Permanent / Temporary Engineering Options - Velcro

Hey all, recently taken on the BRC Position within my company and am still learning all the time concerning BRC Packaging standard <I come from an ISO background>. I am being asked questions all the time some of which I am having to research such as Permanent / Temporary engineering solutions.

A question my Op's Manager has asked this morning is 'What is BRC Packaging - food contact suitable instead of a cable tie for a semi permanent solution on machinery pipes (may be removed on a daily / weekly or monthly basis depending on situation, obviously tapes are out of the question) but he has asked whether or not he can use Velcro straps? 

To be honest I would have thought this is a viable solution but if anybody could enlighten this novice (me) it would be appreciated.

How would the Velrco be attached?  If it is with adhesive, I would think that the same rules would apply as for tape.  *However* I am not BRC.

Setanta

Cheers Setanta, I did not clarify how the Velcro would be used. It would be a strap that attach's to itself (wrap around wires etc on itself) so no adhesive would be used.

I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here

It could potentially still come off, either accidentally or maliciously :shades:

What does your risk assessment say?

Whatever you decide, you should still keep a temporary repair log.

Caz x

One of the nice things about cable ties, is that you can them so they are detectable and they are not fabric so it is easier to clean them in a wet environment.  Even the metal detectable ties are probably cheaper than Velcro and they are easily removed and easily replaced. 

Why the preference for Velcro over a cable tie?

Hey Snookie, because when the ties are cut we don't want to risk actually cutting the pipes as some of them overhang machines. Some contain oil which would effectively shut production down on that machine. We just don't want to run the risk of that happening. That why Velcro straps have been offered as an alternative.

We have had a very good discussion on ties and i also got my query answered here, thanks for the information and discussion here guys.