Hand washing sink regulations are governed by the Arizona Administrative Code. However, some facilities are subject to specific rules outlined in the Department of Health Services Administrative Rules.

No matter which guidelines your business must follow or which government agency inspects and enforces the rules, hand washing sink regulations exist to guarantee food safety and to keep employees and the public healthy.

Hand Washing Sink Regulations for Food Service Establishments

Hand washing sink regulations for food establishments are governed by the Arizona Administrative Code (AAC) but are overseen by the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS). In most cases, the local county health department is responsible for inspection and enforcement. However, there are some notable exceptions to this rule. For example, the DGS oversees hand washing sinks in bottled water manufacturers in some counties and all state prisons.

The AAC rules are based on the FDA 2017 Model Food Code, and most retail food outlets are subject to regulations that state businesses must:

• Provide a handwashing sink that’s only for hands
• Water comes through a mixing valve or combination faucet and is heated to at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• Every sink or group of two sinks must supply some kind of hand cleaner
• Have a method of hand drying, which can be single-use paper towels, a heated air dryer, or a continuous towel system
• Provide a waste basket if using disposable paper towels
• Post signs reminding food employees to wash their hands before returning to work

Special Regulations for Food Trucks in Arizona

Arizona food trucks are considered a food establishment and all into one of three classifications:

• Type 1. Serving food that’s prepared somewhere else but isn’t served in a package.
• Type 2. Serving food that’s minimally handled and prepared.
• Type 3. Preparing food on the truck

While all Arizona food trucks must have a hand washing sink to ensure food safety, type one trucks are subject to slightly different regulations than type two and three trucks.

Type 1 Food Trucks

Type one food trucks don’t need a traditional hand washing sink. Instead, they can provide:

• An insulated five-gallon bucket with warm, potable water
• A catch bucket that’s at least 15% bigger than the potable water bucket
• Adequate soap and paper towels

Type 2 and 3 Food Trucks

Type two and three food trucks are required to have a handwashing sink that meets the following guidelines:

• Provide at least 15 gallons of potable water.
• Have a waste tank at least 15% larger than the potable water tank.
• Have a combination faucet that provides hot and cold water.
• Have an NSF-approved food-grade water hose.
• Have a water heater or other approved hot water source.

Regulations for Childcare Facilities

The DHS oversees handwashing sink regulations for childcare facilities. While the general guidelines fall under the AAC, handwashing sinks in daycare facilities must:

• Be located by the diaper changing area and provide running water that’s between 86 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit, soap, and single-use paper towels from a dispenser
• Staff and children must wash their hands with soap and running water after using the bathroom
• Bathrooms must have a hand washing sink with running water, soap, and single-use towels in a mounted dispenser or a heated air dryer
• Hand washing sinks can be located outside the toilet room if a child does not have to cross an area that’s used for an activity to access it
• Hand washing sinks cannot provide drinking water.
• Before and after every diaper change, staff must wash the child’s hand with soap and running water, then wipe the diaper change surface down with disposable towels.
• If a child is too young to wash their own hands, staff must wash the child’s hands before they eat food using a washcloth or single-use paper towel and soap and running water.

For Health Service Institutions

Arizona has hand washing sink regulations for health service institutions, a broad term that applies to any facility that provides a health service. That includes, but is not limited to:

• Hospice care facilities
• Hospitals
• Inpatient and outpatient behavioral health facilities
• Nursing homes
• Group homes for adults and children
• Assisted living facilities
• Drug treatment facilities
• Outpatient surgical centers
• Adult daycare facilities

Each facility must follow specific rules depending on the type of health services they provide, if they are a residential or outpatient facility, and how many patients are on site at any given time. However, some of the common highlights of the code are that:

• Visitor bathrooms must have a working sink, running water, accessible soap, and paper towels or heated air dyer
• Residential facilities have different sink-to-resident ratios (eight to one, six to one, ten to one), but there must be at least one hand washing sink in the common area.
• Sinks must be no more than 20 feet from the toilet room
• Some facilities must have a dedicated hand washing sink in the kitchen

Portable Sinks for Health and Safety

The AAC rules around washing hands and sinks exist to keep everyone safe and healthy. Arizona has many regulations, though, and they apply differently to different businesses. Fortunately, a portable sink can help your business comply with the regulations when plumbing isn’t an option.

Ozark River Manufacturing portable sinks have hot and cold running water, waste water tanks, mounted paper towel dispensers, and are perfect for:

• Bars
• Beauty, Day Spas, & Wellness
• Commercial
• Construction & Job Sites
• Daycare
• Classrooms
• Events, Concerts, & Weddings
• Farms & Barns
• Restaurants & Food Service
• Garages & Workshops
• Healthcare & Clinics
• Patio & Home Use
• Retail Stores
• Science Labs
• Tattoo Shops

Contact us today to see what Ozark River Manufacturing’s portable sinks can do for your business.