Warehouse Temperature Terms You Should Understand

Companies in need of warehousing solutions often require temperature controls in those warehouse areas, especially for items that must be refrigerated or must be stored at least at a consistent temperature. This is true for food and pharmaceutical products, but especially a variety of other products and materials.

When searching for temperature-controlled storage, there are some key terms you should understand so you know exactly what you’re getting out of those services. Here’s a quick overview of some of those terms:

• Ambient: The ambient temperature is the warehouse’s or facility’s natural temperature, without considering the effects of climate controls.
• Air conditioned: Usually an air-conditioned warehouse is one that maintains a temperature range of 56 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Refrigerated: A refrigerated warehouse will generally be kept between 33 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cold or frozen: A climate-controlled storage facility that advertises “cold” or “frozen” storage will keep temperatures in those areas below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Temperature-controlled storage: A temperature-controlled space will use cooling and/or heating to maintain a set temperature range. The units that provide the heating or cooling are strategically located throughout the space to ensure consistent temperatures. The number and placement of units depends on the season or time of year, the height of the ceilings, the building materials for the warehouse and the quality of insulation.
• Climate-controlled storage: Climate-controlled storage goes beyond temperature and also involves maintaining a certain humidity range to prevent moisture from affecting products. Commercial humidifiers or dehumidifiers are used in these areas to maintain the proper humidity levels.
• Lot control: Lot control is a system in which items that have certain characteristics are assigned a lot number by either the manufacturer or the warehouse management system to make it easier to track them. Logistics companies that handle these items will be able to more efficiently identify batches of these items should they need to be shipped out or recalled.
• Racking: Racking is the process of storing palletized products within racking systems. In such systems, pallets of products can be stacked vertically to conserve floor space and make more efficient use of the warehouse, allowing for more products to be stored in the area.
• Temperature mapping: This process involves using sensors to track temperature in different areas of the warehouse. It allows warehouses to take the necessary steps to keep temperatures controlled across various zones and make whatever adjustments necessary.
• Temperature monitoring: This service simply involves passive day-to-day monitoring of temperatures to ensure they stay within the necessary ranges in the facility. Logistics companies often partner with external monitoring companies that are able to track temperatures in real time and send alerts when necessary to key personnel about any significant fluctuations

Looking for temperature-controlled storage for your products or items? Our team at K-Way Express, Inc. would be happy to help you get access to the exact climate-controlled storage solutions you need. For more information, contact our team and we’ll answer any questions you have about our services. We look forward to working with you soon.