Fayette County Health District FSO and RFE Plan Review Packet

 

Fayette County Health District

317 South Fayette St.

Washington CH, OH 43160

Phone: 740-333-3590

Fax: 740-636- 1583

 

What is this packet?

 

  • This document is designed to be a summary or the most common issues for planning or altering a food facility, or when changing ownership, license holder or risk levels.

 

When do I need a plan review?

 

  • Construction, installation, or equipping of a new food service operation or retail food establishment
  • Significant alteration of an existing food service operation or retail food establishment
  • Change of ownership, license holder, or risk level of a food service operation or retail food establishment.

 

What is the first thing that I need to do?

 

  • Read the ENTIRE packet.
  • Submit your plans well in advance of your construction or alteration the plans are subject to change and approval by the Health District. This will save time, money and the headache of changing your facility once construction has begun.

 

What license category do I fall under?

 

  • Food facilities are licensed as a Food Service Operation (FSO) or as a Retail Food Establishment (RFE). A Typical FSO is a restaurant selling individual servings and a typical RFE is a grocery store or pizza parlor selling multiple serving foods. Using the definitions below, you will need to determine which category you will fall under.

 

Food Service Operation (FSO) is defined in the Uniform Code as…

A place, location, site, separate area where food intended to be served in individual portions is prepared or served for a charge or a required donation. As used in this division, “served” means a response made to an order for one or more individual portions in a form that is edible without washing, cooking, or additional preparation and “prepared” means and action that affects a food other receiving or maintaining it at the temperature at which it was received.

 

Retail Food Establishment (RFE) is defined in the Uniform Food Code as…

… A premises or part of a premises where food is stored, processed, prepared, manufactured or otherwise held or handled for retail sale.

 

 

 

What is the procedure for opening or altering a FSO or RFE?

 

  • Submit a copy of all plans
    • Also contact the Fayette County Building, to obtain any permits you may need and to get a Certificate of Occupancy, at (740) 335-2212.
    • If your facility is not connected to public/ municipal water and sewer, you must obtain approval from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) Surface Water and Drinking and Ground Water Divisions of your sewage and water systems before continuing the plan review process.
  • Complete and return the last four pages of this document packet with any necessary support documents needed.
  • Pay the plan review fee (based on risk level) with the plans and supporting documentation.
  • The Health District will either approve or disapprove the plans within thirty days.
  • Changes or alterations must be submitted in writing to the Health District along with a copy of altered plans .
  • After the plans are approved, you may begin work on your facility.
  • Pay for a food license at the Health District once construction or alteration is complete (at least ten days prior to the projected date).
  • Schedule a pre-licensing inspection with the Health District before opening the facility.
  • Pending compliance with all Uniform Food Code rules and regulations, the license will be mailed following the inspection.  A standard inspection will be performed within thirty days of opening.

 

What is the procedure for change of ownership, license holder, or risk level of a FSO or RFE?

 

  • Contact the Health District for an onsite consultation to discuss what upgrades must be made to facility and equipment (during a change of ownership, license holder, or risk level the facility must be upgraded to comply with all current regulations).
  • We strongly recommend that you contact us before you agree to buy an existing food facility.
  • Complete and return the last four pages of this document package with any necessary support documents.
  • Pay a plan review fee (may be waived depending on the extent of renovation) along with the plans and supporting documentation.
  • The Health District will either approve or disapproved the plans within thirty days.
  • After the plans are approved, you may begin work on your facility.
  • Pay for a food license at the Health District once construction or alteration is complete (at least ten days prior to the projected date).
  • Schedule a pre-licensing inspection with the Health District before opening the facility.
  • Pending compliance with all Uniform Food Code rules and regulations, the license will be mailed following the inspection.  A standard inspection will be performed within thirty days of opening.

 

 

 

 

 

What must be included in the plans according to the Ohio Revised Code 3717-1?

 

·        The facility layout and specifications shall be legible, be drawn reasonably to scale and shall include:

o       The type of operation or establishment proposed and the foods to be prepared

o       The total area to be used for the food service operation or retail food establishment including square footage

o       All portions of the premises in which food service operation or retail food establishments are to be conducted.

o       Entrances and Exits

o       Location, number and types of plumbing fixtures, including all water supply facilities

o       Plan of lighting, both natural and artificial, with foot-candles indicated for critical surfaces.

o       A floor plan showing the general layout of fixtures and other equipment

o       Building materials and surface finished to be used.

o       An Equipment list with equipment manufactures and model numbers

 

What are some basic construction requirements for a FSO or RFE?

 

SANITATION

·        Because hand washing is such an important factor in the prevention of foodborne illness, sufficient facilities must be available to make handwashing not only possible, but likely.

·        Separate handwashing sinks, easily accessible to employees, must be installed in the following locations, food preparation areas, dishwashing areas, kitchen entrances, and kitchen exits. Additional handwashing sinks may be required depending on the type and size or the facility.

·        All handwashing sinks (including sinks in all bathrooms) must be equipped with proper handwashing signs, clearly visible notifying all employees to wash their hands.

·        All sinks must be equipped with hand/ fingernail brushes.

·        All handwashing sinks must be equipped with suffiecient warm water (110°F), soap, paper towels/hot air dryer and a waste container.

·        A three-compartment sink with two drain boards is required for washing, rinsing, sanitizing and air-drying. Sink compartment must be large enough to accommodate the largest utensils or equipment being used. A Commercial NSF or ANSI approved dishwashing unit is acceptable, but is not a substitution for a three-compartment sink.

·        Restrooms equipped with adequate handwashing stations.

·        A curbed mop (service) sink with a floor drain.

 

FOOD EQUIPMENT & FOOD

·        All food equipment must be approved by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Before you purchase any food equipment request evidence from the manufacturer that the product is NSF and ANSI approved. NSF and ANSI have a website search engines found at www.nsf.org and www.ansi.org respectively.

·        All food equipment must be smooth and easily cleanable.

·        A food preparation sink is required if any food will be washed, thawed or prepared using water. This Sink should be equipped with at least one drainboard. A food prep sink is required for all risk level three and risk level four foods facilities.

·        Sufficient cold holding units (refrigerators) that will maintain 41° F or lower at all times and be of sufficient space to prevent overloading. All units must be equipped with a thermometer.

·        Sufficient hot holding units that will maintain 135°F or higher at all times.

·        All food and drink must be obtained from approved sources that comply with the law.

 

PLUMBING

·        Food prep sinks must be indirectly drained.

·        Grease interceptors must be properly sized and installed.

·        Backflow preventors must be properly installed according to ASSE requirements and are subject.

·        Sufficient number of floor drains throughout the facility.

 

SURFACES

·        All food contact surfaces and prep areas must be smooth, non-porous, durable and easily cleanable (stainless steel for most surfaces is recommended). Wood surfaces for food prep are not acceptable.

·        All walls and floors must be smooth, non-porous, durable and easily cleanable (stainless steel or Fiberglass reinforced plastic {FRP} board are recommended wall coverings).

·        Walls behind sinks and cookware should be covered with FRP, stainless steel or similar material.

·        All ceilings must be smooth, durable and easily cleanable.

 

PHYSICAL FACILITY

·        Ensure that your proposed construction meets all applicable Building and Zoning Department regulations and requirements. You may contact them at (740) 335-2212.

·        All areas of the facility must have coved baseboard installed and in good repair.

·        Lighting must be adequate. Lighting is measured in foot-candles: 50 foot candles is required in areas where employees work with food and food equipment; 20 foot-candles is required at buffets, salad bars, inside equipment such as refrigerators, restrooms, utensil storage, handwashing and dishwashing areas; 10 foot-candles is required in dry storage areas.

·        The facility may be required to install hood ventilation and/ or fire suppression systems. Check with the local fire Department and Building Department where your facility is located for these requirements.

·        All lightbulbs must be shielded or shatter-resistant in areas where exposed food, equipment, food contact surfaces or utensils are present.

·        Air intake and exhaust fans must be placed in a way to prevent the contamination of exposed food, equipment, food contact surfaces or utensils.

·        The facility must have a designated chemical and maintenance equipment storage room.

·        All outdoor storage surfaces for dumpsters must be constructed of a nonabsorbent material (such as asphalt or concrete) and must be sloped to drain. Dumpsters must be adequate and maintained to handle the volume of waste as not to create a public health nuisance.

·        The facility must have a designated room for employees to eat, drink, use tobacco, and store personal items. This room must be separate and located away from food, equipment, food contact surfaces and utensils. This room must be equipped with lockers for employees to use.

·        Sufficient waste containers must be located throughout the facility.

·        The Fayette County Auditor requires that all businesses obtain a vendor’s license. You can obtain this license at their office located at 133 South Main St. Washington C.H.                         .

 

Who is responsible for the operation of the FSO and RFE?

 

·        The license holder is considered the “Person in Charge” or PIC.

·        The PIC is directly responsible for the safe and sanitary operation of the facility to protect public health. You are responsible to comply with all applicable food service codes outlined in the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) and the Ohio Revised Code (ORC). You are responsible for training support staff/ volunteers to comply with these codes. The OAC Chapter 3717-1-02.4 outlines many of the responsibilities of the PIC.

·        PIC responsibility is often overlooked. A well constructed facility is the foundation for a successful operation- however, without a knowledgeable, PIC, how can you expect to safely operate a food service facility? If you are not the PIC, please pass this information on to the PIC.

·        The Fayette County Health District may be able to provide you with a copy of the Uniform Food Safety Code and Informational packet on the person in charge.

 

What risk level do I fall under?

 

·        Food facilities are licensed as either a Risk Level 1,2,3, or 4. Risk levels describe the potential risk that the facility poses to public health and the probability of a foodborne illness. As the risk level increases so does the number of inspections.

 

Risk Level 1- Poses potential risk to the public in terms of sanitation, food labeling, sources of food, storage practices, or expiration dates. Examples of risk level one activities include but are not limited to, an operation that offers for sale or sells:

1.    Coffee, self-service fountain drinks, pre-packaged non-potentially hazardous beverages;

2.    Pre-packaged refrigerated or frozen potentially hazardous foods.

3.    Pre-packaged non-potentially hazardous foods;

4.    Baby food or formula.

 

Risk level 2- poses a higher potential risk to the public than risk level 1 because of hand contact or employee health concerns but minimal possibility of pathogenic growth exists. Examples of risk level 2 activities include but are not limited to:

1.    Handling, heat treating, or preparing non-potentially hazardous food;

2.    Holding for sale or serving potentially hazardous food at the same holding temperature at which it was received.

3.    Heating individually packaged, commercially processed potentially hazardous food for immediate sale.

 

Risk Level 3- poses a higher potential risk to the public that risk level 2 because of the following concerns: Proper cooking temperatures, proper cooling temperatures, proper holding temperatures, contamination issues or improper heat treatment in association with longer holding times before consumption, or processing a raw food product requiring bacterial load reduction procedures in order to sell it as ready-to-eat. Examples of risk level 3 activities include but are not limited to:

1.    Handling, cutting or grinding raw meat products;

2.    Cutting or slicing ready-to-eat meats or cheese;

3.    Assembling or cooking potentially hazardous food that is immediately served, held hot or cold, or cooled.

4.    Operating a heat treatment dispensing freezer

5.    Reheating in portions only;

6.    Heating of a product, from an intact, hermetically sealed package and holding it hot.

 

Risk Level 4- Poses a higher potential risk to the public than risk level 3 because of concerns associated with: handling or preparing food using a procedure with several preparation steps that include reheating of a product or ingredient or a product where multiple temperature controls are needed to preclude bacterial growth; offering as ready-to-eat a raw potentially hazardous meat; poultry product, fish, or shellfish or a food with these raw potentially hazardous items as ingredients; using freezing as a means to achieve parasite destruction; serving a primarily high risk clientele including the immuno-compromised or elderly individuals in a facility that provides either health care or assisted living; or using time in lieu of temperature as a public health control for potentially hazardous food; or performs a food handling process that is not addressed, deviates or otherwise requires a variance for the process. Examples of risk level 4 activities include, but are not limited to:

1.     Reheating bulk quantities of leftover potentially hazardous food more than once every seven days;

2.     Caterers or other similar food service operations that transport potentially hazardous food.

 

What are the fees associated with FSOs and RFEs?

 

·        Once you have determined your license category and risk level, you can contact the health department for your fees. The plan review fee is 30% of the county license fee based on risk level. Plan review fees apply to new facilities, altered facilities and risk level changes. Plan review fees are not annual; license fees are. The license must be renewed by March 1st of every year. Please note that fees are the same for FSO’s and RFEs but vary according to risk level and size.

 

What are the minimum items to include on the floor plan?

·        The floor plan should be reasonably to scale showing (the greater the detail the better):

1.    Location of all sanitation and food equipment as outlined in the Sanitation and Food and Food Equipment sections of this document packet.

2.    Location of all other food equipment (including all cooking equipment).

3.    Location of all plumbing equipment as outlined in the Plumbing Section of this packet.

4.    Location and types of all other areas.

5.    Total area of the facility in square feet.

6.    Entrances and Exits.

7.    Lighting plan indicating adequate lighting in all locations as defined in the Physical Facility Section of this packet

8.    General seating plan.

9.    Location of dumpsters.

10.           Location of chemical and maintenance equipment storage room.

11.           Location of employee breakroom and employee personal item storage lockers.

 

 

The Final Checklist before submission:

 

___ 1. A completed Application

___ 2. A Menu or List of Foods to be prepared/served/sold

___ 3. A floor plan with the minimum requirements

___ 4. An equipment list

___ 5. A copy of letters of approvals from various agencies

___ 6. Appropriate fee according to risk level and size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fayette County Health District FSO and RFE Plan Review Packet

 

Facility

Name

 

Address

 

Phone

 

Fax

 

 

 

License Holder

Name

 

Address

 

Phone

 

Fax

 

 

General Information (circle correct info)

Risk Level

1                    2   

3                       4

License Catergory

FSO     

RFE

Total Area

Under 25,000 sq feet

Over 25,000 sq feet

Water

Public

Private

Sewer

Public

Private

 

Materials

Food Contact Surfaces

 

 

 

 

Floors

 

 

 

 

Walls

 

 

 

 

 

Ceilings

 

 

 

 

 

Baseboards

 

 

 

Fayette County Health District FSO and RFE  Plan Review Packet

 

Equipment (list or attach all cut/spec. sheets)

Name/Type of Equipment

Manufacturer

Model Number

NSF or ANSI?