Sanitary Seals / Hygienic Seals

Advantages of sanitary seals

• Improved product safety
• Reduced risk of leaks
• Increased equipment performance
• Compatibility with various fluids and temperatures
• Cost-effective solution

 

Materials for sanitary seals

The most effective material will depend on the specific application and requirements, but the most common materials used for sanitary seals include:

• EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)
• VMQ (Silicone)
• PTFE (Virgin) (Polytetrafluoroethylene)
• FPM/FKM (Fluorocarbon)
• NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber)
• PTFE/SS (Stainless)
• PTFE/SS (Envelope)
• Kalrez® (Perfluoroelastomer)

You can read more about chemical compatibility for each material in our Chemical Compatibility Guide. This will ensure that the selected material is suitable for use with the specific chemicals and operating conditions of the application, helping to avoid premature seal failure and potential contamination risks.

Chemical compatibility guide

Approvals for sanitary seals

There are various approvals and certifications that sanitary seals can undergo to demonstrate their compliance with industry standards, for applications in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. 

Some of the key approvals and certifications for sanitary seals are:

FDA approval: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States is responsible for regulating food, drugs, medical devices and other products. Sanitary seals used in food and beverage, or pharmaceutical applications must meet the FDA's regulations and requirements to ensure that they are safe for use.

3A Sanitary Standards: The 3A Sanitary Standards are a set of guidelines developed for the design and manufacture of equipment and components used in food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Sanitary seals that comply with the 3A Sanitary Standards are designed to ensure hygienic design and cleanability.

EHEDG certification: The European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group (EHEDG) is a consortium of equipment manufacturers, food industries and research institutes that promotes hygienic engineering and design in the food and beverage industry. Sanitary seals that are EHEDG certified have undergone rigorous testing to demonstrate their compliance with EHEDG guidelines.

NSF certification: The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is an independent, third-party organisation that tests and certifies products used in food, water and consumer goods. Sanitary seals that are NSF certified have undergone testing and have been deemed safe for use in food and beverage applications.

Seals to meet industry requirements

At M Seals, we understand the importance of meeting the necessary requirements and regulations to ensure that our seals are safe for use in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

One of the regulations that we meet is EU1935/2004, which outlines the requirements for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. This regulation aims to ensure that food is not contaminated by any harmful substances from the materials or articles used in the manufacturing process.

Our PTFE seals comply with EU10/2011, a specific regulation that governs the use of PTFE in food contact materials. This regulation sets specific migration limits for PTFE, ensuring that it does not release any harmful substances that could contaminate the food.

In addition to complying with these regulations, M Seals also follows other industry standards and guidelines, such as 3A Sanitary Standards and EHEDG guidelines, to ensure that the seals meet the necessary requirements for hygienic design and cleanability.

Our commitment to complying with the necessary regulations and standards ensures that the seals are safe for use in various process equipment applications.