Free cold chain temperature log
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Free cold chain temperature log (PDF-ready). Monitor fridge, freezer and transport temperatures, target ranges and corrective action.
Commercial Director
Updated 5 July 2026
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What is a cold chain temperature log?
A cold chain temperature log is a monitoring record that captures the temperature of refrigerated and frozen storage, and refrigerated transport, at set intervals against a defined target range. Each reading records the unit or location, the date and time, the measured temperature, whether it was within the target range, and the corrective action taken if it was not. Kept for fridges, freezers, cool rooms and delivery vehicles, it is the running evidence that goods stayed within their required temperature from receipt through storage to dispatch or use.
This log matters because temperature is the single most important control for both food safety and the integrity of temperature-sensitive products, but the two regimes are separate and must not be mixed. For food, the Food Standards Code Standard 3.2.2 requires refrigerated potentially hazardous food to be held at 5 degrees C or below (frozen food kept frozen hard), and the FSANZ 2-hour/4-hour rule governs time out of temperature control. For pharmaceuticals and vaccines, the cold chain is +2 to +8 degrees C under Therapeutic Goods Administration guidance and the PIC/S Guide to GMP, with the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5' aiming for +5 degrees C in a purpose-built vaccine fridge. There is no general 2 to 8 degrees C rule for food, and the food 5/60 danger zone does not apply to medicines. A consistent log ties every reading to the correct target for that product and a corrective action, so a breach is caught and dealt with rather than discovered too late.
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Benefits of using this cold chain temperature log
- Early breach detection: regular readings catch a failing fridge or freezer before the stock inside is spoiled or made unsafe.
- Product integrity evidence: a continuous temperature record proves goods were held in range from receipt through to dispatch or use.
- Correct target ranges: recording the target for each unit stops chilled food and pharmaceuticals being held at the wrong temperature.
- Corrective action trail: a place to record what was done when a reading was out of range shows breaches were managed, not ignored.
- Equipment insight: repeated out-of-range readings on one unit expose a failing seal, thermostat or compressor before it fails completely.
- Audit and recall support: a dated temperature log is the first evidence an auditor, inspector or recall investigation will ask to see.
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What to include in a cold chain temperature log
This cold chain temperature log covers 10 key areas:
- Site or facility and the unit or vehicle being monitored
- Unit type: fridge, freezer, cool room, or transport
- Target temperature range for the goods held
- Date and time of each reading
- Measured temperature
- Whether the reading is within range (yes or no)
- Corrective action taken for any out-of-range reading
- Product affected and disposition if a breach occurred
- Person who took the reading
- Thermometer or data-logger identifier and last calibration date
How to use this cold chain temperature log
- Set the target range for each unit: Define the correct target range for the goods each unit holds before you start logging: 5 degrees C or below for chilled food under FSANZ Standard 3.2.2, or +2 to +8 degrees C for temperature-sensitive medicines and vaccines under TGA guidance. Keep the food and pharmaceutical ranges separate; logging against the wrong target is worse than not logging, because it gives false assurance.
- Take readings at set intervals: Read and record the temperature at the frequency set for the unit, commonly at the start and end of each day for storage and at loading and delivery for transport. Use a calibrated thermometer or data logger, and record the actual measured value, not a rounded or assumed one.
- Compare each reading to the target: Mark whether each reading is within the target range. An in-range reading confirms the unit is holding; an out-of-range reading is a trigger for immediate action, so the comparison must be made at the time of reading, not reconstructed later.
- Act on and record any breach: For any out-of-range reading, take corrective action straight away, such as moving stock, adjusting or repairing the unit, and assessing whether the goods are still safe or usable. Record the action and the disposition of any affected product so the breach is fully accounted for.
- Review and keep calibration current: Review the log regularly for patterns of drift or repeat breaches on a unit, and keep thermometers and data loggers calibrated so readings are trustworthy. File completed logs for the retention period your food safety program or quality system requires.
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Take readings at the frequency set for each unit and product. For chilled and frozen food storage this is commonly at least at the start and end of each day, and for refrigerated transport at loading and at delivery. Higher-risk goods or units with a history of drift may need more frequent checks or continuous data logging with alarms.
Review the completed log regularly, weekly for most operations, to spot units drifting towards their limits and to confirm corrective actions were closed out. Recalibrate thermometers and data loggers on a set schedule so the readings stay trustworthy, and keep completed logs for the retention period your food safety program, quality system or regulator requires.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- Food cold chain: Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2 (temperature control - 5 degrees C or below) and the FSANZ 2-hour/4-hour rule
- Pharmaceutical cold chain: Therapeutic Goods Administration guidance and the PIC/S Guide to GMP (PE009-17) - +2 to +8 degrees C for temperature-sensitive medicines
- Vaccines: National Vaccine Storage Guidelines 'Strive for 5' (+2 to +8 degrees C, aiming for +5 degrees C)
- Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations - plant maintenance duties for refrigeration equipment (in Victoria, the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic))
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<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#0E7490;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Cold Chain Temperature Log</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Site or facility and the unit or vehicle being monitored</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Unit type: fridge, freezer, cool room, or transport</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Target temperature range for the goods held</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Date and time of each reading</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Measured temperature</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Whether the reading is within range (yes or no)</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/cold-chain-temperature-log" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Cold Chain Temperature Log</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Please keep the “by MapTrack” attribution link in the snippet.
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