Principles of Food Sanitation

ing compound is mixed with water and air to
form the foam. Clinging foam is readily visi-
ble and allows the worker to see where the
cleaning compound has been applied, thus
reducing the chance of job duplication.
Foam cleaning is beneficial for cleaning
large surface areas because of its ability to
cling, increasing the contact time of the
cleaning compound. This technique can
clean the interior and exterior of transporta-
tion equipment, ceilings, walls, piping, belts,
and storage containers. It is similar in size
and cost to portable high-pressure units.
Portable cleaning units that may be used to
apply cleaning compounds by foam is illus-
trated in Figure 11–3. This equipment
requires a foam-charging operation to blend
the cleaning compound, water, and air prior
to use.

Centralized Foam Cleaning

This equipment applies cleaning com-
pounds with the same technique used by
portable foam equipment except that drop
stations for quick connection to a foam gun

are strategically located throughout the

plant. Centralized equipment provides desir-

able features similar to the centralized high-

pressure system. As with portable foam

cleaning, the cleaning compound is automat-

ically mixed with water and air to form

foam. This equipment does not require the

foam-charging operation that portable foam

units require. Equipment components of a

centralized foam cleaning system are illus-

trated in Figures 11–4 and 11–5.

The compact wall-mounted foam genera-

tion unit shown in Figure 11–4 is designed to

blend and dispense cleaning compounds from

reservoirs or original shipping containers.

Wall-mounted units can be located in conven-

ient areas where cleaning is concentrated. The

equipment shown in Figure 11–4 can blend

and dispense cleaning compounds through an

adjustable air regulator and water-metering

valve. The easily accessible chemical-metering

pump and other controls are in the latching

stainless steel cabinet. This equipment con-

tains a built-in vacuum breaker and check

valves in the air and water lines.

Sanitation Equipment 199

Figure 11–3A portable air-operated foam unit that
applies the cleaning compound as a blanket of foam.
Courtesy of Ecolab, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota.

Figure 11–4Scheme of a wall-mounted foam and

rinse station that can provide foam application at

convenient locations in a food plant through auto-

matic metering and mixing of the cleaning com-

pound. Courtesy of Ecolab, Inc., St. Paul,

Minnesota.