Thermal Imaging Services

Below are some of the infrared inspections we offer.

Flat Roof Thermal Inspections

Moisture is the number one enemy of built-up roofs. The primary cause of premature roof failures and high maintenance costs is undetected wet insulation.  Infrared thermography provides a timely, accurate and inexpensive way to locate areas of wet insulation and leaks – before they turn into costly repair problems.

• We use infrared roof moisture inspections to:
• Locate water-damaged roof membrane quickly and accurately.
• Identify small problems before they become serious and more costly to repair.
• Avoid the unnecessary replacement of a good roof.
• Plan accurate budgets based on facts.
• Document problem before the warranty expires.
• Greatly extend the life of your roof.

(Water Leak Under Membrane Roofing)

Moisture deteriorates the thermal efficiency of insulation.  This results in additional heating and/or cooling loads.  Beyond causing added energy loss, moisture can and will deteriorate the membrane, add unwanted loads to the building system and corrode or rot the roof deck. Freeze/thaw cycles of the wet materials also cause delamination of the entire roof assembly, which increases the potential for wind damage.

Undetected wet insulation is the primary cause for premature roof failure and high maintenance costs. Moisture intrusion into a roof assembly can be caused by many factors.  These include original design deficiencies, poor workmanship, material incompatibilities or failure, and poor maintenance.

Infrared thermography has become the most popular technique for conventional built-up roof inspection.  Because it detects temperature differences between wet and dry insulation, thermography allows us to find the hidden moisture.  And, using thermography, we can quantify the extent of the damage.  Owners can get the information they need to decide where to repair and whether to replace a roof.

Infrared thermography provides a fast, accurate and inexpensive way to determine the condition of a roof and identify problems at an early stage. It should be a part of every roof maintenance program.  Annual inspections are recommended.

Our infrared roof analysis generally consists of 5 components.
1. Daytime visual inspection and roof comp
2. Initial coordination.
3. Composition verification.
4. Night time infrared scan.
5. Written report of findings, analysis and recommendations.

Moisture Intrusion Investigations

Many homes and commercial buildings constructed within the last 50 years in the South Florida are experiencing moisture intrusion problems. This includes water leaking through windows, sliding doors, skylights or roof accesses, water leaks in ceilings and exterior walls, and just plain water leaks everywhere.  With insurance companies excluding mold claims and damages caused by “slow leaks,” it has become critical to perform an   infrared survey inspection prior to purchase.

(Water Leak in Wall Behind Toilet)              (Water Leak from Deck Above)

The most common construction defects that contribute to moisture intrusion or water leaks, such as:

• Poor flashing of windows, doors or balconies
• Roof decks attached through roofing membranes
• Poor masonry construction practices
• Failure to adequately integrate vapor and moisture barriers

        (Water Leak @ Skylight)                                              (Water Leak at Wall Base)

We use infrared thermal imaging, combined with plain old visual inspections, to locate the source of troublesome water leaks. Once the moisture intrusion source is identified, professional construction specialists can be contracted to correct the identified defects. Many owners don’t realize that water sealing; caulking and painting may aggravate, rather than fix, the problem.  Having an inspection performed before you bring in a weatherproofing contractor is your best guarantee for a good result.

Mechanical Equipment Inspections

If this were a perfect world, all of the electrical energy supplied to a machine would result in 100% conversion into the work it performs.  We know this in not the case!  A certain amount of energy is converted to thermal energy by friction or resistance from the mechanical load, thereby increasing the temperature of the machine.  

All mechanical systems generate thermal energy during normal operation.  This allows our infrared thermography to evaluate normal operating conditions.  As mechanical equipment begins to fail, the normal thermal signature changes.  Temperature increases in mechanical systems have many causes: friction, cooling degradation, material loss or blockages can all generate high levels of thermal energy.  Friction for example, can be caused by wear, overload, misalignment, over- or under-lubrication and misuse.

HVAC Ducts

The increase in energy costs as a result of leaky ducts is significant.  If your HVAC ducts have leakage of just 20%, the efficiency of the cooling system can drop as much as 50%.  Duct leakage also lowers heating and cooling capacity, thereby reducing equipment life.

Thermal imaging allows us to see duct leaks that would otherwise go undetected.  This can result in big savings!

 

Did you know that the average Texas home wastes 30% of the HVAC system's energy consumption due to leaky ducts?  The cost of an infrared inspection can be recovered within the first year from uncovering just this one type of defect alone.

(Leak in HVAC Duct Under the Floor)

HVAC systems account for upwards of 40 percent of a building’s annual energy usage.

Air leaking into or out of the HVAC system can dramatically affect humidity, condensation potential, indoor air quality, energy consumption and occupant comfort

Electrical Inspections

Most problems affecting electrical systems are preceded by a change in the system’s thermal characteristics and temperature, be it hotter or colder.  By detecting these changes, we are able to identify and analyze problems before a costly failure occurs.

For plant and commercial electrical systems, infrared thermography provides the most cost-effective method to assess the condition of power distribution systems and conduct preventive maintenance inspections. Infrared electrical equipment surveys are so effective that some insurance companies provide discounted fire insurance rates for facilities employing the technology on a scheduled basis.

(Faulty Components in Electrical Systems)

Electrical inspections are the number one application for infrared thermography globally.   Virtually every industry, process and facility in the industrialized world requires electrical energy to operate.  As all electrical maintenance personnel know, new electrical components begin to deteriorate as soon as they are installed. Fluctuating and continual loads, vibration, fatigue and age all may lead to catastrophic failures, unplanned shutdowns and costly production losses.

Infrared Condition Monitoring of Electrical Systems

When considering remote diagnostic testing of electrical equipment, infrared thermography is regarded as the most powerful of all diagnostic tools. The list of equipment to inspect is enormous, since virtually every component, from the generating facility to medium- and low-voltage components, can and should be inspected with an infrared camera.

It is difficult to place a dollar value on the benefits realized from an infrared inspection program, because the faults are typically found and repaired before failure occurs.  But discovering just one major electrical fault will pay for the investment in an electrical inspection many times over.

Mechanical Applications

One of the major troubles in operating mechanical systems is excessive temperature buildup.  Infrared thermography is a powerful means of reducing maintenance costs for mechanical equipment and can be key to improving the operational reliability of industrial and commercial facilities.

All electrical and mechanical equipment has an allowable operating temperature limit. Infrared thermography allows for remote monitoring of temperature patterns while the equipment is online and operational. Unlike many other test methods, infrared can be used on a wide variety of equipment, including electrical systems, pumps, motors, bearings and most process equipment.