The food and beverage industry is well regulated and there are strict controls on how manufacturing facilities must operate to ensure that food is produced free of contaminants and safe to consume.

Air quality and hygiene are paramount to ensure both food safety and a safe environment for staff working in food and beverage facilities. However, there is little guidance on what air quality is required in these facilities and what specification or classification of air filtration is needed to achieve it. This document will assist sites in carrying out internal risk assessments and provide the key facts that should be considered.

This guidance note has been produced further to BS EN 16798-3:2017 (replacing BS EN 13779:2007) which defines the recommended air filtration efficiencies dependent on application and outdoor air quality. It also gives guidance surrounding the change in air filter classifications from BS EN 779:2012 to BS EN ISO 16890-1:2016. These standards provide clear, independent advice regarding what filtration efficiencies are needed for most industrial applications, including the food and beverage industry.

This guidance note will help you to define your outside air quality, the supply air category to achieve, and the filter classes to select accordingly.

Use of BRCGS intellectual property

Information on how you can use BRCGS Standards, guidance and published content can be found here. You can also find a list of answers to common questions on how BRCGS content can be used here.