Rittal Hygienic Design enclosures for clean rooms, pharmaceuticals, and food production

In pharmaceuticals, food production and clean room environments, a distribution is not just a metal cabinet. It is a surface that is regularly cleaned and inspected. In such environments, an ordinary stainless steel cabinet is insufficient because cleanliness is not just an advantage but a requirement.

Precisely for these conditions, Rittal Hygienic Design or HD series was developed.

Table of Contents

• Design solves the problem
• Material and parameters
• Product range
• Regulatory framework and compliance
• Impact on operation
• Is Rittal Hygienic Design the right choice for your project

Design solves the problem

Conventional enclosures cause cleaning problems already at the design level. They have horizontal edges where liquid can accumulate, external threads where dirt remains, and sharp inner corners where biofilm forms much more easily. Rittal HD reduces these risks at the geometry and component design stage.

Key design solutions:

• rounded edges and gapless transition between doors and enclosure body, reducing places for accumulation of dust, moisture and microorganisms;
• 30° sloped “roof” on compact enclosures so that liquid drains off rather than accumulating on the surface;
• inner hinge radii over 3 mm, to make corners easier to clean;
• surface roughness Ra
• blue non-metallic parts which are visually easier to distinguish from the product and raw materials during inspections.

Cleaning takes less time, consumption of cleaning agents is reduced, and the risk of receiving audit nonconformities is lower.

Material and parameters

Technical parameters show that the solution is developed according to the highest hygiene and durability requirements.

IP 69 means that the enclosure is intended for high-pressure and high-temperature cleaning. This is especially important in open process areas in food, beverage, and pharmaceutical production plants.

Product range

Includes several product groups designed for various hygienic environment applications and installation scenarios.

HD junction boxes

HD junction boxes are intended for local connections and distribution points. They have a 3° side slope, 10° cover slope, and 6.25 mm mounting pitch, which provides more flexible internal equipment and easier cleaning.

HD compact enclosures

HD compact enclosures are designed for control and protective devices. They feature a 30° sloped roof, hygienic hinge design, and two-door versions with a removable center mounting rail for easier installation. These cabinets are suitable for locations where not only protection but also fast and predictable cleaning is important.

HD system enclosures

HD system enclosures are full-size enclosure systems with side panels, fasteners, and mounting plate fillers compliant with hygienic design. They are suitable for larger projects requiring a unified hygienic solution for the entire system, not just individual units.

HD control cabinets

HD control cabinets are designed for push buttons and switches, from 1 to 6 elements. They are available with 22.5 mm and 30.5 mm cutouts for horizontal or vertical mounting. This solution is suitable for control points in open process areas where the cabinet must be as easy to clean as the rest of the machinery.

HD switch housings

HD switch housings are intended for individual switches and control elements in environments meeting hygiene requirements. They are a compact solution when a full control panel is not needed but the same easily cleanable design and compatibility with the rest of the HD range are important.

HD printer cabinets

HD printer cabinets are designed to protect printers in environments where equipment is regularly washed and where protection against moisture, dirt, and cleaning agents is important. They enable hygienic integration of marking and identification equipment in sensitive production zones without compromising functionality or cleanliness.

HD fire extinguisher cabinets

HD fire extinguisher cabinets allow safety equipment integration within a unified hygienic design. This is important in plants where requirements apply not only to processes and electrical installation but also to auxiliary equipment and surrounding infrastructure.

Large-size HD cabinets

Large-size HD cabinets are intended for cases requiring more space for equipment or more centralized solutions while maintaining the same hygienic design advantages. They are suitable for larger production lines and projects where a unified approach to all enclosures and cabinets in the production area is important.

Regulatory framework and compliance

Rittal HD solutions comply with requirements essential for food, pharmaceutical, and clean room projects.

European standards and guidelines:

• EN 1672-2:2020, hygiene requirements for food machinery;
• EN ISO 14159, hygiene requirements for machinery design;
• Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, Annex 1, Section 2.1;
• EHEDG Document 13 and Document 8.

EU regulations:

• 852/2004, 853/2004 and 854/2004 on food hygiene and official controls;
• 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.

US requirements:

• FDA 21 CFR 177.2600 for silicone seals intended for repeated use in rubber products.

Certification:

• DGUV test certificates for HD junction boxes and compact enclosures;
• cULus Listed for HD control enclosures, junction boxes, compact enclosures, and system enclosures.

Impact on operation

Using HD enclosures and cabinets instead of standard stainless steel solutions delivers tangible benefits:

• lower consumption of cleaning and disinfecting agents;
• faster and more predictable cleaning validation;
• reduced contamination risk;
• higher equipment availability;
• lower energy consumption and reduced carbon footprint.

Is Rittal Hygienic Design the right choice for your project

Typical situations where the need for a Rittal Hygienic Design solution should be evaluated:

Rittal Hygienic Design is not just an enclosure. It is a systemic solution combining geometry, surface treatment, seals, accessories, and certification for environments where hygiene is not taken for granted but is verified.