BS EN 13951 pumps

BS EN 13951:2003 Liquid pumps. Safety requirements. Agrifoodstuffs equipment. Design rules to ensure hygiene in use.

MDM PUMPS LTD specialises in tailor-made hygienic pumps using components machined from solid stainless steel 316L bar to give smooth, crevice-free internals, fitted with FDA-approved seals and hygienic connections. 

This standard applies to liquid pumps and pump units operating with agrifoodstuffs. It is NOT intended to be used for pumps handling pharmaceutical products. The standard aims to ensure that the pump if used in accordance with the instruction handbook, will remain safe and, provided it is adequately cleaned, will not cause contamination of the product. Note: due to the influence of the product, the process and the cleaning regime adopted, the hygiene of the pump should ultimately be the responsibility of the end-user.

The standard makes reference to BS EN 1672-2:1997 Food processing machinery - Basic concepts, Part 2 Hygiene requirements.

BS EN 13951 is one means of complying with the specific essential requirements of the Machinery Directive 98/37/EC (amended by 98/79/EC).

We need to request specific information at the time of quotation:

-  Cleanability level required - levels 1, 2, 3 or 4 (see table below) - the level selected should take into account the risks arising from the pumped product, the placement of the pump in the process and the cleaning regime anticipated.

-  If abrasive fluids are pumped (eg crystalline or fibrous foodstuffs), then the possibility of abrasive wear needs to be discussed and the choice of materials agreed.

-  Surface finishes - the cleanability depends of the topography of the surface (profile, roughness), local fluid velocities, pump type, application and cleaning process. What is required depends on the pump application, eg the product itself (viscosity / effective viscosity and tenacity of residues) and where the pump is in the process (ie handling of raw, semi-processed or final product). We recommend 0.8µmRa for our pure finish.

-  Connections - the customer will select the most appropriate connection having considered the hazards which may arise from their selection, installation and operation. Retention of product may be due to misalignment, physical change from thermal or chemical effects, incorrect installation (over or under tightening, omission of parts), or gaps and cavities inherent in the design. Hazards can arise from forces and moments from the pipework, unscrewing or mechanical shocks.

-  Seal types. The hygienic risk level depends on the pumped product and the seal type. Note that mostly the liquids will be 'Low viscous', and therefore the risk with a single mechanical seal will be low or medium.