Summer Heat in the Warehouse
High outside temperatures lead to material damage, process failures and product losses. Targeted monitoring of temperature and humidity and suitable countermeasures allow you to reliably safeguard your storage processes even in the summer heat.
Recognise temperature problems in the warehouse at an early stage
How to avoid heat damage and delivery failures
High temperatures and uncontrolled humidity in summer can lead to serious problems in a warehouse - from damaged goods to health hazards for staff. Temperature-sensitive products such as food and pharmaceuticals are particularly sensitive to heat stress in the warehouse. Without targeted temperature monitoring and appropriate countermeasures, there is a risk of product losses, supply chain failures and rising energy costs due to inefficient air conditioning.
The consequences: damaged or even destroyed goods lead to reduced customer satisfaction, complaints and delayed deliveries - especially if quality defects are only recognised during shipping or on arrival at the customer's premises.
Temperature and humidity control in warehouses
How to reliably protect your goods
Climate control measures in conventional warehouses
There are numerous ways to reduce the temperature and humidity in the warehouse - especially during hot summer periods. In simple warehouse structures, the installation of doors with fly screens can already contribute to better air circulation. In addition, large industrial ceiling fans help to circulate the warm air efficiently. A well-dimensioned air conditioning system and effective insulation of the warehouse also play a decisive role in ensuring a stable warehouse climate.
Temperature and humidity monitoring in refrigerated and air-conditioned warehouses
Precise climate control is essential, especially when storing perishable foods or temperature-sensitive medicines. Even in warehouses with modern climate control technology, temperatures in different areas can vary by several degrees. These deviations - especially in combination with high humidity - can affect the shelf life of food and jeopardise the chemical stability of pharmaceutical products.
Risks associated with inadequate climate control
Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can lead to changes in the active ingredients of medicines. The result: a loss of efficacy or, in the worst case, the formation of toxic by-products. The respective limit values for temperature and humidity vary greatly depending on the type of product and must be monitored accordingly.
Ergonomic workplace design in hot weather
legal requirements and duties to act as per UAE Law
The Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act in the UAE is not a single standalone law, but rather a framework composed of various federal laws, ministerial decrees, and local emirate-level regulations that collectively govern health and safety in the workplace.
Here's a concise overview of the key laws and regulations governing OHS in the UAE:
1. UAE Labour Law – Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021
This is the main law governing employment, and it includes important provisions on OHS:
- Article 36: Employers must provide a safe working environment to protect employees' health and safety.
- Article 37: Employers must take all preventive measures to protect employees from occupational hazards and injuries.
- Article 38: Mandatory health and safety training must be provided to employees.
- Penalties: Non-compliance can lead to fines, suspension of licenses, or other administrative actions.
2. Emirate-level mandatory guidance
- Abu Dhabi (all entities, not only government)
OSHAD “Safety in the Heat” Technical Guideline (Version 4.0)
Sets Thermal Work Limit (TWL) trigger values, prescribes work-rest cycles, cooling shelters ≤28 °C, medical monitoring for high-risk workers, and engineering/ergonomic design targets for indoor facilities. - Dubai mainland
Dubai Municipality Technical Guideline 38: Management of Heat Stress at Work.
Requires heat-stress risk assessments, shaded or air-conditioned break areas, mechanical aids to reduce manual handling in hot zones, and records of training, breaks, and hydration. - Free zones (JAFZA, DMCC, TECOM, etc.)
Each zone adopts MoHRE rules plus its own HSE manuals; most reproduce DM or OSHAD heat codes verbatim but add zone-specific permit-to-work systems for “high-heat tasks.”
3. What “ergonomic workplace design in the heat” means in practice
Engineering controls (design phase)
- Thermal zoning – separate hot processes from people; insulate roof/walls; use low-emissivity lighter colours.
- Ventilation & cooling – high-volume low-speed fans, evaporative coolers, or HVAC sized to keep indoor WBGT < 28 °C (OSHAD/DM guideline).
- Work-height & reachEngineering controls (design phase) – allow neutral postures so metabolic heat is minimised; provide adjustable racking/pick-faces.
- Mechanical aids – conveyors, lift-tables, pallet inverters to avoid heavy manual handling in heat.
4 .Action checklist for UAE employers
- Map the heat-exposed roles (indoor & outdoor) and perform a WBGT/TWL risk assessment before 1 May each year.
- Design or retrofit: incorporate shading, ventilation, mechanisation, anti-fatigue matting, and adjustable workstations early—retrofitting later is far costlier.
- Update written “Heat-Stress & Ergonomics SOP” to match MoHRE Res 44/2022 and the relevant emirate guideline.
- Schedule shifts to avoid 12:30-15:00 outdoor work; automate pick/put-away in non-air-conditioned warehouses to reduce exposure time.
- Train all staff (with language-appropriate material) on recognising heat illness and on ergonomic lifting techniques.
- Audit & document weekly during the summer—these logs are the first documents MoHRE or OSHAD inspectors request.
- Review annually; integrate lessons into facility design, e.g., moving high-effort tasks closer to cooled zones.
Cooling systems, power management and storage optimisation in summer
minimise risks, increase efficiency
Regularly maintain and monitor cooling systems in the warehouse
Refrigeration systems in warehouses - especially in temperature-controlled areas - must be regularly maintained and checked. This includes monitoring operating parameters, temperature displays and a reliable alarm system in the event of deviations. This is the only way to ensure that temperature-sensitive goods are optimally protected at all times.
Backup generators in the event of a power failure
To minimise the risk of a power failure, warehouses should be equipped with backup generators. In an emergency, these ensure that refrigeration units continue to run and that no goods are damaged. Particularly important: freezers and refrigeration units should be located as far away as possible from poorly insulated parts of the building.
Efficiently reduce power consumption in cold stores
Cooling units and air conditioning systems are major power guzzlers, especially in summer. However, there are numerous ways to reduce energy consumption in refrigerated warehouses:
Structural measures and insulation
- Cold airlocks in incoming and outgoing goods prevent the ingress of warm outside air.
- Well-insulated warehouses, especially the walls and roof, reduce the need for cooling.
- Light-coloured or reflective roof surfaces and green roofs reduce heat absorption.
- Trees in the neighbourhood also provide natural shading.
Intelligent energy utilisation with photovoltaics
Heat storage systems in combination with photovoltaic systems make it possible to utilise the energy generated specifically for cooling operations. In this way, electricity peaks in summer can be reduced by up to 90 % and operating costs lowered..
Dehumidifier for more climate comfort and efficiency
The perceived temperature can be significantly reduced through the combined use of air conditioning systems and dehumidifiers. The lower humidity not only improves the well-being of employees, but also reduces the energy requirements of the air conditioning system - a plus point for the cost efficiency of warehouse air conditioning.
Inventory control - cool less, store more efficiently
Another approach to reducing cooling requirements is to reduce excess stock. The fewer products that need to be cooled, the lower the energy consumption. It is important to plan buffer stocks strategically so as not to jeopardise the ability to deliver.
Temperature monitoring with labels and suitable containers
Thermal label for visual inspection
Thermal indicator labels change colour when a certain temperature limit is exceeded - ideal for checking sensitive products. Thermal transfer labels made of polypropylene, polyester or polyamide as well as surface-coated direct thermal labels are suitable for higher temperature ranges.
Temperature-resistant storage boxes from BITO
Heat-resistant plastic containers are indispensable for use in air-conditioned or hot storage areas. BITO offers a wide range of robust, temperature-stable storage boxes that are suitable for both storage and transport.
Klimawandel und Logistik
Der Verkehrssektor trägt stark zu hohen Treibhausgasemissionen und zum globalen Klimawandel bei. Bis 2030 soll hier der CO2-Ausstoß um 40 bis 42 Prozent gemindert werden.
Schwankungen der Nachfrage und des Angebots bewältigen
Saisonale und abrupte Nachfrageschwankungen lassen sich mit einer flexiblen Logistik und einer intelligenten Planung bewältigen. Bestands- und Lieferantenoptimierung, Zeitarbeitskräfte sowie Pufferlager sind nur einige Elemente davon.
Die Besonderheiten, die ein Tiefkühllager in der Lebensmittelindustrie erfüllen muss
Als zentrales Glied in der Logistikkette zwischen Produktion und Handel spielt das Tiefkühllager eine extrem wichtige Rolle.