In a general sense, to "validate" means to give official sanction to, approve or confirm. Accordingly, "validation" can be applied to a very wide range of procedures, products or circumstances.

In the area of cold chain distribution - where it is critical to maintain a stable environment during the shipping of temperature-sensitive cargo - validation is a vital part of the quality control process; assuring that active or passive insulate shippers are thoroughly tested and able to meet specific hold time requirements.

Vaccines and pharmaceuticals are particularly sensitive materials which, if not manufactured and shipped under stringent controls, can become ineffective or even hazardous to the consumer. To that end, in the 1970s the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to develop specific guidelines to test and evaluate biologic and pharmaceutical products before they could be released to the public.

Validation procedures started to take shape and were applied to the pharmaceutical and vaccine approval process. Eventually, validation methods and guidelines were developed for the cold chain delivery system as well, with the goal of industrial chiller suppliers providing temperature assurance during the manufacturing, storage, shipping and delivery of medicines. Specifically, the Parenteral Drug Administration's (PDA) Technical Report #39 outlines validation strategies for the cold chain.

The Cold Chain Validation Process

With some exceptions, the temperature standard during the manufacturing, storage and shipping of pharmaceuticals and vaccines is between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. Because of the critical nature of this cargo, rigorous testing must be performed on the equipment and materials responsible for its effective delivery to ensure that it meets established standards. The target temperature must be maintained under the adverse conditions that insulated shipping containers might be exposed to. These conditions are at first simulated and then tested "in the field." Results from these tests are documented in great detail.

With new cold chain solutions in place, the pharmaceutical supply chain is more stable and reliable than ever before. Data logging and reporting technology has taken a step forward and is more meticulous. The technology surrounding insulated shippers is more advanced as well.

Of course with this progression comes an increased number of qualifications for cold chain equipment to meet and surpass as part of the validation process.

Though they vary slightly according to each unique situation, some of the fundamental procedures within a cold chain validation testing process are:

• All testing equipment, from thermal test chambers to vibration tables, is subjected to a full validation process. This ensures that equipment is installed properly and functions as intended. Temperature monitoring devices are calibrated to ensure that data is accurately documented.

• All elements of the cold chain packaging system to be validated are inspected to ensure that they meet specification. This ranges from insulated shipping containers and refrigerant packs to active heating and cooling systems.

• In a lab environment, the cold chain packaging system is subjected to a simulation of worst case transit conditions. This includes thermal testing against hot and cold ambient temperature profiles and physical hazards such as drops, vibration, and compression. Equipment and data are carefully monitored and all observations and findings are well-documented.

• The cold chain packaging system is then monitored in a live field test to demonstrate that performance seen in the lab environment translates to "real world" conditions.

If there are any inconsistencies or problems with the process or equipment during testing, there will be no validation. Validation will not occur until issues are resolved and the hold time capability has demonstrated stability under further rigorous testing.

Cold chain validation does not stop upon successful testing. The monitoring, analysis and documentation of the system will continue even after initial validation testing is done. The importance of consistent and reliable temperature control in situations where life-saving products are involved cannot be emphasized enough. And to those who manage cold chain distribution operations, the validation process offers insurance.

Keeping ingredients clean and fresh is one of industrial chillers the rules that a caterer should never break. When food poisoning is to be avoided at all costs, keeping things chilled or frozen to a certain temperature is one of the most important points to remember in the Food Health guidelines. If food is to be kept chilled, it has to be kept at a temperature of 5-8 degrees Celsius. If it has to be kept frozen, it shouldn't go above -18 degrees Celsius to maintain food safety. It is for these reasons, and more, that a conscientious caterer should really invest in quality ice-maker containers, freezers, chillers, and other cold storage equipment that should be present in every working commercial kitchen.

There are many online sites that provide you with units which you can either buy or hire out, depending on your budget. Here are a few units you should include in your kitchen must-have list:

1. Upright fridges-These are useful for storing cooked food that need to stay chilled, as well as raw food that needs to be thawed first before cooking. Make sure to keep these things separately from each other to avoid food contamination and subsequent food poisoning.

There are a number of options you can choose from, mainly differing in size, style, and color. For storage purposes inside your working kitchen, the style and general appearance of the fridge doesn't matter as much as its maximum cubic capacity, so invest your money more on size rather than look. To doubly ensure that the right temperatures are maintained, keep a fridge thermometer inside at all times and have maintenance people come in regularly to service and keep it working optimally.

2. Upright freezers-Freezers are just as important as fridges because they store raw ingredients that you won't be using straight away. It's not always that you get to go out and buy your ingredients, especially your meats, so best to store them in a freezer until you actually need them. Ice cream and other desserts also require storage in a really cold temperature, so that's another purpose for freezers. Try to get a unit that displays the freezer temperature digitally on the outside, so you always know your food is safe at all times. Once again, make sure to keep raw meats and desserts in separate sections of the freezer to avoid the risk of contamination.

3. Blast chillers/freezers-These are units that should be present in every commercial kitchen. You will be doing a lot of cooking as part of your food preparation, and food safety and health guidelines always insist that food meant for storage for later use should immediately be stored once cooked. However, to do this properly, the cooked food's temperature (should be above 70 degrees Celsius) is lowered to below 8 degrees Celsius at the fastest method available. At home, and with smaller quantities of food, one can probably get by without a blast chiller by placing the cooked food on top of a bowl full of ice. But even this method will not be fast enough, and in a business, you need to be safe rather than sorry. The best and most effective way is through the blast chiller. Investing in such units will really maintain food health in your catering kitchen.

4. Ice Makers-Ice is a very important product in every catering function, especially for off-site venues. Cold foods need to stay fresh and cold, and your drinks have to stay chilled. Some cocktails require ice as well. For all these reasons, you would need to make sure that ice is always there so that when the need arises, you are able to produce it instantaneously. Most modern ice makers are self-contained machines, so you don't need to think of where to put the ice once they're made.

There are many aspects to consider when deciding on a cold storage warehouse for your storage solution. For one, you need a customized solution that will meet your special requirements. For example, you may have product that needs frozen and stored in a specific amount of time. Consider this question, "how long does the process from start to finish take?" because this is an important concern. The warehouse should be able to provide a complete timetable to you and even give you numbers on how much time it takes to thaw the product. After all, the thawing process is just as important as the storing process! A cold storage warehouse might take weeks (or even months) to thaw your product (depending on the qualities of the product) that is why is important to consider the time from start to finish. If the cold storage warehouse only takes a couple days to thaw your product, then it is even more valuable to you.

Also, consider how complete of refrigerated warehouse a solution you are getting. Research and ask questions like, "are the services door-to-door?" and "are your facilities fully racked with quick freezing capability?" What you need from a cold storage warehouse is a comprehensive array of services. You do not want to select a facility that does not meet your requirements, because you will end up with the wrong service. In addition, you want to consider the location of your facilities relative to the location of the cold storage warehouse. Is the facility close to your facility and/or offer an array of distribution solutions? Is the facility a full-service distribution warehouse, which has an expanded distribution network, locally and regionally? If the cold storage warehouse meets your objectives then it should be a great place to store your cold product.

Therefore, you should consider the technology behind their refrigeration units. Are they using older antiquated equipment that might fail and/or leave you worrying? On the other hand, do they use modern ammonia refrigeration systems that are capable of storing your product to (minus) -20 degrees Fahrenheit? Finally, a cold storage warehouse should have quick freezing facilities that will quickly store and freeze your product.

Are you looking to buy a new refrigerator but need a little help? If so, you have come to the right place. As you probably already know, choosing the right refrigerated warehouse is extremely important and can make all the difference in your home. Like any new home addition, choosing a new fridge can be quite exciting. Unfortunately, it can also be quite time consuming and confusing. Refrigerators come in all different sizes, styles, brands, and materials, making choosing the best one rather difficult. This article will compare different sizes, styles, and features of refrigerators to help limit your search and make choosing your new refrigerator a much simpler and less time consuming process.

The first thing to consider when purchasing a new refrigerator is the size of fridge that you are looking for. Refrigerators range in size from very small to very large. The size of your refrigerator will depend on what you intend to use it for. If you are looking for a smaller refrigerator to use for extra storage, you may look into buying a mini refrigerator. If, however, you are looking for a new kitchen refrigerator than you should obviously consider something much larger in size. When it comes to regular kitchen refrigerators the general rule of thumb is that you should have 12 cubic feet of refrigerator room available for two people and 2 more cubic feet of room for every additional household member thereafter. Of course, this is a general rule and should only be used as a guideline. For example, if you like to stock up on food than you may wish to purchase an even larger refrigerator. Also, when choosing a refrigerator size, it is important to measure the amount of space that you have available. Make sure to measure the width, height, and depth of the space to ensure that your new fridge will fit properly.

Once you have decided the approximate size you would like your refrigerator to be, determine which style works best for you and your family. There are three main types of refrigerators to choose from. These include, top-freezer refrigerators, bottom-freezer refrigerators, and side-by-side refrigerators. The most popular and traditional type of refrigerator is the top-freezer. Like the name indicates, this refrigerator has a freezer located on top of the fridge. This type of refrigerator is very popular because it offers a good amount of space, has very wide shelving spaces, and is the cheapest of the three refrigerator types. Bottom-freezer refrigerators are the opposite of top-freezers and have the freezer located underneath the fridge. This style of fridge is a good fit for the elderly or anyone who may have difficulty bending, as all refrigerator components are at eye/hand level. If neither top or bottom freezer refrigerators appeal to you, you could purchase a side-by-side refrigerator in which the fridge and freezer are located beside one another. These are becoming an increasingly popular choice as they generally come with the choice of ice and water dispensers.

Ice and water dispensers are the most popular refrigerator feature. There are, however, many other features to consider when purchasing a new refrigerator. One of these features is door space. Door space varies from refrigerator to refrigerator and importance of door space varies from person to person. Some people care little about door space and others find it very important to help store condiments and drinks. Choose a fridge that accommodates your needs when it comes to the amount of door space available. Also, when selecting a new refrigerator, consider the kind of shelving units you are interested in. Different types of shelves include, but are not limited to, adjustable height shelves, flexible space shelves, removable racks, and spill proof glass shelves.

Whichever type of refrigerator you choose to buy, always make sure it fits your needs. Your new refrigerator is probably going to be around your house for many years, so picking the right one is of utmost importance. Carefully consider the size, style, and features that are important to you and make sure that you are confident that you are making the right choice before making any refrigerator purchase!

A refrigerator is one of the most important and commonly used home appliances. While deciding which one to buy one should choose wisely as this is one appliance that if purchased correctly may last for a long time. Before making the final decision, you should check your options and know what is recently available in the market so that you do not regret your decision later.

While deciding the size of your industrial chillers, you need to keep in mind your family and home size too. For apartments and small houses, it would be wise to buy a small basic refrigerator that easily fits into one corner and does not take up much space. This will make your kitchen look neat and spacious, without making it congested or messy. For small families, this would be an ideal buy. Buying a large one would not only cost you more, but its size will require extra care and maintenance, while the space would not be in use either. You can easily place this refrigerator at any place in your house, apart from the kitchen.

Secondly, the refrigerator that has the top compartment of a freezer is most commonly used. It comes in handy for everyday use as you can preserve and store meat items in the freezer and the rest of the food items below in the refrigerator. Top freezer refrigerators are spacious enough to be used by a big family comfortably.

Built in refrigerators is much in use now and are gaining popularity. Not only are they different from the conventional top freezer refrigerators but they also add a classy look to your kitchen. They get fixed in just like other cabinets. This may be expensive than the other types. If however you are willing to spend more and make your kitchen appear stylish, this is exactly what you have been looking for.