DEUTSCHE NORM August 2004

DIN 54190-1
D
ICS 19.100

Non-destructive testing –
Thermographic testing –
Part 1: General principles
Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung –
Thermografische Prüfung –
Teil 1: Allgemeine Grundlagen
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Document comprises 8 pages

Translation by DIN-Sprachendienst.
In case of doubt, the German-language original should be consulted as the authoritative text.

© No part of this translation may be reproduced without prior permission of

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 DIN 54190-1:2004-08

Contents Page

Foreword..............................................................................................................................................................2
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................2
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................2
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................3
4 Apparatus ...............................................................................................................................................4
5 Preparation for testing ..........................................................................................................................4
6 Thermography procedures ...................................................................................................................5
7 Personnel qualifications and duties ....................................................................................................7
8 Evaluation...............................................................................................................................................8
9 Test report ..............................................................................................................................................8
10 Records...................................................................................................................................................8

Foreword
This standard has been prepared by Technical Committee NMP 827 Visuelle und thermografische Prüfung of
the Normenausschuss Materialprüfung (Materials Testing Standards Committee).

DIN 54190 Non-destructive testing — Thermographic testing consists of the following parts:

⎯ Part 1: General principles

⎯ Part 2: Equipment
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⎯ Part 3: Terms and definitions

1 Scope
This standard specifies the general principles of thermographic testing.

2 Normative references
This standard incorporates, by dated or undated reference, provisions from other publications. These
normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text, and the titles of the publications are listed
below. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications apply to this
standard only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references, the latest edition of
the publication referred to (including amendments) applies.

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DIN 5031-1, Radiation physics in the optical range and lighting engineering — Quantities, symbols and units
used in radiation physics

DIN 54190-2, Non-destructive testing — Thermographic testing — Equipment

DIN EN 473, Non-destructive testing — Qualification and certification of NDT personnel – General principles

DIN EN 1330-1, Non-destructive testing — Terminology — Part 1: List of general terms

DIN EN 1330-2, Non-destructive testing — Terminology — Part 2: Terms common to the non-destructive
testing methods

3 Terms and definitions

For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in DIN EN 1330-1 and DIN EN 1330-2 and
the following apply.1)

3.1
infrared radiation
see DIN 5031-1

NOTE Thermographic testing normally uses wavelengths between 2 µm and 14 µm and, in particular, the atmospheric
windows.

3.2
thermography
contact-free detection, processing and visual display of the distribution of the electromagnetic radiation
originating from a surface and recordable with an IR detector system

NOTE Infrared thermography (IR thermography) is used as a synonym.

3.3
thermographic testing
non-destructive testing using thermography
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3.4
qualitative thermography
thermography in which the temperature is not determined

3.5
quantitative thermography
thermography in which the temperature, the phase angle or secondary parameters derived therefrom are
determined

3.6
passive thermography
thermographic procedure in which only the thermal radiation resulting from the intrinsic temperature of the
object is exploited

3.7
active thermography
thermographic procedure in which an additional heat flow is generated in the object for the purpose of testing

1) A standard is being prepared on the terms and definitions used in thermographic testing (DIN 54190-3).

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4 Apparatus
See DIN 54190-2:2004.

5 Preparation for testing

5.1 Test instruction

A test instruction shall be prepared that specifies the minimum test requirements relating to each of the items
listed in 5.4.

5.2 Description of method

If required, for example by a product standard or contract, a description of the method shall be prepared.

5.3 Availability of test instruction and description of method

Copies of the test instruction and, if applicable, of the description of the method shall be made available to the
responsible personnel.

5.4 Preparation criteria

The following points shall be taken into account or stipulated in preparing for the test:

a) position, accessibility and geometry of the objects under test;

b) purpose of testing;

c) scope of test;

d) test requirements, especially those relating to:

⎯ geometrical resolution;
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⎯ time resolution;

⎯ thermal resolution;

⎯ measurement precision;

e) test procedure;

f) apparatus;

g) thermal and ambient conditions at the time of testing;

h) operational state of the objects under test at the time of testing;

i) surface properties, such as emission, transmission and reflection, of the objects under test;

j) personnel qualifications and duties (see clause 7);

k) scope of test report (see clause 9).

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5.5 Apparatus check

Steps shall be taken to ensure that the apparatus to be used for the test is operating correctly, i.e. in
accordance with the technical specifications.

5.6 Surface and emittance

The performance of temperature measurements on the object under test will require a precise knowledge of
its emittance, which shall be determined separately if necessary.

In the case of objects with low emittance, i.e. with high reflectance, a coating having high emittance shall, if
possible, be applied.

6 Thermography procedures

6.1 A survey

Thermographic testing can be performed actively or passively and evaluated quantitatively or qualitatively
(see Table 1).

Table 1 — A survey of thermographic procedures

Excitation
Procedure
Active Passive
Qualitative Examination of thermal patterns (radiation distribution)
Comparative Differential quantities (e.g. Δϕ) Differential quantities (e.g. ΔT)
Quantitative Absolute quantities (e.g. ϕ) Absolute quantities (e.g. T)

6.2 Passive thermography

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Passive thermography uses only the heat flow due to the intrinsic heat of the object under test. Such heat
includes both internally generated heat (e.g. in furnaces or in electrical components) and the energy
introduced externally by natural heat sources (e.g. solar radiation or wind cooling).

Passive thermography is used in building (e.g. to locate damp, heat bridges, leaks, etc.), for testing electrical
installations and mechanical components, in process and installation diagnostics, in environmental studies (to
determine the distribution of vegetation, to locate aquifers), etc., in medicine (to detect circulatory disorders,
etc.) and for military purposes (to locate mines and people).

6.3 Active thermography

In active thermography, a heat flow is generated in the object under test by additional heat sources (e.g. light,
ultrasound, hot air, etc.) only for the purpose of thermographic testing. Exposure to such heat sources can
take place on a single occasion, periodically or continuously.

Active thermography is used in industrial manufacture (e.g. of composite materials, engine components,
joining technology, etc.) and in maintenance (in aerospace, power stations, etc.).

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Active thermography is subdivided, depending on the type of excitation, into

⎯ transient thermography (e.g. impulse thermography, cooling-down thermography) and,

⎯ modulation thermography (e.g. lock-in thermography, burst thermography) and,

depending on the type of evaluation, into

⎯ phase-angle thermography or lock-in thermography (display of ϕ or Δϕ) and,

⎯ differential-temperature thermography (display of T or ΔT).

6.4 Qualitative thermography

This is a procedure in which the display of the radiation density or apparent temperature distribution over the
surface of the object under test is already adequate for an assessment of the test result.

Typical examples of its application are the location of leaks in pipelines or containers or the display of the
variation in floor heating or of a concealed framework structure. It is also used for non-destructive material
testing, for example in locating delamination in laminated materials.

To be successful, qualitative thermography requires:

⎯ choice of a suitable temperature measurement range and a suitable camera sensitivity;

⎯ choice of a suitable picture section for visually comparing the display with the undisturbed state;

⎯ avoidance of reflections by choosing a suitable viewing angle;

⎯ monitoring or minimizing interference due to external radiation sources, draughts and humidity;

⎯ choice of a lens capable of maintaining the required geometrical resolution;

⎯ careful focusing of the image;

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⎯ choice of suitable display settings for the temperature scale, contrast, brightness, colour range, etc.

6.5 Comparative thermography

This is a procedure that evaluates apparent temperature differences or phase differences by comparing

⎯ the same objects under test at different times under conditions that are as similar as possible;

⎯ different objects under test of identical structure under the same conditions.

Typically, comparative passive thermography is applied, for example, in building (assessment of heat bridges,
etc.), in testing electrical installations (e.g. fault classification) or in testing mechanical components.

Typically, comparative active thermography is applied, for example, in detecting concealed local corrosion in
metals or in detecting bonding faults parallel to a surface.

To be successful, comparative thermography requires, in addition to the preconditions listed in 6.4,

⎯ the choice of the same section of the image as in the reference measurement.

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Comparative passive thermography also requires:

⎯ an estimate of the measurement parameters (emittance, reflected temperature, etc.);

⎯ stability of the temperature calibration of the camera with time.

6.6 Quantitative thermography

This is a procedure in which temperatures or phase angles are determined and evaluated from the measured
radiation values.

The cost of a quantitative passive thermographic test is higher than that of a qualitative one.

Quantitative testing based on temperature measurement requires a comprehensive knowledge of the material
parameters (emittance, etc.) and their interconnections (temperature dependence, etc.), the measurement
parameters (wavelength range, etc.) and the ambient parameters (ambient temperature, etc.).

Quantitative testing based on determining the phase angle uses data obtained from raw-image sequences
recorded before, during and/or after monofrequency or multifrequency excitation. Because the
above-mentioned interferences (reflections, emittance, non-uniform excitation, topography) are eliminated by
using differences and ratios (in the case of multifrequency excitation, by Fourier transformation), concealed
faults are revealed more clearly in the phase image than in the amplitude image.

Typically, passive quantitative thermography is applied, for example, in temperature-controlled production

processes, quantifying heat flows or classifying faults in the thermal testing of electrical installations.

Typically, active quantitative thermography is applied, for example, in determining the depth of the faults
mentioned in 6.5 or in displaying an object under test with depth resolution (thermal tomography).

To be successful, quantitative thermography requires, in addition to the preconditions listed in 6.4 and 6.5,

⎯ the choice of a suitable spectral filter to match the spectral characteristics of the object under test.

Active thermography furthermore entails

⎯ the choice of a suitable excitation method and intensity and of a suitable variation in excitation with time.
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Passive thermography furthermore entails:

⎯ absolute temperature calibration of the camera with the precision demanded by the application;

⎯ setting of the correct measurement parameters (emittance, reflected temperature, etc.).

7 Personnel qualifications and duties

The test personnel using this standard shall be demonstrated to be familiar with

⎯ the relevant standards, rules, specifications, test instructions and description of the methods;

⎯ the type of equipment and its operation;

⎯ the mounting, design, structure and operation of the objects under test;

⎯ the relevant safety regulations relating to the operation of powerful optical, acoustic, electrical,
electromagnetic and other excitation sources.

They shall also have eyesight meeting the requirements of DIN EN 473.

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8 Evaluation
Thermographic tests shall be evaluated and assessed for specified acceptance criteria (e.g. standards, codes
of practice of specialist associations, contracts, etc.) if they exist. If there are none, the evaluation will be
limited to a documented description of the conditions found.

9 Test report
If required, for example by standards, codes of practice of specialist associations, contracts, etc., the test
report shall contain the following details:

a) date and place of testing;

b) method used (as classified in clause 6);

c) acceptance criteria and/or a reference to the description of the method, test instruction or code of
practice;

d) type of equipment used;

e) boundary conditions and operating state of the objects under test;

f) a reference to the test order;

g) description and identification of the objects under test;

h) details relating to any acceptance limits (e.g. size, position, temperature);

i) scope of test;

j) results;

k) marking of readings on the object under test, if appropriate;

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l) name and signature of operator with date;

m) name and signature of supervisor with date, if required.

10 Records
The records, including the test report, shall be stored as required, for example in standards, codes of practice
or contracts.