In food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and other hygiene-critical environments, electrical enclosures can be exposed to frequent cleaning, moisture, detergents and disinfectants.
Stainless steel is commonly used in these environments, but not every stainless steel enclosure meets hygienic design requirements.
Surface finish, roof design, hinges, seals, edges and external geometry all contribute to how easily an enclosure can be cleaned and whether dirt, water or other residues have areas in which to accumulate.
Rittal’s Hygienic Design (HD) enclosure range has been developed specifically for hygiene-critical production areas, combining stainless steel construction with features designed around cleanability.
A Hygienic Design enclosure is designed to minimise areas where liquids and residues can collect while providing surfaces that are accessible for regular cleaning.
Rittal HD enclosures are manufactured from 1.4301/AISI 304 stainless steel with a surface roughness of ≤ 0.8 µm.
Rounded edges, sloping surfaces and seamless transitions form part of the enclosure design to prevent accumulations of dirt and water.
The difference between a standard stainless steel enclosure and a Hygienic Design enclosure extends beyond the material itself.
|
Feature |
Standard Stainless Steel Enclosure |
Rittal Hygienic Design Enclosure |
|---|---|---|
|
Surface |
Brushed, grain size 180–400 |
Brushed, grain size 400, peak-to-valley height ≤ 0.8 µm |
|
Design |
Visible screws, hinge welded onto the outside, roof not sloping |
HD-compliant design with sloping roof, concealed internal hinges, rounded corners and no dead spaces |
|
Cleanability |
Can be cleaned |
Suitable for frequent cleaning cycles |
|
Compliance with standards |
Enclosure standards |
DIN EN 1672-2:2009, FDA-compliant seals, EHEDG |
|
Protection category |
IP54–66 |
IP66 / IP69 |
Several features distinguish the Rittal HD range.
The roof slopes forwards by more than 30°, allowing liquids to drain away rather than remain on top of the enclosure.
Rounded edges and smooth transitions minimise areas where residues can accumulate, while hinges and screws are positioned internally to maintain a smooth external surface.
Rittal HD also incorporates FDA-compliant seals resistant to detergents and disinfectants, with IP66 and IP69 protection categories for applications involving high-pressure and hot-water cleaning.
Established hygienic design principles address factors including smooth surfaces, the avoidance of gaps and dead areas, accessibility for cleaning and inspection, and complete drainability.
For an electrical enclosure, this means details such as the location of a hinge, the shape of an edge, the design of a seal and the slope of a surface all contribute to its suitability for a hygiene-critical area.
Depending on the production environment, enclosures can be exposed to alkaline and acidic detergents, disinfectants, high humidity, condensation and organic acids from food products.
Rittal HD combines corrosion-resistant stainless steel with smooth surfaces, hygienic seals and self-draining geometry for these operating environments.
According to the Rittal source citing EHEDG, an enclosure designed for easier cleaning can reduce cleaning time by up to 30% while maintaining the same level of microbial safety.
Rittal Hygienic Design enclosures have been developed for hygiene-critical areas across food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacturing and medical technology.
The distinction is important: stainless steel provides the material foundation, while Hygienic Design considers the complete enclosure construction and its suitability for regular, effective cleaning.
For production environments where hygiene and cleanability form part of everyday operations, Rittal’s HD portfolio provides enclosure solutions specifically developed around these requirements.
Explore the Rittal Hygienic Design range and find the right enclosure solution for your application.