Posted on: 24/02/26

For hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories and distribution facilities handling temperature-sensitive products and samples, temperature mapping is a key compliance requirement.

It directly protects medicines, blood products, vaccines, research samples and high-value pharmaceuticals, amongst other things.

But for many organisations, the science and process behind temperature mapping can feel like a bit of a mystery.

Contronics temperature mapping service is performed to the ISO 17025 standard. We are accredited to ISO 17025 by UKAS. 

To shed some light on it, we sat down with one of Contronics’ temperature mapping specialists to answer the questions customers ask most often and to explain what high-quality, ISO 17025 standard temperature mapping actually involves.

What exactly is temperature mapping?

Temperature mapping is the process of measuring temperature at multiple points within a controlled storage environment – such as a fridge, freezer, cold room or warehouse – over a defined period of time.

This ensures that temperature is consistent, stable and compliant across the entire unit, not just in one single spot.

Contronics uses strategically positioned data loggers that record temperature every five minutes.

The result is a complete thermal profile of the space, showing hot spots, cold spots and how the equipment behaves under real operating conditions.

How many data loggers do you use?

This is one of the biggest differences between Contronics and many other providers.

Many companies map fridges using nine loggers. Contronics uses 12 for medium and large fridges:

• Four at the top.
• Four at the bottom.
• Two in the middle (one air and one core).
• One ambient logger is positioned outside the unit.
• One door-status logger (where applicable).

More loggers mean more confidence, better thermal resolution and a true reflection of how equipment is performing day-to-day.

A high level of precision is especially important in healthcare and pharmaceutical environments where small deviations can compromise product and sample integrity.

Why do you monitor ambient temperature as well?

Because the room directly affects the equipment.

If the surrounding space drops below 15°C or rises above 25°C, that can impact internal temperature. The ambient logger records both temperature and humidity, giving a clear context for any fluctuations inside the unit.

This is particularly important in winter, when room temperatures can significantly nosedive, and in summer, when HVAC systems are under pressure.

Ambient data helps customers understand why variations occur and how to address them.

What about door openings? Do they affect the mapping results?

Absolutely. Frequent door openings can have a significant impact, especially in cold rooms and high-use clinical fridges.

Door-status monitoring allows Contronics and the client to understand whether spikes in temperature are caused by expected operational use or equipment performance issues.

Even in environments with hundreds of door openings a day (e.g. blood banks), temperature mapping still serves up reliable results.

What happens if a logger gets dropped or damaged?

If a logger has been mishandled, it can produce unusable data.

Contronics reviews raw data immediately. If more than one logger has been affected or the results look unreliable, we repeat the mapping at no additional cost to ensure the customer gets a valid study.

Can mapping take place in busy clinical environments?

Yes. Mapping is designed to simulate real operating conditions.

Units do not need to be taken out of service, especially in NHS settings where fridges and freezers cannot be switched off or isolated. Staff can continue using the equipment as normal unless extreme activity threatens the quality of the study.

Contronics’ engineers work flexibly and follow your site’s priorities, focusing first on urgent or high-use equipment.

How long does a mapping study take?

A standard fridge or freezer mapping runs for 24 hours, capturing a full behavioural cycle.

Larger areas like warehouses are mapped for 5–7 days and usually require seasonal studies (summer and winter) to reflect environmental variation.

How is the data collected?

Each logger records data every five minutes. After collection:

1. The engineer downloads all the data to a secure laptop.
2. The engineer performs a preliminary sense-check for anomalies.
3. Data is sent to Contronics’ technical team for full processing and reporting.
4. The customer receives a full temperature mapping report for each piece of equipment or mapped area.

Contronics typically delivers results within the 10-working-day window that many competitors struggle to meet.

Do customers receive calibration certificates for the loggers?

All Contronics loggers are calibrated annually to ISO 17025 standards, and a certificate is available on request. Loggers also undergo quarterly ice-point checks to ensure accuracy.

Contronics mapping service is performed to ISO 17025 – a standard not all competitors meet.

How do you handle mapping for warehouses?

Warehouse mapping depends on layout, protocol and size.

Contronics has mapped areas using anywhere from 15 to 64 loggers and even more where required. The engineer works from a customer-approved protocol or creates a mapping plan where none exists.

Warehouse mapping typically involves:

• Strategic placement of loggers throughout the space.
• Monitoring over 5–7 days.
• Clear identification of loading patterns.
• Both summer and winter studies were required by regulation.

Warehouses often hold high-value pharmaceuticals, so accuracy and compliance are critical.

What’s the difference between loaded and unloaded mapping?

Some organisations require:

• Unloaded mapping – mapping empty equipment.
• Loaded mapping – mapping with contents inside.
• Both – especially for new equipment validation.

Our reports include detailed notes on loading percentage per shelf, as this can significantly influence thermal behaviour.

What happens if the customer isn’t happy with the results?

In most cases, if results show out-of-spec behaviour, the root cause is equipment failure, not the mapping process itself.

The customer would normally:

1. Arrange a repair or replacement with their equipment supplier.
2. Commission Contronics to re-validate once the issue is fixed.

Because Contronics’ mapping uses high-accuracy equipment and robust protocols, results are clear, defensible and audit-ready.

Why choose Contronics for temperature mapping?

✔ ISO 17025 standard calibrated data loggers with full traceability

✔ More loggers, more confidence, better insights.

Using 12+ loggers per fridge (vs the industry norm of nine) dramatically improves resolution.

✔ Highly experienced specialist engineers.

Our engineers follow strict protocols and understand the environments they work in, from pharmacies to blood banks to distribution warehouses.

✔ Reliable turnaround times.

Results are delivered quickly, often faster than promised.

✔ Full visibility and clear reporting.

Each piece of equipment receives a dedicated, regulator-ready report and certificate.

✔ Trusted by NHS, healthcare and life science clients.

Many organisations choose Contronics because of our positive industry reputation.

✔ A genuinely human service.

Customers know exactly who is on site, what’s happening and why. No subcontractors, no guesswork.

Ready to book your temperature mapping study?

Whether you’re validating new equipment, preparing for an inspection or completing your annual mapping cycle, Contronics provides a precise, dependable and fully accredited service that helps you stay confidently compliant.

Get in touch today to arrange your mapping study or request a quote.