Food, beverage and dairy piping – material, surface, sourcing
In short: food, beverage and dairy product lines need hygienic stainless tubes and fittings.
- Material: typically 1.4301 / 1.4307, and 1.4404 for more aggressive products and cleaning agents.
- Size series: EN 10357 or DIN 11866.
- Surface: polished inside, typically Ra ≤ 0.8 µm.
- Also needed: DIN 11852 or SMS fittings, gaskets chosen for the medium, and material certificates.
This guide is for technical buyers, maintenance staff and mechanical contractors in food, beverage and dairy plants.
What makes food-grade piping special?
- Cleanability. Lines are cleaned regularly, often in place (CIP) with alkaline and acid solutions. The inner surface must have no crevices, dead legs or rough weld beads.
- Product safety. The material must not release harmful substances or affect taste.
- Corrosion. Cleaning agents and salty or acidic products (e.g. brines, fruit juices) attack the material.
- Size series. Food-grade lines use their own thin-wall series, which differs from industrial pipe sizes.
Which material and surface?
| Use | Grade | Inner surface | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| General product and water lines, dairy | 1.4301 / 1.4307 | polished, Ra ≤ 0.8 µm | EN 10357, DIN 11866 |
| Salty or acidic products, aggressive cleaners | 1.4404 | polished, Ra ≤ 0.8 µm | EN 10357, DIN 11866 |
| Higher hygienic requirements | 1.4404 / 1.4435 | electropolished, Ra ≤ 0.6 µm | DIN 11866 |
| Utilities (compressed air, cooling water) | 1.4301 | industrial finish | EN 10217-7, EN 10312 |
The process engineer or designer sets the roughness level and material. If in doubt, send us the medium and the cleaning procedure and we will help compare options.
The complete package
- Hygienic tubes: in the EN 10357 / DIN 11866 series, in 1.4301 or 1.4404, with the required surface.
- Hygienic fittings: elbows, tees and reducers to DIN 11852 or SMS.
- Connections: dairy and aseptic unions matched to the existing system.
- Gaskets: chosen for the medium and cleaning agent.
- Stainless hollow sections and fasteners for frames and supports (A2 / A4).
- Utilities: stainless pipe for compressed air, cooling water and CIP supply.
Buyer checklist
- Size series: EN 10357 / DIN 11866 series or inch size.
- Material: 1.4301 / 1.4307 or 1.4404.
- Inner and outer surface: Ra value; polished or electropolished.
- Fitting standard: DIN 11852 or SMS, matched to the existing system.
- Certificate: EN 10204 3.1.
- Packaging: capped ends, individual protective packaging.
- Quantities and schedule: single delivery or timed to a shutdown.
Common mistakes
- Industrial-series pipe with hygienic fittings. The diameters don't match, which creates a step and a dead zone at the weld.
- Surface specified only for the tube, not for the fittings.
- Gasket not chosen for the cleaning agent, so it fails early.
- 1.4301 where 1.4404 is needed. In salty or chloride media, pitting can occur.
Frequently asked questions
What does Ra ≤ 0.8 µm mean?
The average roughness of the inner surface is at most 0.8 micrometres. The lower the value, the smoother and easier to clean the surface.
Is 1.4301 enough, or do I need 1.4404?
For general products and dairy, 1.4301 / 1.4307 is often sufficient. For salty or acidic products or aggressive cleaning agents, 1.4404 is the safer choice.
Can you match fittings to our existing system?
Yes. Give us the existing size series and standard (DIN 11852, SMS) and we will quote to match.
Request a quote
Send your tube list, size series and surface requirement. We quote tubes, fittings, gaskets and the related structural material in one offer.
Related: Hygienic, pharma & UHP tubes · Stainless steel pipes · Stainless fasteners · 1.4404 · 1.4301
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