{"data":{"id":"us-va/12vac5-421-2930","jurisdiction":"us-va","citation":"12VAC5-421-2930","heading":"Outer openings, protected","body":"A. Except as specified in subsections B through E of this section, outer openings of a food establishment shall be protected against the entry of insects and rodents by:\n\n1. Filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors, walls and ceilings;\n\n2. Closed, tight-fitting windows; and\n\n3. Solid self-closing, tight-fitting doors.\n\nB. Subsection A of this section does not apply if a food establishment opens into a larger structure, such as a mall, airport, or office building, or into an attached structure, such as a porch, and the outer openings from the larger or attached structure are protected against the entry of insects and rodents.\n\nC. Exterior doors used as exits need not be self-closing if they are:\n\n1. Solid and tight-fitting;\n\n2. Designated for use only when an emergency exists, by the fire protection authority that has jurisdiction over the food establishment; and\n\n3. Restricted so they are not used for entrance or exit from the building for purposes other than the designated emergency exit use.\n\nD. Except as specified in subsections B and E of this section, if the windows or doors of a food establishment, or of a larger structure within which a food establishment is located, are kept open for ventilation or other purposes, the openings shall be protected against the entry of insects and rodents by:\n\n1. 16 mesh to 1-inch (16 mesh to 25.4 mm) screens;\n\n2. Properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects; or\n\n3. Other effective means.\n\nE. Subsection D of this section does not apply if flying insects and other pests are absent due to the location of the establishment, the weather, or other limiting condition.","path":["Title 12. Health","Agency 5. Department of Health","Chapter 421. Food Regulations","Part VI. Physical Facilities","Article 2. Design, Construction, and Installation"],"source_url":"https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title12/agency5/chapter421/section2930/","current_through":"2026 Regular Session (effective July 1, 2026)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T04:50:19Z","sha256":"e3ed0cfeb411e395e599941252343da96330d8e90f0ad8fa2c0dc0231e4b55a9","source_id":"us-va-vac","stale":false,"prev":"us-va/12vac5-421-2920","next":"us-va/12vac5-421-2940"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}