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SHIPPING REFRIGERATED OR FROZEN ITEMS

From frozen lasagna to chocolates. From human tissue to prescription drugs - more and more goods are shipped refrigerated or frozen.

First, the most important item is a good insulated container. An inexpensive Styrofoam cooler from the grocery store will rarely work. It breaks easily and usually is not the right shape for shipping. A thick poly styrene box like Omaha Steaks uses, or the newest box from Control Temp Packaging will reduce the amount of dry ice needed and allow extended shipping times.

Next is the shipping temperature. Use Dry Ice for shipping FROZEN goods as Dry Ice will freeze everything in the shipping box. Use "gel packs" or "blue ice" for goods to be REFRIGERATED. A combination of dry ice and gel packs will extend the shipping time by several days if the shipped items can be frozen for a short time or thawed for a short time.

For Dry Ice plan on using 5 to 10 pounds for each 24-hour period depending upon the quality of the insulated shipping container. This will keep everything frozen in a container up to 15 quarts. For larger containers and greater shipping times multiply dry ice quantities by this rate. The best shipping container is a two-inch thick urethane insulated box tested to lose only 5 pounds for a 10-quart storage volume every 24-hours. Newer materials developed for Control Temp Packaging in Norcross, GA have tested nearly the same as urethane. Less thick or efficient insulation will need more Dry Ice because it will sublime faster.

For gel packs, as a generality use one pound per cubic foot per day. (Most gel packs come in 1/2 pound size but newer ones are up to 2 pounds.) This will be last for up to three days. For a longer time Dry Ice has to be combined to extend the gel packs with the possibility of freezing the goods briefly in the beginning.

When packing items in the container put dry ice any gel packs and the product as close together as possible with the dry ice on top. Fill any empty space with wadded newspaper, Styrofoam peanuts, or the latest bubble packs, as any "dead-air-space" will cause the Dry Ice to sublimate faster.

If shipping by air, be sure to check with the airlines ahead of time to find out their procedures and regulations regarding dry ice.

Dry Ice sublimation (changing from a solid to a gas) will vary depending on the outside temperature, air pressure (on an airplane with lower air pressure it will sublimate faster) and efficiency of the insulation. The more Dry Ice you have stored in the container, the longer it will last. Dry Ice, at -109.3°F or -78.5°C, will freeze and keep frozen everything in the container until it is completely sublimated. These frozen items will still take some extra time to thaw because they will have been so cold.

Shipping Help

Airgas Carbonic Dry Ice offers product delivery solutions for shipping or transporting frozen and refrigerated items. Their many branches listed below offer gel packs, shipping containers of varying sizes and dry ice to pack your frozen goods. Their video shows how to pack shipping boxes and their website offers helpful information.

Shipping Table Amounts
Note: The table below adds extra Dry Ice for heavier items
because some of the Dry Ice will be used up lowering the temperature
of the product to be shipped to the temperature of Dry Ice: -109.3°F.

TABLE OF AVERAGE AMOUNTS OF DRY ICE FOR PACKING FROZEN GOODS
 IN A SINGLE WELL INSULATED CONTAINER

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This informative site is supported by the manufacturers and sellers of Dry Ice and its related products. Thank you for supporting them.

R.N.C. Industries, Inc.
Control Temp Packaging
Shipping Solutions for Food and Medical Products
3105 Sweetwater Road, Suite 220
Lawrence, GA 30044
888-844-3864
770 368-8453
FAX 770-368-8490
mailto:Sales@rncind.com
Web Site: http://www.rncind.com/

627 McCormick Street
San Leandro, California, 94577 USA

ph. 510.562.6450
fax 510.562.6408
ISO Certified: 9001:2000

Airgas Carbonic & Dry Ice

Suite 300 2530 Sever Road
Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Phone: 770-717-2210
Fax: 678-985-7313

Email: preston.haag@airgas.com
Website: www.airgasdryice.net

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