Aktualisiert: September 2, 2025. If you ship frozen goods, small dry ice packs deliver deep-cold performance in compact boxes when you size, Pack, and vent correctly. Most parcels hold 24–72 hours using 5–10 lb per 24 h as a planning band, then you validate on your lane. This unified guide merges and improves three draft articles into one 2025-ready version.
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Wie viele small dry ice packs you need for 24–72 hours, with a quick calculator
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How to pack and label small dry ice packs to pass 2025 air acceptance
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Wann small dry ice packs beat gel packs or −21 °C PCMs for frozen lanes
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How to validate to ISTA 7D/7E and align with ISO 23412 before scaling
How many small dry ice packs do you need for 24–72 hours?
Kurze Antwort: Plan 5–10 lb of small dry ice packs per 24 Std., then adjust for insulation class, Umgebungswärme, pellet size, and air vs. Boden. Start conservative, run one route test with a data logger, and tune mass ±20% based on results. This approach cuts failures and avoids overpacking.
Why this works: Dry ice cools by sublimation, absorbing large heat as it turns to gas. Dense insulation leaks less heat, so you can use fewer small dry ice packs for the same hold. Pellets sublimate faster than mini-blocks. Air lanes often need 30–40% more mass than ground because of pressure and handling. Validate in both summer and shoulder seasons.
Small dry ice packs sizing: quick calculator (kopieren/einfügen)
Use this for a conservative starting point. Replace values to match your lane.
Nutzlast & Absender | Lane & ambient | Suggested mass of small dry ice packs | Warum funktioniert es |
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6 ice-cream pints in 12 L EPS | 48 H, mixed ground | 3.5–5.0 kg | Uses 5–10 lb/day rule; top “cap” slows heat ingress |
10 vials in 8 L PUR | 24–36H, air priority | 2.0–3.0 kg | Surround payload; add pellet margin for air |
2 kg frozen meat in 12 L VIP | 72 H, 30–35 ° C. + Luft | 6.0–7.5 kg | VIP trims heat leak; altitude margin included |
3–5 L diagnostics in 10 L EPS | 24 H, mild | 1.5–2.0 kg | Moderate insulation + short lane |
Practical tips that save product and cost
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Close air gaps: Hohlräume füllen; pellets plug crevices and slow convection.
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Cap from above: Add a thin layer on top; sortation heat comes from above.
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Pre-cool the cavity: Stage the shipper with a small starter charge for 15–30 minutes.
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Log two points: Place probes at product core and in headspace to capture true performance.
Case in brief: A pathology lab shipped 12 cryovials over 32 hours using 2.2 kg of small dry ice packs in an 8 L PUR shipper. Temperatures stayed between −65 and −72 °C, matching a ~2%/h pellet rate assumption.
How do you pack small dry ice packs for air-compliant shipping?
Direct answer: Entlüftung, isolieren, und Etikett. Mark “Carbon dioxide, solid” or “Dry ice” with UN1845 und die net mass in kilograms auf der Box. Wenden Sie die an Klasse 9 label on the same face when space allows. Verwenden Sie das 2025 Dry Ice Acceptance Checklist to mirror counter checks. Never seal the inner liner airtight.
Step-by-step SOP (7 steps):
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Precondition the shipper for 15–30 minutes with a small charge.
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Bag and seal primaries; add absorbent if any liquid risk.
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Add a liner or tray Also small dry ice packs don’t touch labels or vials.
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Surround the payload with small dry ice packs; emphasize top placement.
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Hohlräume füllen with extra CO₂ or dunnage; minimieren Sie den Kopfspace.
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Close with a vented lid; never make it airtight.
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Markieren & Etikett: UN1845, Eigenname, Netz kg; Klasse anwenden 9; copy AWB text exactly.
Compliance item | What to print / Tun | Wo | Warum ist es wichtig |
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Richtiger Versandname + Und | „Kohlendioxid, solide (Trockeneis)”, UN1845 | Box panel | Acceptance requirement |
Net mass | Kilograms aus Trockeneis | Same face | Must match AWB entry |
Hazard label | Klasse 9 | Same face if possible | Faster acceptance |
Verpackung | Entlüftet, PI 954 konform | Closure & liner | Prevents pressure buildup |
Real-world copy block (Awb):
UN1845, Kohlendioxid, solide (Trockeneis)
1 package x [NET kg] aus Trockeneis
Nondangerous goods packed with dry ice under PI 954
Pellets vs. mini-blocks: which small dry ice packs last longer?
Kurze Antwort: Mini-blocks länger dauern; Pellets cool faster but sublimate quicker because of greater surface area. On aircraft routes, assume faster loss and add margin or choose mini-blocks.
Was bedeutet dies für Sie: Use pellets to wrap tight cavities for quick pull-down, then add a top mini-block “cap” for steadier curves. On hot lanes or air, plan +10–20% mass for pellets or upgrade insulation from EPS to VIP.
Performance comparison of small dry ice packs
Format | Typical size | Hold-time behavior | Was es für Sie bedeutet |
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Pellet sachet | 3–10 mm | Faster sublimation; quick pull-down | Great for small vials and pints |
Mini-block | 250–500 g | Slower sublimation; longer hold | Better for 48–72 h lanes |
Loose pellets | 3–16 mm | Fastest sublimation; messy | Use when flexibility trumps longevity |
Small dry ice packs vs gel packs vs −21 °C PCMs: which should you use?
Direct answer: Pick small dry ice packs when you need ≤ −40 °C or the route is uncertain. Wählen −21 °C PCMs oder 2–8 °C gels when freeze risk exists or dry ice is restricted. Reusable VIP systems with small dry ice packs can push deep-frozen holds past 120 hours while cutting refrigerant mass.
Option | Temperature band | Typische Dauer | Notes |
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Small dry ice packs | ≤ −60 °C | 24–72H | Start 5–10 lb/day; bestätigen |
−21 °C PCMs | −30 to −10 °C | 24–72H | Good where dry ice is restricted |
2–8 °C gel packs | 2–8 ° C | 24–96 h | Impfungen, Molkerei, Mahlzeiten |
Actionable tips for common scenarios
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Frozen dessert pints, 48–72H: Use pellets around sides plus a top mini-block; dense EPS for 48 h; add VIP for 72 h.
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Diagnostic kit, overnight + buffer: 2–4 lb for a 1–2 lb kit; remove dead space; keep a vent path.
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Frozen biologics, 72 h air: VIP inserts + Pellets; thin top cap; confirm net kg early in booking.
Tatsächlicher Fall: A bakery shipped eight 120 ml gelato cups with 1.8 kg of small dry ice packs in a 12 L EPS shipper. The logger remained below −50 °C for 42 Std.; acceptance was smooth once the AWB net kg matched the box.
Safety with small dry ice packs: simple rules that prevent incidents
Direct answer: Use cryogenic gloves and eye protection, Arbeiten in belüfteten Bereichen, never seal airtight, and let leftovers sublimate in open air. CO₂ can displace oxygen in closed spaces; crack windows in vehicles and avoid sealed trunks.
Safety topic | Do | Nicht | Warum ist es wichtig |
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Belüftung | Work in ventilated rooms; consider CO₂ alarms | Seal boxes airtight | Prevents pressure / low oxygen |
Handhabung | Gloves/tongs; long sleeves | Barehand handling | Avoids cold injury |
Entsorgung | Sublimate in open areas | Sink/drain/sealed bin | Prevents ruptures |
Vehicles | Crack windows | Closed trunk storage | CO₂ can pool low |
How to validate small dry ice packs: ISTA 7D/7E + ISO 23412
Direct answer: Build three packouts (baseline, −20% CO₂, +20% Co₂). Run ISTA 7D/7E summer and winter profiles for 24/48/72 h. Accept if in-spec and weighback matches plan. Document operations to ISO 23412 for faster audits.
Minimal validation plan you can run this week
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Design: Grundlinie, –20%, +20% small dry ice packs.
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Test: ISTA 7D/7E summer/winter, 24/48/72 H; add weekend dwell if needed.
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Measure: Two-probe logging; include a weighback check.
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Entscheiden: Lock SOP, create label artwork, Zugteams.
2025 developments and trends for small dry ice packs
Trend overview: Acceptance is standardizing on checklist-style inspections; providing the UN1845 text, Netz kg, Und Klasse 9 label on the same face speeds approval. Fresh pellet research highlights faster loss under aircraft conditions, so teams are adding mass or switching to mini-blocks. Parcel testing continues to shift toward ISTA 7E to reflect modern delivery patterns.
At-a-glance progress
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Standardized acceptance: Mirroring the checklist reduces rejections and hub delays.
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Pellet-rate clarity: Plan for faster loss; mini-blocks extend hold time.
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Service rules: ISO 23412 remains the operational anchor for refrigerated parcel services.
Market insight: Many carrier guides still center on 5–10 lb per 24 H as the starting plan. Teams that pair VIP inserts with small dry ice packs report lower mass for the same hold, especially on 72 h lanes.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Q1: How long do small dry ice packs last?
Most parcels hold 24–72 hours when planned at 5–10 lb per 24 h and validated on the route.
Q2: Are small dry ice packs allowed on airplanes?
Yes—mark UN1845, use the proper shipping name, list net kilograms, apply the Class 9 Etikett, and follow PI 954.
Q3: Brauche ich die Erklärung eines Versenders??
Not usually when only dry ice and non-dangerous goods are inside, but AWB text, Markierungen, Etiketten, and venting are mandatory.
Q4: Pellets or mini-block—what lasts longer?
Mini-blocks last longer; pellets cool faster but sublimate quicker due to surface area. Plan +10–20% for pellets.
Q5: What’s the safest way to dispose of leftovers?
Let small dry ice packs sublimate in a ventilated area; never in sinks or sealed bins. Use gloves and eye protection.
Zusammenfassung & Empfehlungen
Key Takeaways: Small dry ice packs are the simplest way to ship compact frozen loads safely. Start with the 5–10 lb/24 h planner, verify with a physics check, and add margin for pellets and aircraft holds. Mirror the 2025 acceptance checklist on marks, Netz kg, Klasse 9, and venting. Validate with ISTA 7D/7E and document to ISO 23412.
Nächste Schritte (CTA):
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Choose your shipper (EPS/PUR/VIP) Und small dry ice packs Format.
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Estimate mass with the calculator; add buffers for air and summer.
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Run one lane test with dual probes and a weighback.
Ready to right-size your packout? Request a free sizing chart and AWB/label template.
Über Tempk
We design and validate insulated shippers and refrigerants for food, diagnostics, und Biotech. Our engineers qualify small dry ice packs against ISTA 7D/7E profiles and align your operations to ISO 23412, so your SOP works on day one. Expect smaller boxes, fewer delays, and an audit-ready data trail.