Section 60. Construction and operation of farm bulk milk cooling or holding tanks, recording thermometers, interval timing devices, and other required milkhouse..

A. Each person that operates a dairy farm and installs one or more farm bulk cooling or holding tanks in the milkhouse shall provide the following facilities:

1. A milk hose port opening no larger than eight inches in diameter through a wall in the milkhouse closest to the area the bulk milk pickup tanker will be parked to receive the milk from each farm bulk cooling or holding tank. The hose port shall be:

a. Provided with a self-closing door that shall open to the outside; and

b. Of sufficient height above the milkhouse floor and the outside apron to prevent flooding or draining of the milkhouse;

2. An outside apron constructed of concrete or other equally impervious material shall be provided on the outside of the milkhouse directly beneath the hose port to protect the milk-conducting equipment from contamination, and:

a. If constructed of concrete, each outside apron shall be a minimum of four inches thick and measure a minimum of two feet by two feet horizontally; or

b. If constructed of a material other than concrete, each outside apron shall measure a minimum of two feet by two feet horizontally;

3. A 220-volt grounded weatherproof electrical outlet installed on the outside of the milkroom or milkhouse near the hoseport for the bulk milk hauler's use to power the milk pump on the bulk milk pickup tanker; and

4. A switch to control the electrical power to the 220-volt grounded weatherproof electrical outlet located on the inside of the milkroom or milkhouse near the outlet to the farm bulk cooling or holding tank.

B. Each person that operates a dairy farm and installs one or more farm bulk cooling or holding tanks in the milkhouse or milkroom shall comply with the following requirements:

1. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with all the requirements contained in:

a. 3-A Sanitary Standards for Farm Milk Cooling and Holding Tanks, Document No. 13-11 (July 2012); or

b. 3-A Sanitary Standards for Farm Milk Storage Tanks, Document No. 30-01 (Sept. 1984);

2. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be equipped with an indicating thermometer accurate to plus or minus 2.0°F and capable of registering the temperature of the milk in the tank before it reaches 10% of the tank's volume;

3. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be installed to comply with the following minimum clearance distances around, above, and below each farm bulk cooling or holding tank:

a. Three feet measured horizontally between a wash vat and the outermost portion of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

b. Three feet measured horizontally in a 180-degree arch from the front of the tank where the outlet valve is located;

c. Two feet measured horizontally from the sides and rear of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank to any wall, shelves, water heater, hand-basin, or other object;

d. Eighteen inches measured horizontally from the outermost portion of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank to any floor drain and the floor drain shall not be located underneath the tank;

e. Three feet measured vertically from the top of the manhole cover of any farm bulk cooling or holding tank to the ceiling;

f. Eight inches measured vertically from the floor underneath the bottom of any round farm bulk cooling or holding tank that measures greater than 72 inches in diameter;

g. Four inches measured vertically from the floor underneath the bottom of any round farm bulk cooling or holding tank that measures equal to or less than 72 inches in diameter; and

h. Six inches measured vertically from the floor underneath the bottom of any flat bottom farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

4. Farm bulk cooling or holding tanks installed through a milkroom wall shall meet the following minimum requirements:

a. The area between the farm bulk cooling or holding tank and the wall shall be tightly sealed;

b. All vents and openings on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank located outside the milkroom shall be protected from dust, insects, moisture, and other debris which might enter the tank; and

c. All agitators located outside the milkroom shall be equipped with a tightly fitting seal between the bottom of the agitator motor and the top of the farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

5. Each person that operates a dairy farm shall ensure that each farm bulk cooling or holding tank is installed with a foundation of sufficient strength to support the tank when it is full;

6. Each person that operates a dairy farm shall obtain prior approval from the state regulatory authority for each farm bulk cooling or holding tank and its installation before it is installed on the person's dairy farm; and

7. Each person that operates a dairy farm shall ensure each farm bulk cooling or holding tank on the farm is installed, gauged, and a volume chart prepared in compliance with regulations adopted pursuant to § 3.2-5206 of the Code of Virginia. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank and any gauge rod, surface gauge, gauge, or gauge tube and calibration chart associated with it shall be identified by serial number in a prominent manner.

C. Each person that holds a grade "A" dairy farm permit and installs a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with the following:

1. Each farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be equipped with a recording thermometer;

2. Each recording thermometer shall be installed to comply with the following:

a. Each recording thermometer shall be installed in the milkhouse;

b. No recording thermometer may be installed on or attached to a farm bulk cooling or holding tank;

c. Each recording thermometer shall be installed (i) on an inside wall of the milkhouse, (ii) on an outside wall of the milkhouse or milkroom if installed with one inch of rigid insulation between the back of the recording thermometer and the surface of the outside wall, or (iii) on metal brackets from the ceiling or floor; and

d. Each recording thermometer sensor shall be installed on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank to record the temperature of the milk in the tank before the milk reaches 10% of the tank's volume;

3. Each recording thermometer installed on a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with the following minimum requirements:

a. The case for each recording thermometer shall be moisture proof under milkhouse conditions;

b. The case for each recording thermometer shall be UL rated NEMA 4X enclosure or equivalent as provided in ANSI/NEMA 250, Enclosures for Electrical Equipment (1000 Volts Maximum) dated December 29, 2014;

c. The case for each recording thermometer shall be equipped with a corrosion-resistant latching mechanism that keeps the recording thermometer tightly closed;

d. The recorder chart for each recording thermometer shall not exceed a maximum chart rotation time of 168 hours (seven days). Recorder charts for farm bulk cooling or holding tanks that are picked up every other day shall have a chart rotation time of 48 hours. Recorder charts for farm bulk cooling or holding tanks that are picked up every day may have a chart rotation time of 24 or 48 hours;

e. The recorder chart for each recording thermometer shall be marked with water resistant ink;

f. The scale on the recording chart shall cover a minimum of 30°F to 180°F, with the scale reversed to show cold temperatures at the outside of the chart for best resolution;

g. Each division on the recording chart shall represent a maximum of 1.0°F between 30°F and 60°F, with two degree divisions between 60°F and 180°F;

h. Spacing of divisions on the recorder chart shall be a minimum of 0.040 inches per 2.0°F, with the ink line easily distinguishable from the printed line;

i. The recording thermometer speed of response or sensing of temperature shall be a maximum of 20 seconds;

j. The recording thermometer shall be accurate to plus or minus 2.0°F;

k. The sensor for each recording thermometer shall be (i) a resistance temperature detector (RTD) type sensor, (ii) constructed of stainless steel type 304 or type 316 on all exterior surfaces, (iii) hermetically sealed, (iv) accurate to 0.3°C, and (v) continuous run wire;

l. Each recording thermometer and sensor shall be calibrated and supplied as a package;

m. No capillary system containing any toxic gas or liquid shall be allowed to come into direct contact with any milk or milk product;

n. Other recording devices may be accepted by the state regulatory authority if they comply with the requirements of subdivisions 3 a through m of this subsection;

o. If a strip chart style recorder is used, it shall move not less than one inch per hour and may be continuous for a maximum of 30 days; and

p. Recording thermometers may be manually wound or electrically operated;

4. Each recording thermometer installed on a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall comply with the following minimum operating requirements:

a. Each recording thermometer shall be provided with a means to seal the calibration and zeroing mechanism to provide evidence of unauthorized adjustment or tampering;

b. Each recording thermometer shall be provided with a pin in the hub to prevent the recording chart from being rotated; and

c. Each recording thermometer shall be properly grounded and short circuit protected;

5. Each person that operates a dairy farm and installs a recording thermometer on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall maintain a minimum of a 30-day supply of unused recorder charts designed for the specific recording thermometer installed and shall maintain a minimum of the past 60 days of used charts for purposes of inspection; and

6. Each person that operates a dairy farm and installs a recording thermometer on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall provide a moisture proof storage container in the milkhouse or milkroom for purpose of storing a supply of new charts and a minimum of 60 days of used charts.

D. No person may remove from the dairy farm any recorder chart that has been used once and removed from the recorder within the past 60 days unless he has obtained permission from the state regulatory authority. All recorder charts removed from any dairy farm by any person other than a representative of the state regulatory authority shall be returned to the dairy farm within 10 days. All recorder charts shall be available to the state regulatory authority.

E. Each bulk milk hauler shall comply with the following requirements when picking up milk from a dairy farm if the farm bulk cooling or holding tank is equipped with a recording thermometer:

1. Each milk hauler, in making a milk pickup, shall properly agitate the milk and remove the chart from the recorder;

2. Each milk hauler shall record the following information on each chart removed from the recorder:

a. The date and time of pickup; and

b. The signature of the milk hauler;

3. Each milk hauler shall store the used chart in the storage container supplied by the dairy farmer;

4. Each milk hauler shall obtain a new chart from the supply provided by the dairy farmer and record the following information in the chart:

a. The date; and

b. The patron number of the dairy farmer;

5. If a recorder chart is used for more than one pickup, each milk hauler shall identify each lot of milk on the chart with the date, time of pickup, and his signature; and

6. Before removing any milk from the farm tank, each milk hauler shall check the recorder chart. If the recorder chart indicates that the milk temperature has varied in a manner that would preclude acceptance, he shall immediately notify his superior and the dairy farmer. If the milk is rejected, each milk hauler shall record this information on the chart. If the milk is picked up, each milk hauler shall sign the chart and record the date and time of pickup.

F. Each person that operates a dairy farm and holds a grade "A" dairy farm permit shall be responsible for maintaining each of the recording thermometers in good repair and adjustment to include calibrating the recording thermometer to read accurately within plus or minus 2.0°F of the actual milk temperature in the farm bulk cooling or holding tank.

G. Each recording thermometer installed on a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall be inspected and may be sealed by the state regulatory authority after it has been shown to be properly installed and calibrated.

H. Each person that holds a grade "A" dairy farm permit and installs a farm bulk cooling or holding tank shall:

1. Install on each farm bulk cooling or holding tank an interval timing device that automatically agitates the milk in the farm bulk tank for not less than five minutes every hour during the entire time milk is being cooled or stored in the tank;

2. Not install a manual switch capable of turning off the interval timing device on any farm bulk milk cooling or holding tank while any milk is being cooled or stored; and

3. Maintain in good repair and operating condition each interval timing device installed on the farm bulk cooling or holding tank.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 21, Issue 08, eff. January 26, 2005; amended, Virginia Register Volume 25, Issue 11, eff. March 4, 2009; Volume 32, Issue 23, eff. August 25, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§§ 3.2-5206, 3.2-5223, and 3.2-5224 of the Code of Virginia.