Drains hygienically clean in no time at all

Drains are a necessary evil in the food industry. They serve to efficiently drain excess water after extensive cleaning processes, but they can therefore also be a potential breeding ground for bacteria and microorganisms. For those who want to further raise hygiene standards in their production, Ecolab has a new solution on the market specifically for this issue. With DRAINSPEXX, food companies can now disinfect their drains in a very simple way by fogging. A more efficient and sustainable alternative than common practices.

Listeria likes to thrive where it is hot and humid. Therefore, the drain is a location that deserves extra attention during cleaning. Hygiene standards such as IFS and BRC also indicate this. Today, the disinfection of drains is done in various ways, each of which has its limitations. Either one chooses to put them under water, but that, in addition to a high consumption of water, entails new risks for food safety due to the puddles that can form. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the liquids have sufficiently spread along the entire surface of the pipes. The same applies to foaming in, which then also requires an additional step, because the foam must be rinsed after it has been withdrawn. Chlorine tablets have only a limited range and can also cause corrosion.

Fogging of drainage channels

So the food industry is looking for an efficient, safe and reliable method to disinfect drains in production. To meet that demand, Ecolab has developed DRAINSPEXX. "Basically, it comes down to fogging the drains. The disinfectant Kenolox 10, already used to fog the production area as a whole, can do that job perfectly. What Ecolab now adds is equipment specifically designed for this purpose, providing the user with a turnkey solution. And of course the expertise to make the right recommendations," explains Marketing Associate Arne Daneels. This is obviously done after production. The application takes only 10 to 15 minutes, so it can easily be added to existing cleaning routines. 

Easy and safe to apply

DRAINSPEXX is a trolley on wheels that can therefore easily reach the various drains in production. Different adapters are provided to the user so that the solution works on any drain. "It's just a matter of plugging in. So easy and safe to apply, so the pipes are disinfected along the inside. That's where contaminations dare to build up. Especially in high-risk areas in food production, this fogging equipment can be a valuable addition to the hygiene plan. A weekly use is recommended, if it can be integrated into the cleaning schedule. Of course, we come on site to analyze the quantities of disinfectant and the amount of time each drain requires. Food companies thus get a simple and reliable method to reduce the number of pathogenic microorganisms," Daneels summarizes.    

Keeping listeria under control

So what makes this the ideal solution for drain disinfection? "The entire inner surface of the pipes comes into contact with the disinfectant. Moreover, no rinsing is required and only a limited exposure time is needed. Thanks to the adapters, it fits easily on any drain. As long as the odor valves on all connected drains are tightly closed, no fog is released elsewhere in the room. It therefore does not need to be emptied. The risk of corrosion or unpleasant odors is also eliminated. But most importantly, food companies get an extra weapon in the fight against listeria," Daneels concludes.    

Why Kenolox 10?

- Ready-to-use disinfectant
- Biocide approved according to BPR 528/2012, PT4 and PT2
- Efficient to use against bacteria, yeasts and viruses
- No rinsing required
- Does not contain any substances categorized as hazardous