3-A SSI Opens Public Comment Period on Revised Disc-Type Valves Standard

Proposal aligns 57-02 with the 3-A Sanitary Standard for General Requirements, 00-02; comments accepted through Nov. 16

WASHINGTON, DC (Oct. 5, 2026): 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) is inviting food processors, equipment manufacturers, regulators and other stakeholders to comment on proposed revisions to the 3-A Sanitary Standard for Disc-Type Valves (57-02). The public comment period runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 16, 2026.

The proposal, B-57-02-A (N657), incorporates the recently revised 3-A Sanitary Standard for General Requirements (00-02) into the disc-type valves standard. The Disc-Type Valves Ad Hoc Working Group is one of 10 that 3-A SSI recently convened.

The General Requirements Standard sets the baseline hygienic design criteria for equipment that processes milk, milk products, foods, beverages and other edible materials. Under the 3-A SSI A- and B-level document hierarchy, equipment-specific standards such as 57-02 build on that baseline and spell out any additional specific requirements or exceptions for disc-type valves.

The working group is focusing its review on how 57-02 applies five permissions in the General Requirements:

• Rubber product contact components beyond seals (GR D1.2.1; 57-02 D1.2.1)
• Plastic product contact components beyond seals (GR D1.2.2; 57-02 D1.2.2)
• Radii exceptions (GR E9.1.1.1; 57-02 E6.1.1)
• Coil springs (GR E11.1; proposed 57-02 E11)
• Product contact bearings (GR E13.1; proposed 57-02 E13)

Comments outside this focus are also welcome.

The standard covers disc-type valves with one- or two-piece bodies used on product tanks and in product and solution pipelines. It does not cover butterfly-type valves.

“A standard is only as strong as the industry input behind it," says Eric Schweitzer, 3-A SSI director of standards and certifications. "Food processors, equipment manufacturers and regulators each see disc-type valves from a different angle. When all three weigh in, the revision reflects how this equipment is actually built, cleaned and inspected."

The working group is chaired by Rick Canell of Steel & O'Brien Manufacturing. Glen Sweitzer of the Maryland Department of Health serves as vice chair, and Paul Rizza of Alfa Laval Inc. is document leader.

How to Comment

1. Request the review packet. It includes the current Disc-Type Valves (57-02) standard, the General Requirements (00-02) and Proposal B-57-02-A (N657).
2. Review the proposed changes.
3. Submit comments by Nov. 16, 2026.

For more information, contact Eric Schweitzer at erics@3-a.org.

About 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc.

3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. is a nonprofit standards development organization that publishes 3-A Sanitary Standards and Accepted Practices for the design and fabrication of hygienic equipment used in the food, dairy, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. The organization's standards are developed through a consensus process involving equipment fabricators, processors and regulatory authorities.