NSF Standards & Restaurant Compliance in Allegheny County, PA: What You Need to Know
A quick-reference infographic for restaurant owners in Allegheny County, PA, on meeting NSF standards and local health department requirements.
If you’re planning to open a restaurant, deli, or food service operation in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, understanding NSF standards is essential. These standards ensure your kitchen equipment meets the sanitation and safety requirements outlined by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD). Failure to comply can delay openings, cause failed inspections, and lead to costly upgrades. Starting the application process requires learning some new standards. The building code I understand, food safety is not new but I am interested in learning the standards we will be required to meet. I’m writing this to keep track of my journey along the way. Once this blog is posted the links make it easy to share what we need to do and why. It’s also very easy to find!
✅ What Are NSF Standards?
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)—now known as NSF International—sets safety and quality benchmarks for food service equipment. When a piece of kitchen gear is NSF certified, it has passed rigorous testing for cleanability, durability, and food safety.
Examples of equipment that should be NSF-certified:
- Prep tables and cutting boards
- Sinks (handwashing, food prep, 3-compartment)
- Refrigerators and freezers
- Hot holding cabinets
- Shelving and dry storage units
🔗 Learn more about NSF Certification
🏛️ Allegheny County’s Requirements
According to the Allegheny County Health Department, all food service establishments must use commercial-grade, NSF-certified equipment. Residential appliances are not permitted for food prep or storage.
Key ACHD requirements include:
- NSF 7-certified refrigerators for storing Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods
- NSF-approved sinks and plumbing fixtures
- Limited use of beverage coolers—only for pre-packaged drinks, not TCS food
📄 Full ACHD Equipment Guidelines PDF
🛠️ Planning a New Restaurant?
Before you start construction or buy equipment, submit a Plan Review Application to ACHD. It must include:
- Scaled floor plan
- Equipment list with NSF model numbers
- Menu
- Plumbing details (done by a Registered Master Plumber)
- $110 plan review fee
📋 ACHD Plan Review Form & Checklist
💡 Tips for Restaurant Owners
- Buy from reputable suppliers: Ask for NSF documentation before purchasing.
- Used equipment must still be NSF: Age doesn’t matter—compliance does.
- Check labels: Look for the NSF mark or equivalent on all commercial gear.
- Schedule a consultation: If in doubt, call the ACHD before you commit.
📞 Contact ACHD Food Safety Division at (412) 578-8044 or email foodsafety@alleghenycounty.us
🍽️ Final Word
Running a clean and compliant kitchen is more than good practice—it’s the law. Whether you’re launching a new eatery or upgrading a current one, aligning with NSF standards and Allegheny County Health codes will set your operation up for success.
Opening a restaurant / deli is far more complex than I’d imagined. It is a process of moving pieces and check boxes. Having grown up around in food service most everything is coming back quickly. I can remember the 50 lbs. boxes of shrimp for cocktails at the Eastwood Inn. I’ve washed a lot of dishes and it always gives me a sense of satisfaction to look at clean stainless steel. After endless pizza’s, hoagies, and sandwiches over the years it’s exciting to see if I can do it better. It might be a few months away or more but I am excited to see what we come up with.
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