As climate patterns shift and heatwaves become more frequent and intense, maintaining stability of ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers in laboratories and healthcare facilities is increasingly critical. These freezers, typically set to –80°C, preserve temperature-sensitive samples, vaccines, and research materials. However, extreme heat can severely impact their performance and compromise stored contents.
Risks Associated with Heatwaves
During heatwaves, ambient room temperatures reach unprecedented levels, stressing HVAC systems essential for controlled environments. When these systems fail, room temperature rises and reduces the freezer’s heat dissipation ability.
If internal temperatures can no longer be maintained at –80°C, stored samples face serious risk of irreversible degradation. Years of research or irreplaceable biological samples can be lost in a matter of hours.
Three Layers of Protection
1. Monitor Internal Freezer Temperature
Install temperature sensors connected to real-time monitoring platforms. Immediate alerts upon temperature deviation enable rapid response before critical thresholds are breached.
Key features to look for:
- High-precision sensors rated for extreme cold
- Real-time cloud connectivity
- Configurable alert thresholds
- Multiple notification channels (SMS, email, phone)
2. Monitor Ambient Room Temperature
ULT freezers emit significant heat into their surroundings. Poor ventilation or rising ambient temperatures create compounding risk factors. Ambient temperature monitoring enables early action against overheating conditions.
Why this matters:
- Freezers work harder when ambient temperature rises
- Compressor strain increases failure risk
- Early warning allows preventive intervention
3. Backup Ventilation Plans
Emergency ventilation systems (automated fans or backup air conditioning) should activate during primary system failures to maintain stable environments around freezers.
Recommendations:
- Install backup cooling systems
- Configure automatic activation triggers
- Regular testing of backup systems
- Document emergency procedures
Why Proactive Monitoring Matters
“Extreme heat events are no longer rare. They represent a growing structural challenge for labs, hospitals, and research centers.”
Undetected failures during a heatwave can result in:
- Lost years of research
- Compromised biological collections
- Destruction of irreplaceable medical treatments
- Significant financial losses
- Regulatory compliance violations
Benefits of Automated Monitoring
Automated monitoring ensures:
- Continuous cold chain stability - 24/7 protection without gaps
- Regulatory compliance - GxP, FDA, and ISO requirements met
- Real-time alerts - Immediate notification of any deviation
- Automated reporting - Compliance documentation generated automatically
- Peace of mind - Know your samples are protected, even during extreme weather
ATEK’s Solutions
ATEK, based in Montreal, provides environmental monitoring solutions tailored for critical environments. Our clients benefit from:
- High-precision certified sensors
- User-friendly cloud platform
- Fast local technical support
- Streamlined audit preparation
- 24/7 bilingual customer service
Don’t wait for the next heatwave to test your cold chain. Contact ATEK to ensure your ULT freezers are protected year-round.
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