Safety is one of the most important issues in the food industry. Utilizing all possible tools available to enhance food safety is a smart investment. This includes food-safe wall panels.
Walls and ceilings are often overlooked when it comes to limiting contamination and maintaining sanitary conditions, but they play a major role. Traditional wall materials absorb moisture and allow bacteria to flourish. They also struggle to withstand rigorous cleaning and sanitation procedures.
Food-safe wall panels are a practical solution in buildings where cleanliness is a matter of health for thousands of people. Here’s what you need to know.
Why Is “Wall Hygiene” Important?
Cleanliness is an important factor in many industries, but walls can be easy to overlook. Unfortunately, that ends up negating a lot of the work you do to keep the rest of the space clean. And in the food industry, that can have a major impact.
Walls face a variety of challenges in a food environment, including:
- Exposure to moisture
- Temperature fluctuations
- Grease and residue buildup
- Frequent sanitizing with harsh chemicals
Many types of wall tend to be porous, which means they soak up everything they’re exposed to. This creates the perfect environment for bacteria and mould growth. While sanitizing the walls can reduce risk, ideally, you’ll establish an environment designed specifically to be hygienic and withstand exposure to a variety of risks. Using materials like food-safe wall panels makes all the difference.
What Makes a Wall Panel Food Safe?
Food-safe or food-grade indicates a variety of features, including:
- Non-porous surface
- Moisture resistant
- Easy to clean and sanitize
- Resistant to mould and mildew
- Strong enough to withstand frequent exposure to harsh chemicals
Meeting CFIA food safety standards is essential, but going above and beyond those standards makes working in the space easier and helps protect workers and diners.
Benefits of Food-Safe Wall Panels
Food-safe wall panels offer a variety of benefits. They:
- Reduce areas where bacteria and mould can grow because they are non-porous
- Prevent water intrusion, protecting the structural component behind the panel
- Stand up to frequent cleaning and sanitization procedures
- Are easy to clean because they are smooth
- Are durable and resistant to stains, corrosion, and wear
- Feature seamless or interlocking features to minimize small spaces where mildew and mould spores can enter and grow
- Simplify food inspections
- Are compliant with food safety standards
There are several places where food-safe wall panels are a smart investment, including:
- Commercial kitchens
- Food processing facilities
- Agricultural operations
- Packaging facilities
- Cold storage/refrigerated environment
- Biosecure spaces
Why Food-Safe Wall Panels Are the Go-To Choice in Food Safety
Painted drywall, tile, and fibreglass panels are no longer sufficient for food safety. These materials don’t eliminate the challenges faced by restaurants and other food preparation establishments. Nowadays, food-safe wall panels offer the protection against moisture needed to maintain a safe, sterile environment.
In addition to protecting against moisture, food-safe wall panels are efficient to install. Our PROLINER™ PVC wall panels feature an interlocking panel system that reduces installation time and creates a tight surface that blocks contaminants and moisture from entering.
Our panels are also designed for long-term performance, even in the most demanding environments. They resist moisture and stains, making them a smart long-term investment that reduces maintenance.
In the rare event that a panel incurs damage, our systems can be repaired or replaced on a per-panel basis, so there’s no need for a complete wall replacement. This reduces cost and downtime for repairs.
Are Food-Safe Wall Panels Right for Your Facility?
Our food-safe wall panels are one of the most important investments you can make if you’re concerned about food safety and health. They also offer the added benefit of keeping things local and buying Canadian.
Keep in mind, investing in hygienic building materials like our panels is possible at any time, but tends to be less expensive during the initial building or renovation phase. It’s always better to be proactive about food safety, and choosing our food panels is one of the best moves you can make to prevent problems down the road.
If you’d like to learn more or you’re ready to explore your options for food-grade wall panels, we can help. Reach out to Structural Panels Inc. today to discuss your options.
