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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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Anyone who is new to shipping perishables, either temperature or time sensitive products, need to select the proper insulation container for your specific application. This helps to insure your products safety and security while in route to it's next destination.
Are there differences between ice packs? Are refrigerants the most important competent of the perishable package? How do I determine the amount and size of refrigerants? Can I use wet ice with my product? How much dry ice should be used? Which insulation container will fit your product? Does your product need to be shipped warmed, chilled or frozen? Have you determined the mode of transportation and duration of the shipments? There are some initial factors to take into consideration when determining how to package your perishable products. The three most important factors are: insulation, refrigerants, and protective packaging. Insulation is any material that prevents or reduces the transfer of heat. The unit of measure for insulation properties is thermal conductivity, or K-factor. The lower the K-factor, the better the insulation. R-value is sometimes used to define the resistance of heat transfer. R-value is the reciprocal (1/K) of K-factor. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation. The purposes of insulation is to the maintain products with in a desired temperature range. Insulation may be used to keep products refrigerated, frozen or warm or to reduce the effects of extreme temperature variations. Common insulation materials are Expanded Polystyrene Foam (EPS), Rigid High-Density Polyurethane (spray-in-place foam) and reflecting surface material (radiant barrier films). Refrigerants are products designed to control the internal temperature of a package. There are typically only three temperature ranges refrigerants can maintain: frozen, refrigerated, and warm. The temperature requirements of your perishable product will determine the type of refrigerant you need to use. Some common type of refrigerants are refrigerant packs (gel, foam), wet ice, or dry ice. It is important to keep in mind that, beyond providing thermal protection, you must also provide protection for the handling your package receives during shipment. Protective packaging includes internal and external packaging products needed to guard against the elements, rough handling, shock, vibration, compression and aircraft pressures. Common protective packaging materials include: expanded polystyrene foam, corrugated fiber board boxes, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, wadding, absorbent materials, plastic bags, plastic thermal formed, internal foam, or corrugated partitions. Are the there differences between ice packs? When evaluating ice packs, there are several things to consider. Examine the following: the thickness of the poly pouch material, the quality of the seal, and the consistency of the gel. The thicker the poly, the more resistant it will be to tears. All ice packs are susceptible to being punctured or torn when handled. If the texture of the gel feel similar to syrup, once a tear develops it is likely to leak onto your product and may contaminate your shipment. A thicker consistency or one-piece gel provides extra protection from leakage as well as longer temperature retention because of its mass. Are refrigerants the most important component of the perishable package? The most important component is the refrigerant, when used to surround your product it is the cold front to protect the perishables from the environment. Refrigerants control and stabilize the perishables temperature. Refrigerants are the lowest cost components of the package. To use an additional 2 or 4 more refrigerant packs is less expensive than purchasing a more costly container in which refrigerant is still required. How do I determine the amount and size of refrigerants? Refrigerants keep perishable products cold or frozen. Frozen refrigerants should be placed around products to absorb the heat that may enter from any direction. Size is generally determined by the size and weight of the product. This is just a general guide line - more or fewer refrigerants may be need depending on the season, destination and the duration of the shipment. It is recommended that your company conduct tests to determine the proper amount of refrigerant to meet your particular shipping requirements. Can I use wet ice with my product? The use of wet ice in perishable shipment must be approved in advance by the carrier of your choice. Wet ice has many disadvantages, including weight, tendency to thaw or leak, and the need for expensive water resistant packaging. Contact your carrier for more information. How much dry ice should be used? The amount of dry ice needed to keep products frozen for a desired length of time depends on three main factors: the products mass, the inside dimension of the insulated container and its wall thickness. The temperature of dry ice is approximately -80° F. Contact your carrier for any restrictions imposed on the use of dry ice and for more information. Which insulation container will fit your product? Measure your product by length, by width and by height. Allow some additional space for refrigerant packs or wet or dry ice. Keep in mind the ideal location for refrigerant in packaging is on top or around your product.
Does your product need to be shipped warmed, chilled or frozen? Frozen: Use dry ice to freeze/maintain sub freezing temperatures (-80° F). Refrigerant packs to maintain frozen products. Refrigerated/Chilled: Use refrigerant packs to maintain cold/chilled temperatures. Warmed: Heated refrigerant packs in boiling water or a 'low' microwave setting to keep a warm temperature or prevent freezing during shipment (heat sink). Have you determined the mode of transportation and duration of the shipments? Once you have answered these basic questions you will be able to determine how much insulation (wall thickness) your product will require.
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