Temperature Mapping – Warehouse

Differences in temperature over the; length, height and width of racked warehouses or storage areas can be massive. Meaning many businesses have legal requirements to complete temperature mapping.

temperature mapping warehouse - scissor lift installing sensors

Does temperature mapping only benefit the pharmaceutical sector?

MHRA licencee businesses have a duty to map as part of licence approval, but mapping is more than a box ticking exercise. There are some great articles on the MHRA Inspectorate blog.

Things like: door openings, windows, heating/cooling systems, rack positioning and stock on shelves have an impact on air movement and temperature. Hence the need for temperature mapping.

Goods stored at height in ambient warehouses get warmer in summer and cooler in winter than at ground level. Likewise, the airflow around temperature controlled areas can see similar effects.

Mapping gives vision of these temperature variances and puts numbers behind the differences. This allows informed decisions can be made so goods are stored correctly.

It’s beneficial for any business that stores temperature sensitive goods to consider mapping. Doing so gives temperature variance knowledge and assists with the correct placement sensors when installing a warehouse temperature monitoring system.

How should mapping be completed?

No standards have been defined for temperature mapping. For that reason we follow the principles of the World Health Organisation’s standard.

Our documented mapping processes are UKAS 17025:2017 audited & accredited. As a result the mapping report produced is a fully documented Certificate of Calibration.

What happens:

  • Agree mapping scope: – An onsite meeting to: review the area to be mapped, document the key elements, creation of a plan highlighting the mapping points. Finally gaining customer sign-off.
  • Installation & removal of the mapping sensors: – engineers visit the site and install the mapping sensors; after ensuring data is being collected they left in place for the agreed mapping period. At the periods end the sensors and system are remove.
  • Collation of data: – typically 2,000,000+ data points are reviewed based on a standard 7 day mapping cycle. A detailed report (certificate of calibration) is collated with data synopsis in tabular and graphical format.
  • Presentation of the mapping certificated of calibration and sign-off: – An onsite meeting to review the mapping findings and assist with any questions following the mapping process.

A sample mapping report is available from our calibration team, contact us for a copy.

Our mapping specialist team are happy to offer advice, send quotes and make sites visits to discuss you mapping needs, get in touch with us today for more help.