Britvic Guidelines for Post-mix Temporary Site Closure

In addition to the updates surrounding Covid-19 and government updates, we will be regularly updating our blog and social media with advice focused on keeping your pub and business safe, clean and, importantly, looking after yourself. This blog focuses on Britvic’s guidelines to temporary site closure and line cleaning but could easily be applied to all soft drink dispense equipment.

Please follow these instructions as part of a temporary closure of up to 8 weeks. This advice is based on British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) guidelines. It is important that you follow each step of the guide to uphold the quality of the product served to your guests.

Cleaning the equipment at the start of the temporary shut down and again before reopening for business is a vital part of the process, in conjunction with maintaining your own personal hygiene. Prior to commencing any cleaning please ensure you have washed your hands correctly for a minimum of 20 seconds, as recommended by the current Government guidelines.

If you anticipate a closure in excess of 8 weeks Britvic will supply further supporting material on how you can restart your post-mix equipment. We believe this will take an average of 90 minutes, depending on the system set up (number of dispense points and products etc).

Please follow the same shut down steps below (points 1-5) but ensure that the post-mix cooler is switched OFF (point 1) at the power socket in this scenario.

Shut Down Process:

1. Leave mains power ON (less than 8 weeks shut down) but turn CO2 and the water supply OFF. Turn mains power OFF if anticipating in excess of 8 weeks shut down.
2. Remove all dispense nozzles and diffusers, clean and dry thoroughly. Refer to hygiene poster/guide book for full detail.
3. Clean the valves, then refit all nozzles and diffusers. DO NOT leave in soak.
4. Flush all drip trays with clean water.
5. The system can be left in this clean state for up to 8 weeks. The dispense heads can be turned off in the normal way via key switch or the transformer.

Once this process is complete, the system should now need any more intervention. Below is a short guide to how to restart the system when the time comes. Please follow these instructions closely.

Restarting the system

(If less than 8 weeks shut down please follow these steps)

1. Remove and replace any Out of Date Bag in Box (BiB).
2. Turn on CO2 and water. Turn power to the carbonator (or Cooler Carbonator) Off and then back On to reset.
3. Remove and clean all nozzles and diffusers. Clean each valve before refitting the nozzles and diffusers.
4. Clean any connector before attaching to the new BiB in the usual way. Refer to hygiene poster/ guide book if necessary.
5. Dispense at least 3.5 litres of carbonated water, use the furthest head, if unsure dispense at least 1 litre from each head. If a dedicated button is not available, remove a BiB and use that flavour button to dispense the carbonated water.
6. If still products are available (Robinsons, Lipton) repeat the above step for the still water.
7. Pour a finished drink, check the temperature (below 4.4 degrees C) and resume service. A temperature indicator is available in the Britvic Thirst Aid Kit.

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