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This Article is about some guidelines related to the environment temperature conditions when using an IR thermometer. 

Below is an example of someone asking questions about a Fluke-62Max IR thermometer in a particular temperature environment. 

 
While using a 62 Max IR thermometer in a walk-in fridge at temperatures ranging from 0 deg C to 6 deg C to measure temperature of pharmaceutical products, is the accuracy of the reading affected by the following:

1. The IR thermometer is kept in an area at room temperature (+22 deg C) and is used inside the fridge at 4 deg c without "conditioning" i.e without allowing the IR thermometer to reach fridge temp. Would that affect the accuracy of the reading? Yes, the internal temperature of the 62Max is changing as you are standing in the fridge. Ideally you should put the 62Max inside your coat against your body to keep it warm and pull it out to take a measurement and then tuck it back inside your coat.

Is there a requirement of a good practice to allow the IR thermometer to reach environment temp before use to allow for accurate measurement? You can let the thermometer sit in the cooler for 15 minutes to acclimate before using it, however you do introduce a temperature coefficient which makes the accuracy +-3.4 degrees C vs the normal operating temperature accuracy of +- 1.5 degrees C.  

2. Is there a minimum distance recommended to hold the Thermometer from target to achieve better accuracy? Yes. The smallest spot size you can measure is 1 inch meaning you should be no closer than 10 inches from the surface for a thermometer that has a distance to spot size ratio of 10:1 (Optical Resolution). If you have a subject that is smaller than 1 inch that application is not supported by the IR thermometers.

Can you measure a temperature from 1" away or 5" away while using a 10:1 Ratio IR thermometer? No, you should be no closer than 10 inches from the subject. If you are going to be further away than 10 inches from the application using a 10:1 distance to spot ratio (Optical Resolution). the examples 20 inches away the IR thermometer will view a 2-inch diameter and show the average temperature within the area. 30 inches away the IR thermometer will view a 3-inch diameter and show the average temperature within the area. 40 inches away the IR thermometer will view a 4-inch diameter and show the average temperature within the area etc, etc.

3.What is the most reliably accurate IR thermometer available from Fluke to measure individual pharmaceutical boxes? They are all equally reliable. 

 
 
 
 
 
Fluke-64 Max specifications. 
 

 

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