Issue View | Council III | 2016 Biennial Meeting

This is a brand new Issue.

Motion-Activated Handwashing Sinks

The FDA made editorial changes to the Food Code in May 1, 2010, June 3, 2013, and March 6, 2014 and issued a response to the question of whether Section 5-202.12 (C) of the 2013 FDA Code addressed water-conserving motion sensor activated faucets if reactivation is by movement of the hands. FDA determined that even though § 5-202.12 (c) states that self-closing, slow-closing, or metering faucets at a handwashing sink shall provide a flow of water for at least 15 seconds without the need to reactive the faucet, it does not apply in the case of motion-activated handwashing faucets. If this determination has been made my FDA for almost 5 years and these motion-activated faucets are in use throughout the industry then it should be clearly stated in the Food Code that movement of hands is an acceptable means of reactivation if hands are not contaminated in the process.

The attached letter for supporting documentation shows FDA justification that "there does not appear to be a conflict in achieving a proper handwashing per Section 2-301.12 with the use of water conserving motion-sensor activated handwashing faucets, as there would not be a restricted water flow or restricted use of the hands with the reactivation of the sensors".

a letter be sent to the FDA requesting the 2013 Food Code be amended as follows (language to be added is underlined):

Section 5-202.12

(C) A self-closing, slow-closing, motion-activated or metering faucet shall provide a flow of water for at least 15 seconds without the need to reactivate the faucet.