Manual of Naval Preventive Medicine
Chapter 1: Food Service Sanitation
VIII: Structural Requirements and Sanitary Controls

1-57. Floors, Walls, and Ceilings.

Department of the Navy
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery

1. Floors (Decks)

a. The floors to all food preparation areas, food storage areas, warewashing areas, walk-in refrigerators and freezers, dressing rooms, locker rooms, toilet rooms, vestibules, inside refuse storage rooms, and food vending machine areas must be constructed of smooth durable, sealed concrete, terrazzo, quarry tile, ceramic tile, durable grades of vinyl or plastic tile, vinyl or plastic linoleum, or tight-fitting wood impregnated with plastic.

b. Adequate drains must be provided in floors which are flushed with water for cleaning or which receive discharges of water or other fluid wastes from equipment. Such floors will be graded to drain.

c. Floors which are water flushed, receive discharges of water or other fluid wastes, or are in areas where pressure spray methods of cleaning are used must be made of nonabsorbent materials.

d. Carpeting may be used on the floors of dining areas. It must be of closely woven, easily cleanable material and installed tightly against the wall under the combing or installed away from the wall with a space between the carpet and the wall that permits easy cleaning of the space with the edges of the carpet secured by metal stripping or some other means. Carpeting must not be installed as a floor covering in food preparation areas, food storage areas, ware washing areas, hand washing areas and toilet room areas where urinals and toilets are located.

e. Supplemental flooring such as nonskid surfaces, mats and duckboards must be designed to be easily cleanable, constructed of nonabsorbent material and be grease resistant in areas exposed to large amounts of grease and water. When used as a mat in areas not exposed to large amounts of grease and water, they should be constructed of rubber/plastic backed closely woven material. Supplemental flooring should be NSF listed or equivalent.

f. All floors must be kept clean.

2. Walls and Ceilings (Bulkheads and Overheads)

a. The walls, wall coverings and ceilings in areas listed in Article 1-57.1.a. must be nonabsorbent.

b. When concrete, pumice blocks, or bricks are used for interior wall construction, they must be finished and sealed to provide a nonabsorbent, easily cleanable surface.

c. Wall and ceiling covering materials must be attached and sealed so that they are easily cleanable.

d. Light fixtures, vent covers, wall mounted fans decorative materials and similar attachments to walls and ceilings ;must be easily cleanable.

e. Ashore, studs, joists, rafters and piping will not be exposed in areas listed in Article 1-57.1.a., except that studs, joists, and rafters may be exposed in the overhead protection of outside service areas. Piping may be exposed aboard ship if it is finished to provide an easily cleanable surface.

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Operational Medicine 2001

Health Care in Military Settings

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