Temperature buffers

Application Note: Thermal Buffering in GxP Mapping & Monitoring Applications

Learn best practices for using temperature buffers in GxP applications

Temperature sensors used in critical applications are often placed into a buffering device to ensure that normal fluctuations in temperature-controlled environments do not cause false alarms. However, the use of a temperature buffer (sometimes also called dampers) has different benefits depending on whether it is used in monitoring or mapping applications. 

In mapping validation, sensors might be buffered to ensure temperature data are closer to the actual temperature of products that will be within the environment. In continuous monitoring, buffering sensors serves mainly to limit false alarms from brief temperature excursions. In both scenarios the goal is to control the rate of change so that the temperature measurement data accurately reflects conditions of the storage area or unit.

In this application note, we discuss different types of thermal buffers, as well as the option of using time-based buffers (alarm delays) in monitoring software. We also discuss the utility of standardizing the type of buffering material used and propose that reducing variability in thermal buffering methods will make measurements more repeatable and reliable.


 

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