Measurement and traceability20 / 39

A cold-life value depends on the specific product model and test setup; it is not a guarantee for every box or real route.

Ice packs stacked into a tight block freeze late in the middle. Layering them on a rack that keeps an air gap between packs works fine.

A leaking gel pack stops the shipment. Goods, gel pack and transport box each get a separate decision: the goods decision rests on the safety data sheet, the box decision on the cleaning record.

A gel pack laid flat in a single layer freezes through in 24-48 hours. A pack that is hard outside can still be soft in the middle; readiness is judged at the centre.

A pack that stays soft may be unfrozen, or frozen but still flexible. The glycol content and the freezing time tell the two apart.

Check test method, conditions, instrument traceability and report scope, not just the centre name.

An ice pack is frozen at least 5 °C below the melting point of its filling. For a GEBHARDT plate that melts at -18 °C, that means -23 °C for 24 hours.

GEBHARDT recommends 24 hours for its eutectic plates; depending on the cooling technology it ranges from 8 to 24 hours. The freezer must run at least 5 °C below the melting point.

Record damage and handover conditions before opening. Assess packaging damage and product acceptance in separate processes.

In the ATP IR class the average K value of the body is at most 0.40 W/m²K. Thin sections at corners and in the lid channel pass more heat than that average; where they sit and how much heat they pass, in numbers.

Inspect an empty box on a level surface along all four edges; use a maker specification or approved packaging trial for criteria.

The label goes on a flat, dry surface away from edges. Polystyrene is rough and cold, so adhesion is tested on the real box.

A logger may represent the coolant, box air or part of the load; purpose and route validation determine the position.

Separate measurements, estimates and sources so variable route conditions reach the analysis file.

Putting packs on top is not a rule by itself: heat direction, product sensitivity, separators and closure set the layout, and the position is verified in a recorded trial.

Submit measured load and route conditions instead of a route guess, and ask for the analysis assumptions.