Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, all our products are CE marked. 

Labcold’s Sparkfree cabinets are designed to minimise the risk of electrical sparks or arcs that could ignite substances stored within them, (special ATEX-certified non-spark fans and anti-static liners and gaskets are fitted, and any lighting has been removed).

The new ATEX-certified cabinets go further still - when the cabinet door is closed the chamber is sealed airtight, preventing the escape of flammable gases or vapours that might lead to an explosion.  All possible leak paths have been removed. 

• The temperature control probe is now mounted behind the chamber wall rather than being passed through a hole in the chamber wall.
• Condensate (which may itself be flammable) is now collected within a box located inside the chamber rather than being piped through a hole in the chamber wall to an evaporator tray.
• No Access Port is provided, again no breach to the chamber wall.

Customers should never fit wired external probes as these may compromise the airtight seal afforded by the chamber / door gasket. (Not only will this have the normal detrimental effect on thermal performance, but it will also now compromise the airtight ATEX enclosure.

Even though these cabinets are ATEX certified for the safe storage of flammable substances, open containers of such substances should never be stored inside them.  Ensure containers are fitted with lids.

To assist you in the servicing, maintenance, and calibration of these new cabinets the following information is available to you upon request.

Temperature mapping assesses how temperature is distributed inside your refrigeration unit over a set period. This ensures that all stored products remain within the required temperature range, identifying any fluctuations that could impact safety.

Labcold offers UKAS-compliant temperature mapping services to help maintain compliance and product integrity, find out more.

Calibration is the process of ensuring that medical equipment i.e. fridges and freezers are working at the correct temperature to safely store medicines, vaccines, blood products or other sensitive medical supplies. It’s important because if the temperature is too high or too low, it could damage these products, which could affect patient safety. Calibration helps keep everything at the right temperature, so healthcare providers can trust that the equipment is doing its job properly.

Our UKAS calibration service guarantees that your medical equipment is accurately maintaining the proper temperature. UKAS is the UK’s leading accreditation body, so when we calibrate your equipment, it’s tested and adjusted to meet the highest standards. This process ensures that your fridge/freezer is operating correctly and safely, and all the temperatures are within the required ranges for storing sensitive medical products.

 UKAS calibration provides the highest level of accuracy and assurance. It means your equipment has been tested and adjusted by experts to meet the highest industry standards. While cheaper, non-UKAS options may seem like a good deal, they don’t guarantee the same level of precision or reliability, which could lead to problems down the line. UKAS calibration ensures you’re meeting all the regulatory requirements and provides peace of mind that your equipment is up to standard.

Our UKAS calibration service is thorough, trusted, and designed to give you confidence in your equipment. We not only ensure your equipment is at the right temperature, but we also provide a detailed certificate that proves your equipment meets all necessary standards. This documentation is valuable for compliance purposes and can be an important part of your quality control processes.

Having properly calibrated equipment is crucial for maintaining the quality and safety of stored medical items. For hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, vets etc. it means you can be confident that vaccines, medicines, and other temperature-sensitive products are stored at the right temperature, preventing any risk of spoilage. It also helps you stay compliant with regulations, avoiding potential problems with inspections or audits.

We advise all external probes need to be located center chamber. If you have a wired probe, this should be fed through the designed access port, never to be fitted through the door as this will impact the door gasket and the internal temperatures in the fridge. 

T2 is a secondary wandering temperature probe inside all Labcold Intellicold 19 Range Pharmacy fridges.

It is typically used as a load/core probe, inserted in any buffer that will simulate the contents of the fridge. This ensures that you can rely on the T2 temperature probe as your true product temperature, whilst the T1 temperature probe will serve as an early warning system.

When the second probe is active, it will alternate between T1 and T2 temperatures. 

T2 can be monitored the same way you would monitor the first probe T1, where high and low values can be checked and re-set in the same way. 

If the screen is blue on your Blood Bank this means the unit will require a reboot. To complete a reboot on the unit, please follow these steps. 

Disconnect the backup battery found on the rear of unit, disconnecting the unit from mains power. The display should now be switched off. After 10 seconds, reconnect the mains power followed by reconnecting the backup battery. The system reboot has been completed and touch display should function normally.

Yes, you can place your bench top unit on the floor. If you’re unsure we’d advise having a risk assessment on the use of the fridge at a lower level, as these units are designed for bench top use. 

At least 6cm all round the unit for adequate ventilation. 

Once a unit has been delivered, we advise the unit to sit for at least 12 hours before switching on. This allows all the gasses to stabilize from transit. 

Before moving your unit, it’s advised to know the route you’ll be taking as you may need to plan a temporary storage solution for your medicine. If a unit is being tilted at an angle of no more than 45° when being moved, it can be switched back on straight away. However, if a unit is being tilted more than 45°, we would suggest it sits switched off in the new location for at least six hours to allow the gases to settle and equalise. 

This information will be found on the inside right wall of the unit, on a silver sticker. The serial number will be around 15 digits long, under the barcode. 

You will find the battery box located on the outside right wall. Looking towards the bottom of the unit, close to the back where you will find the battery box. The box itself is grey so should be easy to locate. The unit will take four AA non-rechargeable batteries. 

To view your high and low values do a single press and release on the H/L icon, located in the top left corner of the digital display. Following this, your highest and lowest value will then display. These values will be recorded from the last completed high/low re-set. 

To re-set your high/low values you will need to press and hold on your H/L, located in the top left corner of the digital display. Press and hold on this icon until CFN shows. Once you see CFN, press and hold on the tick icon, located under the H/L icon. Your high and low values will now be re-set.  

After a power loss, your unit will require the date and time to be set up. The first part of the sequence will be the year Y, to which you will need to use either the up or down arrow to set accordingly. Once the year is correct, press the tick icon. Follow this process for the rest of the sequence of following codes. N – month, D – day, H – hour, N – minute. Once the minute has been set press and hold on the tick icon until it takes you to the main temperature. 

When your unit is sounding an alarm, there are a few reasons this may have been triggered. Below is a list of the alarms you may be experiencing 

• D/O – door open longer than 90 seconds 
• T1H – first probe high in temperature 
• T1L – first probe low in temperature
• T2H - second probe high in temperature
• T2L – second probe low in temperature
• N/B – no battery 
• L/B – low battery 
• N/P – no power 

If you’re experiencing an alarm on your Pharmacy unit, looking at your digital display you will need to use the alarm mute icon, located on the right of the tick icon. When the unit sounds the alarm, press and release on the alarm mute icon which will mute the alarm.  

Depending on what unit you have, different errors will show. 

If you have a Pharmacy fridge with a digital display, the following error codes will apply.

• ERR – SD card removed while the download is in progress 
• E01 – SPI mode failure 
• E02 – License file not found 
• E03 – license file not accepted. 
• However, if you have a button operated display, the codes below will apply. 
• ERR0 – Unable to read data file 
• ERR1 – Unable to create CSV file (all data in current years)
• ERR2 – Unable to create CSV file (data from last year)
• ERR3 – Unable to create CSV file (data from current year) 
• ERR4 – Unable to update file LABCOLD.V02

If you’re finding the cushions or bladders are not draining as they should this could be due to air being trapped in the system which might require the cushions to be bleed. To do this, please follow the below steps. 

1. Pull the left-hand top tube out of the push-fit connector so that the water can rise in the water ducts.
2. Wait for around 5 seconds, now re-connect the tube to the push-fit connector.
3. First, start a program without any material to heat.
4. If the pump does not immediately pump heat transfer fluid into the cushions, stop the program, wait a short time, and start it again. If necessary, repeat the start and stop operations a few times until the pump starts pumping fluid.

While not mandatory, a maintenance contract ensures your medical fridge remains in optimal working condition, helping prevent costly failures and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

Find out more about Labcold range of preventative maintenance contracts tailored to your needs.

It’s essential that your stock is removed and re-located firstly. You can then unplug the refrigerator from the mains to prevent electric shock during the cleaning process. 

When cleaning you should:  Remove the shelves and clean with weak soapy water. Do not use strong detergents or bleach. Wipe the inside of the fridge in the same solution and dry with a soft cloth. Take care to avoid the light fitting and ensure that the drain hole at the back of the fridge is clear of debris. Wipe the door seal with a damp cloth. Gently remove the dust on the back of the fridge, taking care not to damage the pipes. Make sure the unit is completely dry before switching back on. 

Yes, we can carry out maintenance and servicing on non Labcold units, however if your unit requires a part for repair, we are unable to do this. 

Yes, regular calibration and servicing is very important, even with a monitoring system. It ensures your fridges remain accurate, efficient, and compliant, reducing the risk of temperature excursions that could compromise the stored items.

We recommend annual servicing to ensure optimal performance and compliance with medical and laboratory regulations. Explore a preventative maintenance contract can help you stay on top of routine servicing.

If your Labcold fridge or freezer experiences a fault, contact our support team as soon as possible. We offer expert technical support, repair services emergency callouts and equipment loans to minimise downtime and keep your equipment operational.

We aim on a two-week turnaround time once received back to the workshop. You will be updated during this time on your unit’s progress. 

Regarding warranty on your export unit, we would advise you to contact your sales representative. 

Warranty begins from the date of delivery to yourself