Using infrared thermography is an effective way for claim adjusters to non-destructively evaluate buildings, especially in water-loss cases. To find out how much the technology has caught on, when it is best applied, and where the technology is headed, Associate Editor Eric Gilkey contacted Tony Colantonio, a building enclosures advisor to the Public Works and Government Services in Canada who has written extensively on infrared thermography.
Has thermography gone mainstream yet?
Thermography is gaining in popularity within the building industry for quality control inspections for architectural and structural systems in both residential and commercial projects. Hidden moisture, voids, and air-leakage detection along with structural reinforcing and biological attack/pest verification have made this technology useful to builders and restoration companies in all parts of the continent.
The establishment of industry standards and generic specifications for infrared services will eventually make these applications mainstream in all new and retrofit building projects. With the proliferation of low-cost imagers and radiometers within the past five years, we have seen more and more restoration companies and builders using the technology. Although equipment costs have diminished, the cost and time commitment for proper equipment training and knowledge base in the area of inspection have not. These two factors will continue to be the major influence of successful integration of the technology into the industry.
Under what scenarios is the use of thermography best suited?
For building-condition inspections, thermography is best utilized as a non-destructive means of locating invisible defects. These include electrical and mechanical system problems that manifest themselves as increased temperatures on components, hidden moisture accumulation within wall and roof assemblies, defective insulation and void detection in wall and structural components, detection of unwanted openings in wall and roof assemblies leading to condensation and mold potential, and identification of pest infestations. All these defects can be identified with appropriate thermographic equipment in the hands of inspectors with expertise in the area of focus and corroborated by other methods. Results are often suspect when inspectors do not have disciplinary expertise in the area of their inspection.
What kind of features should thermography camera buyers look for?
Better spatial resolution can be achieved by inspections at closer ranges and by telephoto lenses, but one cannot improve the thermal resolution of one's equipment after the fact. Ensure that thermal resolution is adequate for your use. A thermal sensitivity of 100 mK is adequate for most applications, but for moisture detection 50 mK thermal sensitivity is recommended. Increased spatial resolution comes at a cost but will reduce inspection times for exterior work. High-voltage electrical inspections may require full protective gear so equipment for use with protective gloves is a necessity. If litigation is a probability, video taping of inspections with voice annotation may be a helpful feature.
How is the technology evolving?
Over the past five years, equipment costs have come down due to the proliferation of low-resolution (10 – 20,000 pixel) equipment. These systems are suitable for applications where distance to object is less than 15 feet. For many interior inspections, these systems are acceptable, especially for residential applications. When operating distances become greater than 30 feet, then 80,000 pixel cameras (along with telephoto lenses) provide the necessary spatial resolution.
We currently have 300,000 pixel equipment in the commercial marketplace and there are one mega pixel cameras under development. As with digital camera development, we will see increased spatial resolution in infrared equipment over the next decade and this may be accompanied by better thermal resolution. As costs decrease for equipment, more companies will invest in the technology. The focus will then shift from equipment costs to appropriate equipment operator and disciplinary training as companies realize that personnel training and expertise is important to job performance.
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