Building Fabric & Structural Integrity Procedure

Keep structural surfaces hygienic, cleanable and stable

For walls, ceilings and overhead structures, the procedure sets condition and finish requirements intended to prevent contamination and the build-up of dirt, mould or condensation. Wall surfaces are to remain smooth, intact and capable of effective cleaning, while ceilings and overhead structures are kept intact and stable so loose material, debris or deterioration cannot create a contamination risk.

Responsibility is divided between technical or quality management, which defines hygienic requirements and reviews structural suitability in relation to food-safety risk, and engineering management and technicians, which maintain the fabric and correct damage or deterioration. Cleaning itself remains governed by the Housekeeping and Hygiene Procedure.

Control floors and drainage for hygienic operation

The procedure develops floor and drainage controls around durability, impervious condition, cleanability and effective wastewater removal. Flooring must withstand the physical demands of production and the cleaning chemicals and methods used during sanitation, while damage such as cracking, broken sections, uneven areas or porosity is repaired so the required hygienic condition is restored.

Drainage is addressed as part of the same physical environment. Drain locations and design are required to support wastewater removal without creating contamination risks through backflow, splashing or cross-contamination. Equipment layout and pipework are arranged to direct process wastewater to drains where feasible; where direct piping is not feasible, or significant quantities of water are generated, floor falls are used to move water and effluent towards suitable drainage points.

Make concealed and elevated structures inspectable and protective

Where suspended ceilings or roof voids are present, the procedure requires access for inspection unless the void is permanently sealed. This gives the site a defined means of examining concealed structural spaces for pest activity or other contamination risks, with pest findings managed through the Pest Management Procedure.

Elevated walkways, access steps and mezzanine floors next to or above open product lines are also controlled. Their design and condition must prevent debris or contaminants from falling into open product areas, while surfaces remain cleanable and in good condition.

Control openings, doors and environmental barriers

Openings in the building envelope are treated as points where external contamination or pests could enter production areas. Where windows or roof glazing can be opened for ventilation in areas where product may be exposed, pest screens are required and must remain intact and correctly fitted.

Internal and external doors are maintained so they remain structurally sound and capable of closing properly. External doors and dock levellers are required to be close fitting or adequately proofed. Where doors open directly into areas handling open product, the procedure requires them to remain closed during production except in emergencies; where doors to enclosed product areas must be opened, suitable precautions are applied to prevent pest entry.

Plastic strip curtains are brought into the same barrier-control logic. They are maintained clean, intact and correctly fitted so that their temperature-control or pest-exclusion function is not undermined and they do not themselves create a food-safety risk.

Support inspection, cleaning and environmental control

Lighting requirements are defined around the work it must enable. Production and storage areas require sufficient illumination for safe operation, clear visual inspection of product and effective cleaning, with engineering management responsible for ensuring that the installations continue to provide the required visibility.

Ventilation and extraction systems are required to maintain airflow conditions that control condensation and excessive airborne dust in production and storage environments. Their maintenance and servicing interface with the Maintenance Management Procedure, keeping system upkeep distinct from the hygienic and structural requirements established here.

Allocate responsibility from management to day-to-day reporting

Senior management provides the resources, infrastructure and organisational support needed to maintain the structural integrity and hygienic condition of the site. Technical or quality management owns the procedure, defines hygienic requirements and escalates structural or environmental issues that could compromise product safety or legality.

Engineering management is responsible for the maintenance and structural integrity of the building fabric and associated infrastructure, while engineering technicians carry out repairs and report defects or deterioration. Operations management controls production behaviours affecting doors, access points and environmental barriers, and all employees are required to report observed damage or conditions that could compromise hygiene or product safety.

This allocation makes structural condition a shared site control while preserving clear ownership for hygienic standards, engineering upkeep and operational use.

Connect structural control with maintenance, hygiene, pest management and corrective action

The procedure deliberately defines boundaries with related FSQMS controls. Planning, scheduling and execution of maintenance activities sit within the Maintenance Management Procedure; cleaning of structural surfaces is governed by the Housekeeping and Hygiene Procedure; pest monitoring and control are governed by the Pest Management Procedure; and structural non-conformances requiring investigation, correction or preventive management are handled through the Corrective & Preventive Action Procedure.

Records generated through building inspection, repair, drainage, structural-condition, ventilation, lighting and pest-exclusion activities provide evidence of implementation, while their completion, retention and protection are controlled through the relevant records procedure.