What are 3-A Sanitary Standards?
If you are in the food, beverage, dairy, or pharmaceutical industry, or you work a lot with sanitary fittings, you have likely seen 3-A Sanitary Standards, 3-A Certified, or something similar written on products, in descriptions, and elsewhere. But what exactly does this mean and why does it matter?
What are 3-A Sanitary Standards?
3-A Sanitary Standards often refers to the set of design and manufacturing guidelands that make sure food and pharmaceutical processing equipment meets stringent cleanliness and safety requirements. They basically define what “sanitary” really means in an industrial setting. These standards are designed and maintained by 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc.
3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) is an independent, non-profit organization that has set design standards for manufacturing equipment in various food and pharmaceutical industries for decades. While only becoming a non-profit in 2002, the original standards were developed in the 1920s.
What makes 3-A Certified Fittings or Equipment Different?
Here is what that usually makes these fittings different (among others):
- Smooth (32 Ra finish), non-porous surfaces provide easy cleaning and sterilization
- Materials used are corrosion resistant, nontoxic, and nonabsorbent
- Typically made from food-grade stainless steel (usually 304 or 316L), but not always
- Designed for CIP (Clean-in-Place) and SIP (Steam-in-Place) procedures
When you buy a fitting that is 3-A Certified, you know it has gone through testing to meet the highest quality.
Where are 3-A Certified Fittings Used?
3-A Sanitary fittings and equipment are used in many environments such as:
- Dairy plants (milk, cheese, yogurt processing)
- Beverage manufacturers (including breweries, wineries, and distilleries)
- Food processing facilities
- Pharmaceutical and biotech labs
If you are involved in building or maintaining a sanitary process system, 3-A Certified components help make sure you are in compliance with industry safety standards and regulations.
Why SaniFitDirect Sells 3-A Certified Sanitary Fittings
At SaniFitDirect, we specialize in fittings and accessories that meet or exceed 3-A certification. We know that our customers need reliability, cleanability, and performance - and the 3-A Sanitary Standards provides that.
We clearly mark that our products are 3-A Certified and we stand behind their quality. Whether you are working on a new system, replacing parts, or even brewing beer in your garage, hygiene should always be the top priority and we are here to deliver that.
Shop SaniFitDirect’s 3-A Certified Sanitary Fittings
We provide a variety of 3-A Certified Sanitary tri-clamp fittings, sanitary butt-weld fittings, sanitary valves, and accessories. Shop some of our best-sellers now:
Have questions about 3-A Certification?
Our team is here to assist you. If you are unsure what 3-A certification means for your line of work or you need help comparing sanitary parts, please contact us at sales@sanifitdirect.com or call 804-214-6098.