Wireless temperature monitoring and logging

Dear all,

I'm new to this forum and the HACCP principles so I really hope you can provide some input to my open issue:

I work within the electronic refrigeration controller industry and am currently looking into the market of wireless temperature monitoring and logging equipment. So far I found a dozen suppliers offering such systems but I wonder how users actually perceive the systems:

- What benefits did you obtain from the system?
- What problems did you encounter?
- Why was a wireless system chosen over a wired system?
- Where in the food lifecycle does it offer special advantages for you - preparation, cold storage of unprepared food, hot storage of finished food, other?

Please don't state manufacturer brands unless you specifically want to.

Thanks in advance for your kind help
Svend

Dear all,

I'm new to this forum and the HACCP principles so I really hope you can provide some input to my open issue:

I work within the electronic refrigeration controller industry and am currently looking into the market of wireless temperature monitoring and logging equipment. So far I found a dozen suppliers offering such systems but I wonder how users actually perceive the systems:

- What benefits did you obtain from the system?
- What problems did you encounter?
- Why was a wireless system chosen over a wired system?
- Where in the food lifecycle does it offer special advantages for you - preparation, cold storage of unprepared food, hot storage of finished food, other?

Please don't state manufacturer brands unless you specifically want to.

Thanks in advance for your kind help
Svend

Does anyone have experience of wireless temperature monitoring and logging to share with Svend?

Hi,

Part of the problem could potentially be that it is "technology in search of a problem" - the technology for wireless temperature measurement and logging is available but there may not be a market need for it.

So please feel free to reply with whatever crosses your mind on my questions:
- Perhaps did not use wireless because you didn't know it exists?
- Or you didn't use it because it didn't fit your CCP needs?
- Or any other reason?

Sounds like I'm desperate but I'm not (yet)

BR Svend

hi

we use comark for 10 years now, no problem.
we use data loggers in the cold,freezer rooms as well in the vans. a calibrator to move around.
you can control from a display(through transmitters) your readings depend on your settings
every minute if you want. and download your results, it is called evolution system.
calibrations: for the probes weekly(ice& boiling water)
send the calibrators, thermometers, data loggers, calibrator for the probes....yearly

I hope this will help.
bibi

hi

we use comark for 10 years now, no problem.
we use data loggers in the cold,freezer rooms as well in the vans. a calibrator to move around.
you can control from a display(through transmitters) your readings depend on your settings
every minute if you want. and download your results, it is called evolution system.
calibrations: for the probes weekly(ice& boiling water)
send the calibrators, thermometers, data loggers, calibrator for the probes....yearly

I hope this will help.
bibi

I have used a Comark system and would say it is pretty good.

Yes there is lots of retrospective information available from the system but more importantly it can be set to alarm and contact someone should the temperature rise above your preset limit.

Regards,

Tony

hi tony
i know its pretty good, but not when the alarm sound on your mobile on the middle of your sleep and you are the keyholder.
bibi

Wireless transmitter are wonderful IMHO.
They allow you to monitor many locations without having to wire the whole plant.

One of the drawbacks we have found is that sometimes interference can occur.

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

Seems that wireless temperature monitoring makes sense if wired sensors are not an option due to 2 primary reasons:
- Sensor wiring has unacceptably high cost or is impossible for technical reasons.
- Sensors must be mobile and easily movable in the plant.

BR Svend

We are using a wireless temperature monitoring system and is also sends a lovely alarm to our phones/email if temperatures are off. It's been a great program except for the occasional night alarms. We are currently trying to figure out monitoring requirements per USDA FSIS of our temperatures which are stored electronically. Usually, we would check our refrigerators and freezer temps daily. Since we have a system that alarms us when it is out of range, is it still necessary to visually inspect the temps daily? And do we need to document the fact that we checked the temps? If so can we print out the temps from the program and sign and date the sheet or do we need yet another form?

These are not CCPs but we want to ensure we are monitoring our PRPs correctly.

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Dear jenny / All,

I appreciate the logic of yr question in comparison to related post -

http://www.ifsqn.com...dpost__p__57545

Out of curiosity, do FSIS not publish their detailed requirements anywhere ? I sort of got the impression that FDA/USDA issue minor encyclopedias of such stuff. Maybe that is the problem of course.

Rgds Charles.C

Hi,

An electronic monitoring system should be able to detect if it gets our of order e.g. due to sensor defects or low batteries, and it should be able to alarm you of such failures. If your wireless sensor system can do this then you don't need to monitor temperatures by direct observation too.

At least that is how I understand this Q & A: http://askfsis.custh.../1055/related/1


Please correct me if I'm wrong


BR Svend

Please let us know the market price.

Dear jenny,

Assuming you are a small meat/poultry plant, the attachment below appears to be a relevant primary FSIS document regarding Va/Ve compliance requirements for CCPs and Prerequisites. Further reinforced by supplemental Q/A documents like that linked in Svend's post.

FSIS 2012, HACCP_Systems_Validation_Draft_Guidance_0412.pdf   600.22KB   46 downloads

Some of the guidance document reads like a foreign language IMO but I eventually deduced that -
(a) routine recording of duplicate data measurements is unrequired in both cases.
(b) an ongoing / annual review of generated records (eg data logging) is necessary for Ve activities in both cases.
Hopefully this answers part of yr OP.

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear jenny,

Assuming you are a small meat/poultry plant, the attachment below appears to be a relevant primary FSIS document regarding Va/Ve compliance requirements for CCPs and Prerequisites. Further reinforced by supplemental Q/A documents like that linked in Svend's post.

FSIS 2012, HACCP_Systems_Validation_Draft_Guidance_0412.pdf   600.22KB   46 downloads

Some of the guidance document reads like a foreign language IMO but I eventually deduced that -
(a) routine recording of duplicate data measurements is unrequired in both cases.
(b) an ongoing / annual review of generated records (eg data logging) is necessary for Ve activities in both cases.
Hopefully this answers part of yr OP.

Rgds / Charles.C

You are a walking, talking encyclopedia! Thank you!!

Does anyone know about this wireless temperature monitoring system for a steam cooker? to monitor either steams temperature or product temperature?