Locate the temperature sensors as follows:
a) on the load carrier at two diagonally opposite corners and in the approximate geometric centre;
b) on items in the load with at least one on an item at each level in the load carrier (up to a maximum of
three if the load carrier accommodates load items on more than one level);
c) one on an item in the region known to be slowest to attain the disinfection temperature;
d) one on an item in the region known to be fastest to attain the disinfection temperature;
e) one adjacent to the automatic control temperature sensor;
f) one adjacent to the process recorder or indicator sensor (if fitted) in each chamber or compartment.
These positions should be specified by the manufacturer and supported by data from type tests. If these data
are not available from the manufacturer, preliminary tests to map the temperature throughout the load will be
necessary.
The sensors should be in good thermal contact with the item or installed sensor which they are monitoring and
placed, if possible, in or on the part of the item which will be slowest to heat up.
Carry out the test with each type of load carrier. Perform a total of four consecutive tests, the first of which
should be at least 60 min since the machine was last used (a “cold start") and the final three with not more
than 15 min intervals between cycles (a “hot start").