Pennsylvania requires clean draft lines. It also requires proof, kept at the bar. If a Liquor Control Enforcement officer asks for your cleaning records, this is what you need to hand over.
What the Rules Say
Three sections of Title 40, Chapter 5 cover this.
40 Pa. Code § 5.51 sets the schedule. Lines, couplers, valves, fittings, washers, o-rings, FOBs, and foam control units get cleaned every 14 days. Bars with a working ultrasonic or electromagnetic line unit follow that maker's schedule instead. The rule was every 7 days until July 2021. Some old guides still say 7.
Section 5.52 covers records. When someone else cleans your system, you have to get a certificate from them. It must show the date, the name of the person who did the cleaning, and the method. The certificate stays on file at the licensed premises for inspection.
Section 5.54 puts the responsibility on the license holder. It also says a record showing the system was cleaned is no defense if the system is found dirty.
What a Good Record Includes
The law asks for date, person, and method. A record that protects you says a little more:
- The date, so the gap between visits is easy to see
- The technician's name, along with the company
- The method, such as caustic with a recirculating pump, or caustic plus acid
- Which lines and parts were cleaned, including faucets and couplers
- Anything found, like worn seals, damaged lines, or a warm cooler
If your staff cleans the lines, write the same details down yourself after every cleaning. A binder behind the bar works fine as long as it's current.
Where Bars Get It Wrong
Gaps. Two dates 20 days apart show a missed cleaning, even if every other gap is perfect.
No certificate. If the cleaner leaves without giving you anything, your file is empty. Ask for it every visit. The rule puts the job of getting it on you.
Records kept off-site. An email inbox or the office across town doesn't count. The certificate has to be on file at the bar.
The wrong cleaner. Section 5.51 says one licensee may not clean another licensee's system. A certificate from a distributor or brewery rep won't help you. See who is responsible for cleaning your lines.
Paper that doesn't match the lines. Section 5.54 is clear on this. A record from last week won't help if the faucets are dirty today.
Our Visits End With Paperwork
We leave a certificate after every cleaning with the date, the technician, the method, and what was cleaned. Stay on our 14-day schedule and your file builds itself. Call (267) 282-1002.
This is a plain-language summary of Pennsylvania regulations, not legal advice. For questions about your license, contact the PLCB or an attorney.