Standards And Applications of Food-Grade FBE

Food-grade FBE is a food-contact epoxy powder coating that is electrostatically sprayed at room temperature and fused/cured at high temperatures (above 180°C). It features non-toxicity, corrosion resistance, a smooth and easy-to-clean surface, and resistance to microbial growth. Widely used in industries with strict hygiene requirements such as food, beverage, and pharmaceutical manufacturing, it provides reliable protection for equipment and pipelines while ensuring food safety.

Core Standard Systems

Food-grade FBE must comply with both basic safety standards and coating-specific standards, and obtain authoritative certifications to be used in food-contact scenarios.

Chinese National Standards

Standard Number	Standard Name	Core Requirements
GB 4806.1-2016	National Food Safety Standard – General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Articles	Sensory requirements (no peculiar odor, no discoloration), migration limits (total migration ≤ 10mg/dm²), heavy metal limits (lead ≤ 0.01mg/kg, cadmium ≤ 0.002mg/kg)
GB 4806.10-2025 (Upcoming Implementation)	National Food Safety Standard – Coatings and Coatings for Food Contact Use	Replaces the current GB 4806.10-2016, implements hierarchical control based on food contact categories (Category I – direct contact with liquid food, Category II – contact with solid food), and strengthens raw material access and full-process control
GB/T 18593-2010	Corrosion Protection Coating of Fusion Bonded Epoxy Powder Coatings	Specifies physical performance requirements for FBE coatings, such as thickness (generally 150-300μm), adhesion (cross-cut test ≥ Grade 1), and degree of curing (≥ 95%)
GB 31604.1-2021	National Food Safety Standard – General Principles for Migration Tests of Food Contact Materials and Articles	Regulates the selection of food simulants (3% acetic acid for aqueous foods, isooctane for oily foods), temperature (≤ 120°C), and time conditions for migration tests

International Authoritative Standards/Certifications

Standard/Certification	Issuing Authority	Core Requirements
FDA 21 CFR 177.300	U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)	Specifically for polymer coatings on metal and electroplated products (including epoxy resins), requiring no release of substances hazardous to health or affecting food sensory properties. Applicable to inner walls of food processing machinery, conveyor belt coatings, etc.
NSF/ANSI 61	National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)	Certification for drinking water system components, requiring no migration of harmful substances to ensure drinking water safety. Food-grade FBE must pass this certification for use in drinking water transmission pipelines.
NSF/ANSI 51	National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)	Certification for food equipment materials, requiring compliance with food hygiene requirements and resistance to microbial growth. Applicable to FBE coatings for food processing equipment.

Industry-Specific Standards

CJ/T 120-2016: Technical Specification for Fusion Bonded Epoxy Powder Coatings on Inner Walls of Steel Pipes for Urban Water Supply (applicable to drinking water distribution pipelines)

AWWA C213: American Water Works Association Standard (specifies application requirements for FBE coatings in drinking water pipelines)

CSA Z245.20: Canadian Standards Association Standard (provides detailed guidelines for FBE application and testing)

Key Technical Requirements

In addition to safety standards, food-grade FBE must meet the following technical indicators:

Technical Indicator	Required Value	Test Method	Significance
Laagdikte	150-300μm	Magnetic Thickness Gauge	Ensure sufficient corrosion resistance and mechanical strength
Adhesion	≥ Grade 1 (Cross-Cut Test)	GB/T 9286 (equivalent to ISO 2409)	Prevent coating detachment and food contamination
Degree of Curing	≥ 95%	Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)	Ensure chemical stability of the coating and prevent migration of uncured components
Surface Roughness	Ra ≤ 1.6μm	Surface Roughness Tester	Smooth surface facilitates cleaning and reduces microbial growth
Chemical Resistance	Resistant to acids, alkalis (pH 2-12), and food processing cleaners	Immersion Test	Adapt to chemical corrosion in food processing environments
Hygienic Performance	Complies with GB 4789.2-2016 (no pathogenic bacteria)	Microbial Culture Test	Ensure food contact safety

Main Application Scenarios

With its properties of non-toxicity, corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning, food-grade FBE is widely used in the food industry:

Food Processing Industry

Transmission Pipelines: Used for transporting liquid foods such as fruit juice, milk, beer, and sauces. Prevents pipeline corrosion and food contamination, while the smooth surface reduces food residue and microbial growth.

Processing Equipment: Coatings for inner walls of food processing machinery, reactors, storage tanks, and conveyor belts. Resists acid-base corrosion and high-temperature cleaning in food processing environments.

Packaging Equipment: Coatings for can and beverage can production lines, ensuring food hygiene and safety during the packaging process.

Beverage and Drinking Water Industry

Drinking Water Pipelines: Urban tap water and direct drinking water transmission pipelines. Certified by NSF/ANSI 61 to ensure safe and odor-free drinking water.

Beverage Production Lines: Coatings for pipelines and equipment in carbonated drinks, tea drinks, and bottled water production lines. Resists corrosion from carbon dioxide and acidic beverages.

Pharmaceutical and Health Product Industry

Pharmaceutical Water Systems: Purified water and water for injection transmission pipelines. Complies with GMP requirements, preventing microbial contamination and adsorption of pharmaceutical ingredients.

Health Product Production Equipment: Pipelines and reaction equipment for nutrient oral liquids and health product raw materials, ensuring product purity and hygienic safety.

Other Applications

Food-Grade Valves and Fittings: Connectors such as valves, flanges, and elbows used in food and beverage production lines. Prevents corrosion and leakage at connection points.

Food-Grade Storage Tanks: Inner wall coatings for storage tanks used to store food raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products. Extends tank service life and ensures food quality.

Core Advantages of Food-Grade FBE

Food Safety Assurance: Certified by authoritative bodies such as FDA and NSF, with no migration of harmful substances, complying with food contact material safety requirements.

Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Resists acids, alkalis, salt spray, and corrosion from food processing chemicals, extending equipment service life.

Hygienic and Easy to Clean: The smooth surface (Ra ≤ 1.6μm) reduces food residue and microbial growth, facilitating CIP (Clean-in-Place) and SIP (Sterilize-in-Place).

High Mechanical Strength: Strong adhesion to metal substrates, impact resistance, and wear resistance, adapting to mechanical stress in food processing environments.

Environmental Sustainability: Powder coatings have no solvent emissions, complying with environmental requirements. With a long service life, they reduce waste generation.

Key Points for Compliant Use

Certification Selection: Choose appropriate certifications based on application scenarios (NSF/ANSI 51 for food equipment, NSF/ANSI 61 for drinking water systems, FDA 21 CFR 177.300 for exports to the U.S.).

Coating Thickness Control: Ensure coating thickness is within the 150-300μm range. Too thin a coating affects corrosion resistance, while too thick a coating may cause cracks.

Curing Quality Assurance: Curing temperature must reach above 180°C with a curing degree of ≥ 95% to avoid migration of uncured components into food.

Regular Inspection and Maintenance: Periodically check coating integrity and repair damages promptly to prevent exposure and corrosion of metal substrates.

Core Standard Systems

Food-grade FBE must comply with both basic safety standards and coating-specific standards, and obtain authoritative certifications to be used in food-contact scenarios.

Chinese National Standards

Standard Number	Standard Name	Core Requirements
GB 4806.1-2016	National Food Safety Standard – General Safety Requirements for Food Contact Materials and Articles	Sensory requirements (no peculiar odor, no discoloration), migration limits (total migration ≤ 10mg/dm²), heavy metal limits (lead ≤ 0.01mg/kg, cadmium ≤ 0.002mg/kg)
GB 4806.10-2025 (Upcoming Implementation)	National Food Safety Standard – Coatings and Coatings for Food Contact Use	Replaces the current GB 4806.10-2016, implements hierarchical control based on food contact categories (Category I – direct contact with liquid food, Category II – contact with solid food), and strengthens raw material access and full-process control
GB/T 18593-2010	Corrosion Protection Coating of Fusion Bonded Epoxy Powder Coatings	Specifies physical performance requirements for FBE coatings, such as thickness (generally 150-300μm), adhesion (cross-cut test ≥ Grade 1), and degree of curing (≥ 95%)
GB 31604.1-2021	National Food Safety Standard – General Principles for Migration Tests of Food Contact Materials and Articles	Regulates the selection of food simulants (3% acetic acid for aqueous foods, isooctane for oily foods), temperature (≤ 120°C), and time conditions for migration tests

International Authoritative Standards/Certifications

Standard/Certification	Issuing Authority	Core Requirements
FDA 21 CFR 177.300	U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)	Specifically for polymer coatings on metal and electroplated products (including epoxy resins), requiring no release of substances hazardous to health or affecting food sensory properties. Applicable to inner walls of food processing machinery, conveyor belt coatings, etc.
NSF/ANSI 61	National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)	Certification for drinking water system components, requiring no migration of harmful substances to ensure drinking water safety. Food-grade FBE must pass this certification for use in drinking water transmission pipelines.
NSF/ANSI 51	National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)	Certification for food equipment materials, requiring compliance with food hygiene requirements and resistance to microbial growth. Applicable to FBE coatings for food processing equipment.

Industry-Specific Standards

CJ/T 120-2016: Technical Specification for Fusion Bonded Epoxy Powder Coatings on Inner Walls of Steel Pipes for Urban Water Supply (applicable to drinking water distribution pipelines)

AWWA C213: American Water Works Association Standard (specifies application requirements for FBE coatings in drinking water pipelines)

CSA Z245.20: Canadian Standards Association Standard (provides detailed guidelines for FBE application and testing)

Key Technical Requirements

In addition to safety standards, food-grade FBE must meet the following technical indicators:

Technical Indicator	Required Value	Test Method	Significance
Laagdikte	150-300μm	Magnetic Thickness Gauge	Ensure sufficient corrosion resistance and mechanical strength
Adhesion	≥ Grade 1 (Cross-Cut Test)	GB/T 9286 (equivalent to ISO 2409)	Prevent coating detachment and food contamination
Degree of Curing	≥ 95%	Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)	Ensure chemical stability of the coating and prevent migration of uncured components
Surface Roughness	Ra ≤ 1.6μm	Surface Roughness Tester	Smooth surface facilitates cleaning and reduces microbial growth
Chemical Resistance	Resistant to acids, alkalis (pH 2-12), and food processing cleaners	Immersion Test	Adapt to chemical corrosion in food processing environments
Hygienic Performance	Complies with GB 4789.2-2016 (no pathogenic bacteria)	Microbial Culture Test	Ensure food contact safety

Main Application Scenarios

With its properties of non-toxicity, corrosion resistance, and easy cleaning, food-grade FBE is widely used in the food industry:

Food Processing Industry

Transmission Pipelines: Used for transporting liquid foods such as fruit juice, milk, beer, and sauces. Prevents pipeline corrosion and food contamination, while the smooth surface reduces food residue and microbial growth.

Processing Equipment: Coatings for inner walls of food processing machinery, reactors, storage tanks, and conveyor belts. Resists acid-base corrosion and high-temperature cleaning in food processing environments.

Packaging Equipment: Coatings for can and beverage can production lines, ensuring food hygiene and safety during the packaging process.

Beverage and Drinking Water Industry

Drinking Water Pipelines: Urban tap water and direct drinking water transmission pipelines. Certified by NSF/ANSI 61 to ensure safe and odor-free drinking water.

Beverage Production Lines: Coatings for pipelines and equipment in carbonated drinks, tea drinks, and bottled water production lines. Resists corrosion from carbon dioxide and acidic beverages.

Pharmaceutical and Health Product Industry

Pharmaceutical Water Systems: Purified water and water for injection transmission pipelines. Complies with GMP requirements, preventing microbial contamination and adsorption of pharmaceutical ingredients.

Health Product Production Equipment: Pipelines and reaction equipment for nutrient oral liquids and health product raw materials, ensuring product purity and hygienic safety.

Other Applications

Food-Grade Valves and Fittings: Connectors such as valves, flanges, and elbows used in food and beverage production lines. Prevents corrosion and leakage at connection points.

Food-Grade Storage Tanks: Inner wall coatings for storage tanks used to store food raw materials, semi-finished products, and finished products. Extends tank service life and ensures food quality.

Core Advantages of Food-Grade FBE

Food Safety Assurance: Certified by authoritative bodies such as FDA and NSF, with no migration of harmful substances, complying with food contact material safety requirements.

Excellent Corrosion Resistance: Resists acids, alkalis, salt spray, and corrosion from food processing chemicals, extending equipment service life.

Hygienic and Easy to Clean: The smooth surface (Ra ≤ 1.6μm) reduces food residue and microbial growth, facilitating CIP (Clean-in-Place) and SIP (Sterilize-in-Place).

High Mechanical Strength: Strong adhesion to metal substrates, impact resistance, and wear resistance, adapting to mechanical stress in food processing environments.

Environmental Sustainability: Powder coatings have no solvent emissions, complying with environmental requirements. With a long service life, they reduce waste generation.

Key Points for Compliant Use

Certification Selection: Choose appropriate certifications based on application scenarios (NSF/ANSI 51 for food equipment, NSF/ANSI 61 for drinking water systems, FDA 21 CFR 177.300 for exports to the U.S.).

Coating Thickness Control: Ensure coating thickness is within the 150-300μm range. Too thin a coating affects corrosion resistance, while too thick a coating may cause cracks.

Curing Quality Assurance: Curing temperature must reach above 180°C with a curing degree of ≥ 95% to avoid migration of uncured components into food.

Regular Inspection and Maintenance: Periodically check coating integrity and repair damages promptly to prevent exposure and corrosion of metal substrates.