Temperature Mapping

Temperature mapping is the process of measuring and recording temperature variations across a specific area, environment, or piece of equipment to ensure uniformity and compliance with required standards.

This technique is critical in industries like pharmaceuticals, warehousing, food storage, and manufacturing, where temperature control is essential for product safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

In temperature-sensitive environments such as cold storage warehousing, product fridges, or production areas, small temperature deviations can lead to compromised product quality or even loss.

Temperature mapping identifies these variations by using strategically placed sensors over a set period, gathering real-time data on temperature fluctuations. The goal is to detect "hot spots" or "cold spots" that may affect the integrity of the stored products.

This process helps verify that heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, refrigeration units, or other environmental controls are functioning as expected. It's also used during the validation phase of new equipment or facilities and as part of routine monitoring to ensure consistent conditions over time.

Temperature mapping results are documented and analysed to make necessary adjustments, such as relocating temperature-sensitive products, improving insulation, or reconfiguring airflow. Regulatory agencies like the MRHA, BRC, FDA and WHO require temperature mapping to ensure products are stored in appropriate conditions, making it an essential step in industries where maintaining temperature-controlled environments is critical for safety and efficacy.

Unlike many companies offering temperature mapping Tek Tronks are UKAS accredited to complete studies to ISO 17025.  Click here to see our UKAS accreditation schedule.

Our mapping processes are designed around the WHO mapping standard and is accredited by UKAS to ISO 17025:2017.

We are accredited to complete temperature mapping in environments covering a temperature range of -45°C to 30°C.

On completion of the mapping study we issue a comprehensive mapping report together with a UKAS traceable calibration certificate. Click here to see our UKAS accreditation schedule.

All our mapping sensors have a UKAS certificate.

The purpose of temperature mapping is to assess and document the temperature distribution within controlled environments, such as a storage area, refrigeration units, warehouses, transport vehicle.

The process is used to ensure that the entire space maintains uniform temperatures within the required limits to safeguard the quality and safety of temperature-sensitive products like food, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines.

Temperature mapping helps identify hot and cold spots in the environment where temperature deviations may occur. These variations can result from factors like air circulation, proximity to doors, or the positioning of cooling units. Understanding these fluctuations is essential for ensuring that all parts of the environment stay within safe temperature limits, preventing product degradation, spoilage, or contamination.

One of the key purposes of temperature mapping is to ensure regulatory compliance with industry standards and guidelines, such as those outlined by HACCP, MRHA, FDA, or Good Distribution Practices (GDP). Many regulations require businesses to prove that their storage and transport environments are suitable for keeping products at specified temperatures.

Furthermore, temperature mapping aids in the design and validation of temperature monitoring systems. It helps determine the optimal placement of sensors to provide accurate real-time temperature data from critical areas, improving the effectiveness of monitoring.

Overall, temperature mapping ensures that controlled environments are reliable and consistent, minimizing risks to product quality and safety, while ensuring compliance with regulations and enhancing operational efficiency.

To meet the strictest requirements our temperature mapping processes are UKAS 17025 accredited.

Temperature mapping should be performed in several critical situations to ensure consistent temperature control.

First, it is necessary during the initial qualification of both ambient and temperature-controlled storage areas, such as warehouses, and temperature-controlled units such as refrigerators, and freezers, to validate that they meet the required standards for storing temperature-sensitive products.

It should also be conducted after any significant modifications to the environment, such as changes to equipment, layout, or insulation, which might impact temperature distribution.

Temperature mapping is important when installing or upgrading permanent temperature monitoring systems, helping to determine optimal sensor placement.

In addition, temperature mapping should be performed during seasonal changes, as external weather conditions can affect the internal temperature stability of storage areas. Often regulators; such as the MRHA, will expect mapping to be completed during the summer and winter months at a minimum.

Finally, it is advisable to carry out temperature mapping periodically, as part of routine audits or compliance checks, ensuring continued adherence to regulatory standards and maintaining product safety.

Some audit bodies require on-going mapping while some require just a single year of mapping over 2 periods.

We offer fixed term mapping contracts so cost can be budgeted if on-going mapping is a requirement. Or we can schedule a programme to suit your needs if one off mapping is needed.

Though many regulatory bodies require mapping none say how to map, to meet their requirements. There are a number of sources on how to map but we base our process on those defined by the World Heath Organisation, see Temperature Mapping of Storage Areas (technical report series, no. 961, 2011) Annex 9.

The mapping area is defined as a grid layout with the calculation for the number of sensors based on variants including; length, width and height. We see sensor volumes of 12 to 300 plus, depending on area size.

As part of our ISO 17025:2017 accreditation mapping process we complete a site visit to; review the area to be mapped, agree the mapping scope, define the number of sensor and complete a drawing of the proposed mapping points. This scope document is agreed upon, signed and forms an important part of the documented process for audit purposes.

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We can tailor our mapping study to customer requirements but in general the minimum mapping period for a warehouse/room is one week, including one full weekend. For appliances it is usually 24-48 hours. 

Should audit or legislative requirement mean mapping for longer then that would be agreed as part of the scope.

For an effective mapping study the sensors should be placed to cover the entire space in a geometric pattern ensuring that the sensors are placed in area that will experience the extreme high and low temperatures.

This information can then be used to ensure that the sensors used in continuous monitoring are placed in areas of most concern.

The key difference between UKAS accredited temperature mapping and UKAS traceable temperature mapping lies in the level of assurance and certification involved.

 UKAS Accredited Temperature Mapping: In this process, the temperature mapping is conducted by an organization accredited by UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service), such as Tek Troniks.

UKAS accreditation ensures that we operate in accordance with internationally recognized standards (ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories). This provides the highest level of confidence in the accuracy, reliability, and competence of the service we provide.

The results from a UKAS-accredited temperature mapping service are generally required to show regulatory compliance, particularly in industries such as food warehousing, pharmaceuticals and healthcare.

 UKAS Traceable Temperature Mapping: In contrast, UKAS traceable temperature mapping involves using equipment that has been calibrated against standards that are traceable to UKAS, but the actual temperature sensors and mapping process may not be conducted by an accredited organization.

While this ensures that the measurements are based on UKAS-traceable instruments, the overall process does not undergo the same stringent quality assurance as fully accredited mapping. It is often seen as more cost-effective mapping, but this must be weighed against the lack of process integrity by not being independently audited.

In summary, UKAS accredited mapping offers full certification and regulatory confidence, while UKAS traceable mapping focuses on using traceable instruments without the full accreditation process.