(A) Floors, walls, and ceilings. Except as specified under paragraph (D) of this rule and except for antislip floor coverings or applications that may be used for safety reasons, floors, floor coverings, walls, wall coverings, and ceilings are to be designed, constructed, and installed so they are smooth and easily cleanable.
(B) Floors, walls and ceilings - utility lines.(1) Utility service lines and pipes cannot be unnecessarily exposed.(2) Exposed utility service lines and pipes are to be installed so they do not obstruct or prevent cleaning of the floors, walls, or ceilings.(3) Exposed horizontal utility service lines and pipes cannot be installed on the floor.(C) Floor and wall junctures - coved, and enclosed or sealed.(1) In food service operations or retail food establishments in which cleaning methods other than water flushing are used for cleaning floors, the floor and wall junctures are to be coved and closed to no larger than one thirty-second inch (one millimeter).(2) The floors in food service operations or retail food establishments where water flush cleaning methods are used are to be provided with drains and be graded to drain, and the floor and wall junctures are to be coved and sealed.(D) Floor carpeting - restrictions and installation.(1) A floor covering such as carpeting or similar material cannot be installed as a floor covering in food preparation areas, walk-in refrigerators, warewashing areas, toilet room areas where handwashing sinks, toilets, and urinals are located, refuse storage rooms, or other areas where the floor is subject to moisture, flushing, or spray cleaning methods.(2) If carpeting is installed as a floor covering in areas other than those specified under paragraph (D)(1) of this rule, it is to be: (a) Securely attached to the floor with a durable mastic, by using a stretch and tack method, or by another method; and(b) Installed tightly against the wall under the coving or installed away from the wall with a space between the carpet and the wall and with the edges of the carpet secured by metal stripping or some other means.(E) Floor covering - mats and duckboards. Mats and duckboards are to be designed to be removable and easily cleanable.
(F) Wall and ceiling - coverings and coatings.(1) Wall and ceiling covering materials are to be attached so that they are easily cleanable.(2) Except in areas used only for dry storage, concrete, porous blocks, or bricks used for indoor wall construction are to be finished and sealed to provide a smooth, nonabsorbent, easily cleanable surface.(G) Walls and ceilings - attachments. (1) Except as specified in paragraph (G)(2) of this rule, attachments to walls and ceilings such as light fixtures, mechanical room ventilation system components, vent covers, wall mounted fans, decorative items, and other attachments are to be easily cleanable.(2) Paragraph (G)(1) of this rule does not apply to wall and ceiling surfaces and decorative items and attachments that are provided for ambiance in a consumer area if they are kept clean.(H) Walls and ceilings - studs, joists, and rafters. Except for temporary food service operations or temporary retail food establishments, studs, joists, and rafters are not to be exposed in areas subject to moisture.
(I) Light bulbs - protective shielding.(1) Except as specified in paragraph (I)(2) of this rule, light bulbs are to be shielded, coated, or otherwise shatter-resistant in areas where there is exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, or linens; or unwrapped single-service or single-use articles. (2) Paragraph (I)(1) of this rule does not apply in areas used only for storing food in unopened packages, if:(a) The integrity of the packages cannot be affected by broken glass falling onto them; and(b) The packages are capable of being cleaned of debris from broken bulbs before the packages are opened.(3) An infrared or other heat lamp is to be protected against breakage by a shield surrounding and extending beyond the bulb so that only the face of the bulb is exposed.(J) Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system vents. Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems are to be designed and installed according to the Ohio building code and so that make-up air intake and exhaust vents do not cause contamination of food, food-contact surfaces, equipment, or utensils.
(K) Insect control devices - design and installation.(1) Insect control devices that are used to electrocute or stun flying insects are to be designed to retain the insect within the device.(2) Insect control devices are to be installed so that:(a) The devices are not located over a food preparation area; and(b) Dead insects and insect fragments are prevented from being impelled onto or falling on exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.(L) Toilet rooms - enclosed. Except where a toilet room is located outside a food service operation or retail food establishment and does not open directly into the food preparation area of a food service operation or retail food establishment, such as a toilet room that is provided by the management of a shopping mall or a toilet room designed so as not to need a door that opens into the sales area of a retail food establishment, a toilet room located on the premises is to be completely enclosed and provided with a tight- fitting and self-closing door.
(M) Outer openings - protected. (1) Except as provided in paragraphs (M)(3) and (M)(4) of this rule, outer openings of a food service operation or retail food establishment are to be protected against the entry of insects and rodents by: (a) Filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors, walls, and ceilings;(b) Closed, tight-fitting windows; and(c) Solid, self-closing, tight-fitting doors.(2) Paragraph (M)(1) of this rule does not apply if a food service operation or retail food establishment opens into a larger structure, such as a mall, airport, or office building, or into an attached structure, such as a porch, and the outer openings from the larger or attached structure are protected against the entry of insects and rodents.(3) Exterior emergency exit doors need not be self-closing if they are:(a) Solid and tight-fitting;(b) Designated for use only when an emergency exists, by the fire protection authority that has jurisdiction over the food service operation or retail food establishment; and(c) Limited-use so they are not used for entrance or exit from the building for purposes other than the designated emergency exit use.(4) Except as specified in paragraphs (M)(2) and (M)(5) of this rule, if the windows or doors of a food service operation or retail food establishment, or of a larger structure within which a food service operation or retail food establishment is located, are kept open for ventilation or other purposes or a temporary food service operation or temporary retail food establishment is not provided with windows and doors as specified under paragraph (M)(1) of this rule, the openings are to be protected against the entry of insects and rodents by: (a) Sixteen mesh to one inch (sixteen mesh to 25.4 millimeters) screens;(b) Properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects; or(c) Other effective means.(5) Paragraph (M)(4) of this rule does not apply if flying insects and other pests are absent due to the location of the food service operation or retail food establishment, the weather, or other limiting condition.(N) Exterior walls and roofs - protective barrier. Perimeter walls and roofs of a food service operation or retail food establishment are to effectively protect the establishment from the weather and the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals.
(O) Outdoor food vending areas - overhead protection. If located outside, a machine used to vend food is to be provided with overhead protection.
(P) Outdoor servicing areas - overhead protection. Servicing areas are to be provided with overhead protection except for areas used only for the loading of water or the discharge of sewage and other liquid waste, through the use of a closed system of hoses.
(Q) Outdoor walking and driving surfaces - graded to drain. Exterior walking and driving surfaces are to be graded to drain.
(R) Outdoor refuse areas - curbed and graded to drain. Outdoor refuse areas are to be constructed in accordance with law and shall be curbed and graded to drain to collect and dispose of liquid waste that results from the refuse and from cleaning the area and waste receptacles.
(S) Private homes and living or sleeping quarters - use not permitted. Except as provided by rule 3717-1-20 of the Administrative Code, a private home, a room used as living or sleeping quarters, or an area directly opening into a room used as living or sleeping quarters are not to be used for conducting food service operations or retail food establishment operations.
(T) Living or sleeping quarters - separation. Except as provided by rule 3717-1-20 of the Administrative Code, living or sleeping quarters located on the premises of a food service operation or retail food establishment such as those provided for lodging registration clerks or resident managers are to be separated from rooms and areas used for food service operations or retail food establishment operations by complete partitioning and solid self-closing doors.
Ohio Admin. Code 3717-1-06.1
Effective: 9/5/2024
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 6/14/2024 and 08/26/2029
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 3717.04, 3717.05
Rule Amplifies: 3717.04, 3717.05
Prior Effective Dates: 03/01/2001, 03/01/2005, 03/01/2009, 03/01/2019