scope:

This 3-A Accepted Practice pertains to the sanitary aspects of equipment necessary for crossflow membrane processing of milk, milk products, and their fractions. These processes include ultrafiltration, diafiltration, microfiltration, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis. The system begins at the product inlet to the supply tank which delivers the liquid product to the membrane equipment and, if diafiltration is used, at the outlet of the nearest valve which delivers water for diafiltration. The system terminates at the connections on the membrane equipment where concentrate and permeate leave the membrane equipment for storage or further processing. This 3-A Accepted Practice does not cover materials and fabrication of membrane modules. Membrane modules are covered under 3-A Sanitary Standard, Number 45-.

In order to conform to this 3-A Accepted Practice, membrane process systems shall conform to the following criteria for design, materials of construction, fabrication techniques and installation, as appropriate, and applicable provisions of current revisions or editions of all referenced documents cited herein.