Food Premises Design, Equipment and Waste Management
Design for flow
Premises should allow a one-way flow from receiving to storage, preparation, cooking, and service, with raw and cooked activities separated. Floors, walls, and benches should be smooth, impervious, washable, and light-coloured so dirt is visible. Junctions should be coved to prevent dirt traps. Ventilation must remove heat, steam, and fumes; lighting must be adequate and shielded over food.
Facilities the inspector looks for
- Handwash basins with running water, soap, and disposable towels, located at entry points and near preparation areas - never used for food or equipment washing.
- Toilets that do not open directly into food rooms; a ventilated lobby with self-closing doors.
- Adequate potable water, ice made from potable water, and separate wash-up sinks.
- Fly-proofing, screens, self-closing doors, and door sweeps.
- Adequate refrigeration capacity for the volume handled.
Equipment
Food-contact equipment must be food-grade, smooth, non-absorbent, corrosion-resistant, and easy to dismantle and clean. Keep it in good repair; discard cracked boards, chipped enamel, and rusted utensils.
Waste
Segregate waste at source; use covered, pest-proof, leak-proof bins; empty frequently, especially from preparation areas; store waste away from food and in a designated area; clean bins and the store; control grease with traps and licensed collection. Never use food containers for waste.
Worked example
A small café plans a toilet opening straight into the kitchen. The design fails: contamination can travel via aerosol and hands. The fix is a ventilated lobby with self-closing doors, plus a separate handwash basin inside the kitchen near the door.
Traps that cost marks
- Using the handwash basin to rinse vegetables.
- Assuming any plastic bin is acceptable - it must be covered and pest-proof.
- Ignoring air flow and condensation as contamination routes.
- Keeping cracked boards "because they are only for vegetables".
- Storing waste next to the back door where pests can reach it.