Thermal mapping
Thermal mapping of your equipment and storage areas.
Pinpoint critical spots, keep your thermal conditions under control and get detailed reports you can rely on for qualification and audits.
MAJ Solutions maps temperature and humidity for the pharmaceutical industry, hospitals and demanding industrial environments.
Refrigerators, cold rooms, ULT freezers down to −80 °C, storage warehouses, climatic chambers, incubators or autoclaves: we tailor each measurement campaign and its analysis to the installation and to the requirements that apply.
Operating in Belgium, France and Luxembourg.
- Multipoint measurement
- Temperature and humidity
- Equipment down to −80 °C
- Calibrated instruments
- FD X15-140 methodology where applicable
Sectors we work in
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Hospitals
- Storage & industry
Why map?
The displayed temperature does not always tell the real story of your installation.
An equipment display is not enough to characterise thermal conditions across its whole volume. Load distribution, air circulation, door openings and defrost cycles can all cause variations, sometimes significant ones.
Thermal mapping analyses how temperature, and humidity where needed, is distributed, using measurements taken at several points and over time. It pinpoints critical zones, shows how the installation actually performs and gives you documented results.
Identify critical zones
Locate hot spots, cold spots and temperature variations that could affect storage conditions for your sensitive products.
Define suitable storage zones
Identify the locations to favour or avoid, based on measurement results and acceptance criteria, to make the best use of your equipment and storage space.
Assess and document compliance
Get reliable, traceable results, assessed against your acceptance criteria, with a report you can use for qualification and audits.
Optimise the placement of your monitoring probes
Identify the most relevant locations for your permanent monitoring probes, based on the critical points observed and real operating conditions.
Illustrative example, fictitious values
Measured temperature difference
3.8 °C
measured difference between two points in the same cold room.
5.1 °CWarmest point
1.3 °CColdest point
Illustrative example, fictitious values
Temperature trend per probe
- Point A (lower zone)
- Point B (upper zone)
When should thermal mapping be carried out?
- CommissioningInitial qualification of equipment or an area.
- After a modificationTechnical work or significant maintenance.
- New configurationChanges to loading, shelving or layout.
- Seasonal variationsSummer and winter studies where outside conditions can affect performance.
- Periodic checkIn line with your quality strategy and the requirements that apply.
- After an incidentTemperature excursion, malfunction or observed drift.
Equipment covered
From the pharmaceutical refrigerator to the storage warehouse.
Every piece of equipment has its own thermal constraints. MAJ Solutions adapts the number and placement of measurement points, the length of each campaign and the study conditions to the installation, how it is used and the standards that apply.
Pharmaceutical and laboratory refrigerators
Storage of medicines, vaccines, reagents and biological samples.
- Temperature distribution across shelves and locations.
- Identification of hot and cold spots, and analysis of thermal stability.
- Assessment of storage conditions and help placing monitoring probes.
Freezers and ULT down to −80 °C
Storage of biological samples, pharmaceutical products and temperature-sensitive substances.
- Characterisation of homogeneity and stability at very low temperature.
- Identification of critical zones across compartments or shelves.
- Analysis of variations and, depending on the protocol, of thermal recovery after door opening.
Cold rooms
Pharmaceutical, hospital, industrial and logistics storage.
- Identification of hot spots, cold spots and critical storage zones.
- Analysis of the influence of air circulation and proximity to evaporators.
- Assessment of stability and of variations linked to operating cycles.
Warehouses and storage areas
Logistics platforms, pharmaceutical distribution and storage of sensitive products.
- Analysis of temperature distribution in large volumes and at different heights.
- Assessment of the influence of outside conditions, access points and storage layout.
- Temperature and humidity mapping, with seasonal campaigns where needed.
Other equipment: MAJ Solutions also maps climatic chambers, incubators, temperature-controlled transport equipment and other specific installations, including autoclaves depending on the scope of the study.
Equipment not on the list? Tell us what you need.Our methodology
Four steps from your need to an audit-ready report.
Reliable mapping rests on a tailored protocol, multipoint measurement, calibrated instruments and rigorous analysis of the results.
- 01
Needs analysis & protocol
We define the objectives, the study conditions (loaded or empty), the parameters to measure, the duration and the acceptance criteria. A tailored protocol sets out how the work will be carried out.
- 02
Probe placement
We draw up a mapping plan setting the number and position of the measurement points. Our calibrated probes are installed to suit your equipment’s configuration and the requirements that apply.
- 03
Measurement & data analysis
We record temperature and, where needed, humidity. The data are analysed to assess homogeneity, stability, critical points and compliance against the defined criteria, taking the relevant uncertainties into account.
Additional tests can be carried out as needed.
- 04
Report & recommendations
We deliver a detailed report including the placement plan, instrument traceability, results, graphs and compliance conclusions.
Technical recommendations can also be provided, depending on the assignment.
Methodology based in particular on FD X15-140, where it applies.
Report & results
Traceable results. Justified conclusions.
Far more than a list of temperature readings: a complete report to assess and document how your installations perform.
Every MAJ Solutions mapping leads to a structured report that explains the measurement conditions, analyses the results and gives you a reasoned compliance conclusion against the defined criteria.
Measurement traceability
Equipment identification, probe placement plan, study conditions and calibration certificate references.
Detailed thermal analysis
Temperature curves, homogeneity, stability, extreme values and identification of hot and cold spots.
Compliance assessment
Results compared with the defined acceptance criteria, following the applicable methodology and taking measurement uncertainty into account. The report gives an explicit, justified conclusion.
Observations & recommendations
Documentation of deviations and significant events. Where relevant, recommendations cover storage zones, monitoring or possible improvements.
Every conclusion rests on the measurements taken, the acceptance criteria and a documented analysis, including when the results reveal deviations.
Standards & requirements
A recognised methodology, tailored to your quality requirements.
Our mapping relies on proven methods, documented technical choices and due account of the regulatory requirements that apply.
Our method
FD X15-140
Characterisation of enclosures, homogeneity, thermal stability and measurement uncertainty.
ISPE Good Practice Guide
Guidance on mapping, qualification and monitoring of temperature-controlled equipment.
Placement & metrology
Number and position of probes justified and documented. Calibrated instruments and measurement traceability.
Your quality requirements
EU GDP & WHO
Mapping of pharmaceutical storage areas and identification of critical points.
EU GMP, Annex 15
Results you can use in the qualification of your installations.
ICH Q9(R1)
A risk-based approach, matched to equipment criticality and project requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about thermal mapping.
Duration, measurement conditions, cost or compliance: the answers to the main questions before you plan your mapping.
How long does thermal mapping take?
From a few hours to several days, depending on the equipment, its volume and the requirements that apply. The duration depends in particular on thermal stabilisation, operating cycles and the planned tests. It is set out and justified in the mapping protocol.
Should mapping be carried out empty or loaded?
Both are possible. Empty mapping characterises the equipment without any load, while loaded mapping assesses thermal conditions in a configuration that represents how it is used. The choice depends on the study objectives and the qualification requirements.
Does the equipment have to be shut down during mapping?
Not necessarily. Many mapping campaigns can be carried out while the installation runs as usual, without interrupting operations. Any constraints or special arrangements are agreed before the work starts.
How much does thermal mapping cost?
The price depends on the type and number of units, their volume, the measurement duration, any additional tests and the location.
Fill in our form to receive a tailored estimate for your installation and your needs.
Request a tailored estimateWhat happens if mapping reveals a non-compliance?
The report documents the deviations found and gives a reasoned compliance conclusion, based on the acceptance criteria and the applicable methodology.
Depending on the results and the scope of the assignment, MAJ Solutions can also recommend ways to improve storage conditions or prepare a new verification.
What information do you need to give an estimate?
The type and number of units, their dimensions, their temperature range and their location are a good starting point.
If you already have a protocol setting the number of probes, the campaign duration or the tests to perform, you can send it to us as well. If not, MAJ Solutions will help you define these parameters.
Request a quote
Get your thermal mapping quote within 24 hours.
A service tailored to your equipment, your constraints and your requirements.
Pharmaceutical refrigerator, ULT freezer, cold room or warehouse: describe what you need in a few minutes.
Our team reviews the information you send and prepares a tailored proposal, matched to your installation.
Fill in the form below to receive your quote.
Get my quote within 24 hoursNot sure how many probes or how long the campaign should be? No problem, we can define these parameters with you.