Temperature & humidity mapping
Temperature mapping means placing data loggers at many points across a storage area, recording temperature and humidity continuously for a defined period, then analysing the data to find hot spots, cold spots and excursions, so you can decide where to store product and where to place monitoring sensors. The main guidance is WHO TRS 961 Annex 9 Supplement 8.
Key facts
Reference guidance
WHO TRS 961 Annex 9 Supplement 8 (Temperature mapping of storage areas), GDP, GMP
Areas
Warehouses, pharmaceutical stores, medical device stores, cold rooms, cleanrooms, environmental chambers, data centres, pharmaceutical delivery vehicles
Recording period
Typically 7 days per study, or as agreed in the protocol
Deliverables
Protocol, logger location plan, raw data, heat map charts, summary of hot and cold spots, and recommendations
Why mapping is needed
- Temperature and humidity vary across the same area. Product stored at a point outside the limits may lose quality.
- GMP and GDP require evidence that storage areas maintain the specified conditions.
- The study results determine where permanent monitoring sensors go.
Photos from real sites
Placing measurement points in warehouses and pharmaceutical storage areas
How we work
1
We write the protocol, defining acceptance criteria and the number and positions of loggers
2
We place calibrated data loggers to the plan, horizontally and vertically
3
We record continuously for the defined period
4
We analyse the data to find hot spots, cold spots and excursions
5
We deliver the report with heat maps and recommendations
Frequently asked questions
When is mapping required?
When a new area is put into use, when the storage layout or air-conditioning system changes, and at the intervals set in your quality system.
Do I need to map in both summer and winter?
WHO guidance recommends studying the periods of extreme outside temperature. In Thailand these are the hottest and coolest periods of the year.
How many loggers are used?
It depends on the area, the racking height and the risk points, and is stated in the protocol before work starts.
What are the results used for?
To define no-storage zones, monitoring sensor positions and improvements to the air-conditioning system.
Request a quote
Tell us the type of area, its size and the temperature range you need to control
