The controller sensor controls the unit; a separate logger or reference thermometer provides independent evidence.
In short: set monitoring frequency from product risk and HACCP, not a universal once-daily rule.
Place sensors in representative locations away from the direct air discharge, door and warm surfaces. Record date, time, location, reading and action. Continuous logging shows events between manual checks, but alarms still need a named response.
Verify instruments at planned intervals. During an excursion, assess the product as well as the room-air display.
Why it is non-negotiable
For commercial food storage, temperature monitoring is a legal requirement under HACCP-based food-safety law (in Poland, enforced by SANEPID) and EU food-hygiene rules. The detailed limits and excursion procedures belong in food-safety compliance; the daily operating habit itself is simple.
The daily check
- Read and record the temperature at least once a day, at the same time each day. A consistent reading time makes trends visible.
- Note any alarms or alerts that occurred since the last check.
- Compare to target — is the reading within the acceptable range for what you store?
- Investigate deviations immediately, before a small drift becomes spoiled stock.
Record keeping
Each entry in the log should carry the date and time, the temperature value, the initials of the person taking the reading, and notes on any corrective action. Keep logs for at least 12 months (longer for frozen goods — see the food-safety guidance below). Digital data loggers automate this and give a continuous record rather than once-a-day snapshots.
As a quick orientation, chilled storage is generally held at ≤ 5 °C (best practice; exact limits vary by product and by national rules), while frozen storage is held at −18 °C or colder. Use the per-category limits in Food safety & HACCP compliance for anything you actually store.
Related articles
- Daily operation overview
- Door discipline
- Product placement
- Loading new products
- Food safety & HACCP compliance
- How cold rooms work
For help specifying data loggers or alarms, contact [email protected].
