West Virginia Code of State Rules › Agency 61 - Agriculture › Title 61 - LEGISLATIVE RULE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › Series 61-04A - Production Of Milk And Cream For Manufacturing Purposes › Section 61-4A-11 - Milkhouse or Milkroom - Construction and Facilities

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 28, July 12, 2024
11.1. The milkhouse or milkroom shall meet
				the following construction requirements:
11.1.1. A milkhouse or milkroom conveniently
				located and properly constructed, lighted, and ventilated shall be provided for
				handling and cooling milk and for washing, handling, and storing the utensils
				and equipment. Other products shall not be handled in the milkroom which would
				be likely to contaminate milk, or otherwise create a public health
				hazard.
11.1.2. The milkhouse or
				milkroom shall be equipped with wash and rinse vat, utensil rack, bulk milk
				tank and have an adequate supply of hot and cold water available for cleaning
				milking equipment. If a part of the barn or other building, it shall be
				partitioned, screened, and sealed to prevent the entrance of dust, flies, or
				other contamination. A milking parlor used strictly as a milking facility in
				combination with a milkhouse or milkroom, when properly equipped, arranged and
				maintained, need not be partitioned. Concentrates and feed, if stored in the
				building, shall be kept in a tightly covered box or bin. The floor of the
				building shall be of concrete or other impervious material and grade to provide
				proper drainage. The walls and ceiling shall be constructed a smooth easily
				cleaned material. All outside doors shall open outward and be self-closing,
				unless they are provided with tight-fitting screen doors that open outward or
				unless other effective means are provided to prevent the entrance of
				flies.
11.1.3. The farm bulk tank
				shall be properly located in the milkhouse or milkroom for access to all area
				for cleaning and servicing. It shall not be located over a floor drain or under
				a ventilator.
11.1.4. A small
				platform or slab constructed of concrete or other impervious material shall be
				provided outside the milkhouse, properly centered under a suitable port opening
				in the wall for milkhouse connections. The opening shall be fitted with a
				tight, self-closing door. The truck approach to the milkhouse or milkroom shall
				be properly graded and surfaced to prevent mud or pooling of water at point of
				loading.
11.1.5. The floor slopes
				shall drain so that there are no pools of standing water. The joints between
				the floor and the walls shall be water tight.
11.1.6. The liquid wastes shall be disposed
				of in a sanitary manner; all floor drains shall be accessible and shall be
				trapped if connected to a sanitary sewer.
11.1.7. Walls and ceilings shall be
				constructed of smooth dressed lumber or similar material, well painted with a
				light-colored washable paint, and in good repair. Surfaces and joints shall be
				tight and smooth. Sheet metal, tiles, cement block, brick, concrete, cement
				plaster, or similar materials of light color may be used; the surfaces and
				joints shall be smooth.
11.1.8.
				Windows and solid doors shall be closed during dusty weather.
11.1.9. The milkhouse shall be adequately
				ventilated to minimize odors and condensation on floors, walls, ceilings, and
				clean utensils.
11.1.10. Vents, if
				installed, and light fixtures shall be installed in a manner to preclude the
				contamination of bulk milk tanks or clean utensil storage areas.
11.1.11. There shall be no direct opening
				into any barn, stable, or room used for domestic purposes; except that an
				opening between the milkhouse and milking barn, stable or parlor is permitted
				when a tight-fitting self-closing solid door(s) hinged to be single or double
				acting is provided.
11.1.12. The
				milkhouse shall be equipped with a wash and rinse vat having at least two
				compartments. Each compartment shall be of sufficient size to accomodate the
				largest utensil or container used. The cleaning-in-place vat for milk pipelines
				and milk machines may be accepted as one part of the two-compartment vat:
				Provided, that the cleaning-in-place station rack is not on the vat and the
				milking machines inflations and appurtenances are completely removed from the
				vat during the washing, rinsing, and/or sanitizing of other utensils and
				equipment.