Embodiments are described for identifying critical sensors of a device, such as a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) card, installed within an IHS (Information Handling System). A remote access controller identifies temperature sensors provided by the device and determine alert level thresholds for each of the sensors. The temperature sensors are ranked based on the respective ranges of the alert level thresholds. A first portion of the temperature sensors with the smallest ranges of alert level thresholds are assigned to a first ranked list. Readings from the temperature sensors are monitored and temperature sensors indicating temperature sensor readings rising faster than a first threshold are assigned to a second ranked list. A portion of the temperature sensors in the first ranked list and a portion of the temperature sensors in the second ranked list are designated for use by an airflow cooling system of the IHS.