditions.
International, Materials Park, OH 44073, Phone:
(216) 338-5151.
C5 Cleaning
2. AMS-S-13165, Shot Peening of Metal Parts.
Society of Automotive Engineers (AWS), 400 C5.1 Manual Cleaning: Soil removal is effected with
Commonwealth Dr., Warrendale, PA 15096-0001. chemical solutions and water rinses with the
assistance of one or a combination of: brushes,
3. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21, nonmetallic scouring pads and scrapers, high or low
Parts 175 – Indirect Food Additives: Adhesives and pressure hoses, and with all cleaning aids
Components of Coatings. For sale by the manipulated by hand.
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, C5.2 Cleanability: Shall mean the suitability of
Phone: (202) 512-1800 or at: materials, design and fabrication used for the
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html. equipment to be freed from soil.

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C6 Surface Modification D2 Nonmetals

C6.1 Surface Treatments: Processes where chemical D2.1 Rubber, rubber-like and plastic materials may be
composition or mechanical properties of the used for gaskets, seals, swivel joint inserts, feet, and
existing surface are altered. There is no appreciable footpad inserts. These materials shall be relatively
build-up of new material or removal of existing nonabsorbent, durable and cleanable.
material. (See section B, Ref. No. 1)
D2.2 Adhesives used for bonding rubber and rubber-like
C6.1.1 Surface treatments include: materials and bonding plastic materials shall be
nontoxic, relatively nonabsorbent, durable and
1. Mechanical (shot peening, glass beading,
cleanable. (See section B, Ref. No.3.)
and polishing) (See section B, Ref. No.2.)
2. Electropolishing
E FABRICATION
C6.2 Coatings, Overlays and Encapsulations: A process
E1 Surface Texture
where a different material is deposited to create a
new surface. There is a build-up of new material.
E1.1 All exposed surfaces shall have a smooth finish
The coating, overlay, or encapsulation material does
such that soil may be cleaned from the surface using
not alter the physical properties of the substrate.
manual cleaning techniques and be free of pits,
folds, cracks, crevices, and other imperfections in
C6.2.1 Coating processes include:
the final fabricated form, when installed on the
1. Thermal spraying (e.g., flame, plasma, arc machinery and within the specified load conditions.
spray, chromium)
E1.2 Knurled surfaces shall not be used.
C7 Bond: The adhesive forces holding materials
together. This definition excludes press and shrink E2 Permanent Joints
fits.
E2.1 All permanent joints in metallic surfaces shall be
C8 Soil: Unwanted organic residue or inorganic matter continuously welded, except that:
on the exposed surfaces.
E2.1.1 Press or shrink fits may be used to produce crevice-
D MATERIALS free permanent joints between a support and a foot.
Joints of these types may only be used to assemble
D1 Metals parts having circular cross sections, free of
shoulders or relieved areas.
D1.1 Exposed surfaces shall be of stainless steel of the
American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 300 Series, E2.2 Legs or components of machine leveling feet or
excluding 301, 302, and 303 (See section B, Ref. supports made of hollow stock shall be
No.4) or corresponding Alloy Cast Institute (ACI) continuously welded except for adjustable
types (See section B, Ref. No.5) or metal which components covered by E8.1.
under conditions of intended use is at least as
corrosion resistant as 304 stainless steel, and is E3 Bonded Materials
nontoxic and nonabsorbent. (See Appendix,
Section F.) Where welding is involved, the carbon E3.1 Rubber and rubber-like materials and plastic
content of the stainless steel shall not exceed materials may be bonded. The bond shall be
0.08%. continuous and mechanically sound. The rubber
and rubber-like material or the plastic material shall
D1.2 Leg components and adjustable foot assemblies not separate from the base material to which it is
may also be made of other nontoxic metal(s) that bonded when exposed to the conditions encountered
have their surfaces modified by coating(s). in the environment of intended use, including
cleaning.

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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 E10.1 The mating surfaces of swivel joints may include
for typical clingage or normal adherence and shall metal to metal contact components, provided that
not have pockets which retain liquids. the internal mating surfaces of such swivel joints do
not have surfaces where soil can collect.
E6.1.1 Surfaces which are not self-draining and non-
exposed surfaces shall be sealed. 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 G5.1 List any additional regulations that apply to the
design and technical construction file (EDTCF) to equipment or system covered by this EDTCF.
be maintained by the fabricator as evidence of
conforming to 3-A Sanitary Standards or 3-A G5.2 Date of conformity or 3-A Symbol Authorization
Accepted Practices. (The file may contain more or and certificate number, if authorized.
less information as applicable to the equipment or
system.) 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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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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H1 Flat Foot

H2 Flat Foot with Adjustable Leg

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H3 Adjustable Flat Foot

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H4 Ball Foot with Adjustable Leg

H5 Ball Foot with Adjustable Leg Resting on a Flat Plate

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H6 Adjustable Leg with Rubber Swivel Foot

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

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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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