Infrastructure and WASH for school feeding
The proper infrastructure in school canteens is an integral part of the educational process. It is the place where students spend a significant part of their time during lunch breaks, get replenished and energized to continue their studies. It is important to realize that comfortable conditions in the catering units contribute to proper nutrition and can enhance the effectiveness of the learning process.
Provision of hot meals requires more than just preparation of healthy meals and having professional staff in the catering units; it also involves its infrastructure.
The school catering units should be spacious so that students can reach their seats without crowding or queues. Attention should also be paid to cleanliness and hygiene so that children can enjoy a pleasant environment and their meals. Meals should be provided while adhering to sanitary norms and safety regulations.
Below are basic requirements for improving the infrastructure of school canteens:
Provision of hot meals requires more than just preparation of healthy meals and having professional staff in the catering units; it also involves its infrastructure.
The school catering units should be spacious so that students can reach their seats without crowding or queues. Attention should also be paid to cleanliness and hygiene so that children can enjoy a pleasant environment and their meals. Meals should be provided while adhering to sanitary norms and safety regulations.
Below are basic requirements for improving the infrastructure of school canteens:
Requirements for renovation of food processing area:
- Cover the walls of the food processing area to a height of 1.5-1.8 meters with glazed tiles or paint them with oil-resistant paint, harmless to children's health.
- Paint the walls above 1.5-1.8 meters with lime or water-emulsion paint.
- Tile the floor.
- Ensure tight joints between walls, ceilings, and floors; provide slightly rounded, easily cleanable baseboards.
- Ensure doorways are at least 90 cm wide.
- All light fixtures should be moisture and dust resistant, simple, and removable.
- Organize ventilation and heating systems in food block premises.
- Install mosquito nets on opening windows.
- Plan premises layout and equipment placement strictly according to provided diagrams.
- Cover the walls of the food processing area to a height of 1.5-1.8 meters with glazed tiles or paint them with oil-resistant paint, harmless to children's health.
- Paint the walls above 1.5-1.8 meters with lime or water-emulsion paint.
- Tile the floor.
- Ensure tight joints between walls, ceilings, and floors; provide slightly rounded, easily cleanable baseboards.
- Ensure doorways are at least 90 cm wide.
- All light fixtures should be moisture and dust resistant, simple, and removable.
- Organize ventilation and heating systems in food block premises.
- Install mosquito nets on opening windows.
- Plan premises layout and equipment placement strictly according to provided diagrams.
Requirements for the electrical system:
- Ensure availability of three-phase electricity in the food block.
- Lay new electrical wiring.
- Install a separate distribution panel with switching devices (circuit breakers, residual current devices) for equipment in the food block.
- Install grounding, if absent.
- Check the condition of grounding with a specialist, and prepare a testing protocol.
- Place rubber insulating mats before installing three-phase electricity.
- Install sockets at a height of 90-95 cm from the floor.
- Cover electrical wires laid along walls with cable channels.
- For equipment located in the center of the room, lay electrical cables and grounding circuits under a concrete screed using pipes or corrugated hoses.
Water supply and sewage:
Proper infrastructure in the school canteen is necessary to provide students with comfortable conditions where they can receive adequate and healthy nutrition. The availability of diverse food options and adherence to sanitary standards are important factors ensuring the health and effectiveness of school education. This comprehensive set of measures allows students to develop fully and succeed in their studies, which in turn impacts their future lives and achievements. Proper infrastructure in the school catering units is an investment in the future of children and education as a whole.
- Obtain statements from the Regional Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology and the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service regarding the safety and suitability of drinking water in the school.
- Install pipes for supplying cold and hot water, and drainage for all sinks and washbasins for students and staff.
- Install sinks, water heaters, and washbasins according to the technological drawings provided to the school.
- Connect sinks to the sewer through grease traps.
- When designing a new septic tank, coordinate with the Regional Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology and the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, as well as with the local environmental inspection, the location, route, depth of laying the septic tank, and sewage pipes.
Proper infrastructure in the school canteen is necessary to provide students with comfortable conditions where they can receive adequate and healthy nutrition. The availability of diverse food options and adherence to sanitary standards are important factors ensuring the health and effectiveness of school education. This comprehensive set of measures allows students to develop fully and succeed in their studies, which in turn impacts their future lives and achievements. Proper infrastructure in the school catering units is an investment in the future of children and education as a whole.
