Washdown Floor Scale Buying Guide: Stainless Decks, IP69K, Lift-Up Tops and NTEP

By MNM Scales · Last updated November 3, 2026

Reviewed by MNM Scales technicians · Updated November 3, 2026 · Prices checked November 3, 2026

This guide covers the floor scale itself: deck material, IP ratings, lift-up tops, sealing, mounting, NTEP and calibration. It is written for meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, bakery, beverage and chemical plants that weigh pallets, totes and drums where floors are washed. For scale picks at each station of a plant, see our station-by-station plant guide; for washdown bench and portion scales and the full IP rating chart, see our washdown scales guide. MNM Scales has sold, calibrated and repaired scales for over 30 years from our shop in Cypress, Texas.

What makes a washdown floor scale different

• Deck and frame: stainless steel instead of painted mild steel, so cleaning chemicals and water do not attack a coating.
• Lift-up top: the deck raises on a hinge or hydraulic lift so crews can hose out debris under the platform.
• Sealed load cells and junction box: welded, sealed stainless load cells and a sealed stainless junction box keep water out of the electronics under the deck.
• Cable: shielded load cell cable routed off the floor, with a run long enough to place the indicator away from the spray.
• Indicator: an enclosure rated for the water pressure and temperature your crews use.
• NTEP Class III: required when the scale is used to buy, sell or charge by weight.

304 stainless steel vs painted mild steel

Painted or powder-coated mild steel floor scales cost less and suit dry warehouses. In wet areas, chips in the coating let water reach bare steel, and the coating wears where pallets slide. Type 304 stainless steel is the usual choice for food plant equipment: it has no coating to chip, stands up to daily washing and sanitizers, and wipes clean. NCWM’s certificate for the OP-916 series lists both carbon steel powder-coated and stainless steel construction, with an SS suffix marking the stainless model. Ask us which stainless grade a given deck uses before you order for a high-chloride cleaning program.

IP67 vs IP69K

• IP67: dust-tight and protected against temporary immersion (tested at 1 m of water for 30 minutes). It suits load cells and junction boxes that may sit in standing water.
• IP69K: dust-tight and tested against close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. It suits indicators and parts that crews clean with hot pressure washers.
• The 190 STORM indicator on our stainless 4 x 4 ft scales has an IP69K-rated polycarbonate enclosure built for washdowns up to 1450 PSI at up to 176 °F (80 °C), with a 1 in backlit LCD, capacitive touch keys, RS-232 and ColorZONE checkweighing colors.
• Match each part: the IP rating of the indicator, the load cells and the junction box can differ, so check each one against your cleaning method.

Lift-up top, sealing and drainage

• Lift-up top: the Optima OP-916SSLT-4X4-5K has a hydraulic manual top lift and a lift handle; our stainless 4 x 4 ft scales also have a top that lifts up for cleaning.
• Junction box: a sealed junction box with sealed cable glands keeps water out where the load cell cables meet; see our load cell junction box guide.
• Cable routing: run the home-run cable up and away from the floor and hose path; the OP-916SSLT-4X4-5K includes a 20 ft shielded cable.
• Drainage: slope the floor or pit so water leaves the area under the deck instead of pooling around the load cells.
• After washing: lower the top, let water drain, then zero the scale before the first weighing.

Pit mount vs surface mount

• Surface mount: the scale sits on the floor with a ramp for pallet jacks. It installs fast, moves when the line changes, and leaves the underside reachable when the top lifts.
• Pit mount: the deck sits flush with the floor in a pit frame, so carts roll straight across. The pit needs a drain and a lift-up top or removable deck for cleaning.
• Level, solid base: either way, set the scale on a flat, level concrete base so all four load cells share the load.
• Sizing: for pallet sizes and capacity choices, see our floor scale buying guide.

Washdown floor scale options in stock

Scale	Size and capacity	Deck and cleaning	Indicator	NTEP	Price
Optima OP-916SSLT-4X4-5K	4 x 4 ft, 5,000 lb x 1 lb	All stainless steel; hydraulic manual top lift and lift handle; 20 ft shielded cable	LCD, RS-232C, overload and underload alarm	Class III; OP-916 series, NCWM CC 10-081	$3,099
Stainless 4 x 4 ft lift-up floor scale, 5,000 lb	4 x 4 ft, 5,000 lb	Stainless steel; top lifts up for cleaning	190 STORM, IP69K, RS-232, ColorZONE checkweighing	Class III per listing; indicator NCWM CC 10-084	$4,899
Stainless 4 x 4 ft lift-up floor scale, 10,000 lb	4 x 4 ft, 10,000 lb	Stainless steel; top lifts up for cleaning	190 STORM, IP69K, RS-232, ColorZONE checkweighing	Class III per listing; indicator NCWM CC 10-084	$3,998
Build your own with a scale kit	Your deck size	Your deck; choose stainless load cells for wet areas	Your choice	Use NTEP load cells and indicator for trade	See the kit guide

5,000 lb vs 10,000 lb vs a kit

• 5,000 lb: fits standard pallets, totes and drums. The OP-916SSLT-4X4-5K reads in 1 lb steps.
• 10,000 lb: for heavy totes, filled drums on pallets and loads that come close to 5,000 lb. A higher capacity usually means a larger display step, so call us for the division before you order the 10,000 lb model.
• Build your own: a kit lets you build a deck to an odd size or into an existing frame; our scale kit guide covers load cells, junction boxes and indicators. For a wet area, choose stainless load cells and a sealed junction box.
• Same footprint: all three scales above are 4 x 4 ft, which fits a standard 48 x 40 in pallet.

Rules: NTEP Class III for washdown floor scales

TDA does not require an NTEP certificate for every device, but the scale must meet NIST Handbook 44 and suit its use; some scales do need one, so we recommend NTEP models and can check yours. A floor scale used to buy, sell or charge by weight, such as receiving meat or produce by the pound or shipping product by weight, has to be legal for trade, which for floor scales means NTEP Class III. We checked the NCWM database on November 3, 2026: Certificate of Conformance 10-081 (OP-916 series floor scales, Class III, 1,000 to 20,000 lb, platforms from 2 x 2 ft to 7 x 7 ft) and Certificate of Conformance 10-084 (190 indicator, Class III and III L) are both active. In Texas, a commercial scale also has to be placed in service; our TDA-registered technicians can do that. See our NTEP guide and our TDA scale certification guide.

Calibration and rental

• Buy it calibrated: floor scales over 150 kg take in-house calibration with a certificate or NIST calibration with a NIST-traceable certificate; call us for the price on your model.
• On-site service: $295 + $2 per mile per visit across the Houston area, with calibration charged per scale; see on-site calibration in Houston and our scale calibration service in Houston.
• Interval: scales in wet areas that are cleaned every shift drift sooner, so plan more frequent checks; see how often to calibrate and how to calibrate a floor scale.
• Upkeep: add the scale to a scale maintenance program, and see NIST vs in-house certificates.
• Repairs and rentals: have us repair the brands we sell, and rent all types of scales while yours is in for service.

Frequently asked questions

What is a washdown floor scale?

A floor scale built for wet areas that are hosed down: a stainless steel deck and frame, sealed load cells and junction box, a top that lifts for cleaning, and a washdown-rated indicator.

Is 304 stainless steel better than painted steel for a floor scale?

For wet areas, yes. Type 304 stainless steel has no coating to chip and stands up to daily washing. Painted or powder-coated mild steel suits dry warehouses.

What is the difference between IP67 and IP69K?

IP67 covers temporary immersion in water. IP69K covers close-range, high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. The 190 STORM indicator is rated IP69K for washdowns up to 1450 PSI at 176 °F.

Should a washdown floor scale be pit mounted or surface mounted?

Surface mount installs fast and moves with the line, with a ramp for pallet jacks. Pit mount sits flush with the floor but needs a drain and a lift-up top for cleaning.

Does a washdown floor scale need to be NTEP?

Yes, if it is used to buy, sell or charge by weight. Choose NTEP Class III. The Optima OP-916SSLT-4X4-5K is NTEP Class III.

Can you calibrate and install a washdown floor scale?

Yes. We calibrate floor scales before they ship or on-site across Greater Houston for $295 + $2 per mile per visit, and place commercial scales in service in Texas. Call (832) 290-3120.