Temperature control in the pharmaceutical industry is a critical element to preserve a product’s integrity.

Patient safety, as well as regulatory compliance, depends upon it, and even small deviations in temperature can lead to medicines quickly becoming compromised.

At ICE, we’re experts when it comes to devising pharmaceutical refrigeration and HVAC solutions, supporting businesses during the entire process from an initial design phase through to installation, maintenance and ongoing compliance.

Why temperature control is important for pharmaceutical cold rooms

Pharmaceutical products require the appropriate storage to maintain their integrity and effectiveness.

Cold rooms in this sector typically operate at 2-8°C, freezers at below -20°C, and ambient warehouses at around 15-25°C.

Deviations caused by inaccurate control can rapidly compromise drug stability, create an audit risk, and impact the outcome of clinical trials.

Want to understand more about temperature-controlled warehousing for medicines? Read more here.

Seven most common cooling challenges for pharmaceutical companies (and how to prevent them)

F-Gas compliance

Strict F-Gas regulation requires that refrigeration equipment is tested for leaks at intervals based on the CO₂ equivalent charge.

In practice, this means:

  • 5-50 tonnes: annually
  • 50-500 tonnes: every six months
  • More than 500 tonnes: every three months, with fixed leak detection

Incomplete leak records, or lost certificates, can put audits at risk and have serious consequences for your business.

At ICE, our maintenance contracts for pharma are designed to include scheduled F-Gas testing, full reporting, and digital compliance packs to ensure your operation is always audit-ready.

Sensor location and airflow issues

It’s essential sensors are placed correctly to ensure accurate readings.

That means ensuring they’re not positioned too close to evaporators, or directly in airflow. Poor airflow distribution can create hot (or cold) spots that risk the integrity of pharmaceutical products.

At ICE, we ensure when we design pharmaceutical cold rooms that sensor locations are carefully planned and airflow ensures stable, accurate conditions throughout your facility.

Maintenance and system standards

Preventative maintenance is essential for pharmaceutical refrigeration systems.

When equipment is neglected, it can quickly deteriorate with an increased risk of failures and compliance breaches. Blocked filters and energy inefficiencies are common problems.

Facilities can also encounter issues when cooling systems aren’t properly recalibrated as demand grows.

That’s why regular preventative maintenance extends equipment life, ensures energy efficiency, and maintains compliance.

Warehouse use and storage space

Cooling an entire warehouse when only a section requires controlled conditions is highly energy efficient.

It’s essential that warehouses are divided effectively, with partitioning and insulation being used to create discrete areas that can be temperature controlled.

Only cooling critical areas can reduce energy costs by up to 50 per cent without putting product integrity at risk.

At ICE, we design, install, and maintain cold room and warehouse solutions that deliver both efficiency and compliance.

Emergency support and backup contingency

Any downtime, no matter how brief, can be catastrophic for businesses – putting stock worth millions of pounds at risk.

Rapid emergency response, system redundancy, and contingency planning are essential to ensure any downtime is tackled quickly.

Watch our emergency pharmaceutical cover service video to see how we protect your critical storage systems around the clock:

Door management and alarm systems

Simple issues and human error, such as leaving a freezer door open, can seriously compromise storage conditions.

Airlocks, air curtains, and audible alarms should be integrated into pharmaceutical facilities to reduce energy loss and maintain temperatures.

At ICE, we ensure every pharmaceutical installation that we complete has added protection while ensuring an efficient working environment.

Regular and precise calibration

Minor deviations in temperature can result in compromised medicines, so it’s essential for sensors, thermostats, and control systems to be calibrated to maintain strict storage ranges.

Our service contracts include routine calibration and monitoring to ensure your cold room rooms are fully compliant and to prevent audit failures.

Watch our video to discover how we ensure every cold room we design meets rigorous MHRA standards:

How ICE can help keep your pharmaceutical operation running

At ICE, we work with pharmaceutical companies to ensure their products remain safe and compliant.

We offer:

  • Expertise in pharmaceutical HVAC and refrigeration
  • Comprehensive maintenance contracts
  • F-Gas compliance support
  • Rapid 24/7/365 emergency responses
  • Proven audit reporting

We can provide a complete pharmaceutical refrigeration service, from cold room design and installation to ongoing maintenance.

Our tailored solutions ensure energy efficiency, keeping your pharmaceutical operations running smoothly while complying with relevant regulations.

Contact us to find out more.