Why Infrared Thermal (IRT) Imaging Inspections are Great for your

Building
You may not realize technology like this exists. Infrared thermal imaging cameras spot small
but key changes in temperature in different areas of a building, identifying problem areas
that the naked eye never could and some that a visual inspection could only hypothesize. A
building will show up as hot, cold, or somewhere in between as we scan the building with a
camera sensitive to infrared radiation.

The general advantages of IRT are the following:

 IRT is a non-contact technology; the devices do not be in contact with the sources of
heat, creating a safer work environment.
 IRT creates a two-dimensional thermal image that allows for comparisons with
visible light cameras
 IRT works in real-time, allowing high-speed scanning of images
 IRT is safe and effective
 IRT is non-invasive and will not disturb or affect the target area

What infrared imaging reveals during inspections

Moisture is a big issue that is revealed during these inspections, which includes hidden
sources of mold, roof leaks, and posts indicating termite nests. Electrical problems are also
revealed as well as heat and energy loss, foundation cracks, structural concerns, missing
insulation, ventilation glitches and rodent infestations. Let’s go through a couple of typical
problems we find with the camera, which can save you a bundle of money.

Roofing leaks

Water will typically give up its heat at a slower rate than

its surrounding roofing materials because of its high
thermal capacity, so we can see with just one image if any
areas have accumulated moisture. IRT is best done in the
evening when the temperature outside begins to fall. The
roofing materials will have released their heat, showing up
blue or purple on the image, while the moisturized
materials will still be warm and will show up red or orange
on the image. The image on the top right shows a bad leak
in monsoon, showing up blue as the cold infiltrates the warm building.

Electrical faults

Identifying the source of electrical problems quickly and accurately will add huge value to a
building while preventing injury and property damage. The image will have yellow marks
wherever there is damage to electrical systems, making it easy to spot and put on the list of
repairs to be done (as you can see in the bottom right image of the light fixture).
Structural defects

When we scan walls, floors and ceilings with the camera, we notice differences in
temperature and conductivity, which tell us about hidden missing structural components
and damaged portions of these components. On top of the missing insulation (that you can
see in the rightmost photo below), many buildings will show wet basement walls, which
could be a potential source of mold.

The information provided by thermal imaging inspections is extremely valuable to the

owner or prospective buyer of a building, but it is also worth noting that infrared building
inspections also have their limits. The results must be interpreted by an expert who knows
about possible sources of error in measurements such as dry areas, reflected heat, and the
limit of surface readings.

Building Inspection Motivation Factoids

Even though using infrared thermography to examine a building can often pinpoint
problems, owners may have different reasons for wanting to know [or not wanting to know]
about the condition of a given building. Here are some examples:

• Buildings are often owned by one company and leased to another. If the tenant is paying
the utility bills, he/she wants the building to be energy efficient, but the lease may not be
long enough for the tenant to enjoy an appreciable return on the investment from re-
insulating the building or plugging up the air leaks. The owner has no financial motivation to
make the building more energy efficient unless he/she is paying the heating/cooling bills or
can use the fact that the building energy costs are low to his/her advantage in a sales
negotiation.

• There is nothing remedial about infrared thermography itself, or any other type of testing
for that matter. IRT can pinpoint and document problems, but often the repair costs are
more than the owner can afford, or the payback is too long.
Figure: Visual and IRT image of an air leak on a window.

• Sometimes, finding out that there is a major problem with a building opens a "can of
worms" that the owner would rather not have opened. Also, some building owners may not
be willing to pay the cost of repairs if they move every few years, because they figure that if
they can live with problems for a while, then the problems will become someone else's.

• Industrial building owners [manufacturers] care about one thing...how many of their
widgets go out the loading dock door that day. Unless it affects the bottom line (like a
refrigerated warehouse or a building that needs to maintain exact temperature control),
most are not concerned about energy loss until it starts to: a) damage the building from
condensation, b) affect the operation, or c) make the people inside so uncomfortable that
they revolt. In a factory where 85% of the kilowatts are consumed by machinery, the
heating/cooling bills are not the issue. But as energy costs go up, the manufacturing
companies will be looking for ways to save on heating and cooling costs and reduce energy
costs for machines that heat. What a perfect application for infrared!

When buying your dream home, make sure it doesn’t have hidden headaches with an
infrared thermal image building inspection. Home sellers don’t want unexpected problems
(especially the easily fixable kind) arising and scaring off a potential buyer when they get an
inspection done. Even current home owners with no intentions of selling would benefit from
having a thermal inspection done. Infrared technology is an excellent addition to a visual
inspection and doesn’t negate the need for an inspector with experience and knowledge of
all systems that make up a building. As always, choose wisely!