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TempArmour® Refrigerator FAQs

 
Do  TempArmour™ fridges and freezers require batteries or backup power to maintain their temperature during a power outage?

No. TempArmour™ Refrigerators and freezers do not require batteries or backup power to keep them within temperature range during power outages or planned electrical shut downs.

The unique technology and design features of TempArmour™ Refrigerators and freezers including exceptional insulation and thermal phase technology ensures a stable temperature for up to 6 days before going out of the critical temperature range.

How much can the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator hold? (Model BFRV84)

The TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator (Model BFRV84) can hold 200 boxes of 10 x 0.5 ml vials or 70 boxes of 10 single dose syringes (based on typical manufacturer box sizes).

The TempArmour™ fridge capacity is comparable to typical 21 cu ft upright refrigerators. The TempArmour™ fridge can hold more per square foot because the entire interior can be utilized and its function is not dependant on fans and air circulation which requires spacing between vaccines to ensure that the temperature is stable throughout.

How much the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator can hold is based on the actual size of the items/boxes that you wish to store. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you require assistance.

Why do we need a TempArmour™ Refrigerator and freezer? We are in a hospital with a backup generator.

Power outages are only one cause of cold chain incidents. Others causes include any disruption to the function of a fridge or freezer such as when the it breaks down or the cord is unplugged. Only TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerators and freezers will also protect vaccines for days in those situations.

And given that there is a limit on how much power can be drawn from a generator, choosing  TempArmour™ appliances means that in the event of a power outage, generated power that would have been directed to a vaccine fridge, can be used to supply other critical equipment.

Does the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator have an alarm?

The TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator is equipped with a temperature alarm and visual indicator on the min-max digital display to indicate when the fridge's temperature has gone outside the 36-46°F (2-8°C) temperature range.

There is also a temperature alarm and visual indicator on the   VFC compliant certified and calibrated datalogger that is provided.

We need the most space in the fridge during flu season - how many pre-filled syringes can we fit in the TempArmour™ Fridge?

Many of the influenza vaccines (by Sanofi Pasteur, GlaxoSmithKline, etc) are available in packages of 10 single-dose, pre-filled syringes. The TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator (Model BFRV84) can store 700 syringes (70 packages of 10) or 200 boxes of 10 0.5ml vials (based on typical manufacturer box sizes).

Please contact us if you need assistance with regards to determining your size requirements for a vaccine refrigerator based on the types and quantities of vaccines that your facility uses.

Do we need to keep bottles of water in the fridge like we have in our other vaccine fridge?

No. You do not need to line this fridge with bottles of water as the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator incorporates design features including a thermal phase liner to ensure temperature stability and replace the need for water bottles.

Often, it is recommended to line traditional upright refrigerator models with bottles of water in an attempt to improve temperature stability and the length of time that the fridge temperature will stay within range in the event that the fridge stops working (due to power outage, etc.). Unlike the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator, the temperature of traditional refrigerator models go out of range quickly when the door is opened or the power goes out.

The TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator temperature remains very consistent even when its door is opened, and will typically provide 6 days of holdover time during an outage. 

No need for water bottles also means more room for vaccines.

We are a Retina Clinic - Can we use the TempArmour™ Refrigerator to store Avastin and Lucentis (for ocular injections)?

Yes - The TempArmour™ Refrigerator will effectively protect all items (medications, lab samples, etc) that must be maintained within the critical 36-46°F (2-8°C) temperature range. This purpose-built, pharmaceutical grade fridge doesn't require backup power because it will stay within this temperature range for up to 6 days.

What guidelines must I follow for vaccine storage?
There are many vaccine storage and handling guidelines that have been developed by various jurisdictions to assist private and public practices in keeping their vaccines safe. In general, these are recommended guidelines as opposed to legislated requirements.

Many of the recommended practices outlined in various guidelines are intended to address the performance of standard upright fridges on the market with inconsistent temperatures and are not relevant to the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator (for example, lining the fridge with bottles of water, keeping vaccines away from the walls of the fridge, spacing out vaccines to allow air flow, etc. are not required for the TempArmour™ fridge).

Please visit our webpage on "Vaccine Storage Guidelines" to view many of the Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines that are in use.
Can I store vaccines anywhere in the TempArmour™ Vaccine Fridge?

Yes, the TempArmour™ Vaccine Fridge maintains a consistent internal temperature throughout. The fridge incorporates an effective barrier between the cooling elements and the internal walls of the fridge to ensure that vaccines are safe wherever they are located in the fridge (below the fill line).

Testing has shown that the temperature of the side walls and bottom plate of the TempArmour™ Vaccine Fridge are typically within 0.5-1°C of temperature readings taken at the centre of the fridge.

What maintenance does the TempArmour™ Vaccine Refrigerator and freezer require?

TempArmour™ Refrigerators and freezers are essentially maintenance free.

A service technician is not required for annual maintenance as TempArmour appliances are designed to allow temperature monitoring devices to be sent out for calibration or replaced as required.

What setup is required after we receive the TempArmour™  Vaccine Refrigerator or freezer?

The TempArmour™ Refrigerator  and freezer do not require any set-up besides plugging it in after 12 hours and setting up the data logger and min max thermometer/temperature display immediately to monitor the temperature. We recommend that vaccines not be placed in the refrigerator/freezer for the first 3 days to ensure that it settles at the correct temperature and there has been no damage to the appliance during shipping. Of course, if you are a part of a VFC or other Vaccine Program, you will want to follow the Program's requirements for monitoring the temperature prior to introducing vaccines into the unit.

Every TempArmour™ Refrigerator/freezer undergoes quality control testing prior to shipping and should settle automatically to within the refrigerator/freezer's optimal temperature range within a few hours.

A few days is also required to reach the 6 day holdover time (BFRV84) in the event of a power outage.

CLICK TO VIEW:  REFRIGERATOR SPECS
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CLICK TO VIEW:  FEATURES AND BENEFITS

After using a refrigerator/small freezer combo. for vaccine storage, and dealing with the out of range temperatures too many times, I decided to purchase the TempArmour Vaccine Refrigerator. It maintained the temperature perfectly, and never went out of range for all of the studies we needed it for.

I highly recommend this vaccine refrigerator.

Anderson & Collins Clinical Research, Inc.
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