Thermal imaging
(thermography) is a type of infrared imaging. Thermal
imagers detect radiation in the infrared range of the
electromagnetic spectrum and produce images of that
radiation. Infrared radiation is emitted by all objects
based on their temperatures. It's basically the science
of taking pictures of heat and reading the data
accordingly. Thermal imaging makes it possible to "see"
one's environment with or without visible illumination.
As a result, thermography's extensive use can
historically be ascribed to the military and security
services.
Firefighters can use it to see through a smoke
filled room to locate people inside and also locate the
base of a fire. We also can use thermal imaging to
prevent overheated electrical components such as fuse
boxes, electrical panels, motors, etc. Above all this is
something we can relate to; poorly insulated walls and
attic space, as well as water infiltration. By detecting
these problems at an early stage can save money in
heating and cooling costs and decrease the amount of
damage caused by water.
The structures we live and work in are susceptible
to quality and performance problems during construction
and maintenance that can impact performance and may, in
some cases, render them dangerous. Regardless of the
building type involved, infrared thermography can
provide remarkable, nondestructive information about
construction details and building performance.
Buildings of all sorts, from homes to factories to high
rises, can be troubled by problems related to design,
construction and maintenance that can be difficult to
diagnose and resolve. The major problems found in
buildings include:
¬ excessive energy use due to missing or damaged
insulation, insulation that is
performing inadequately and
excessive air-leakage across the thermal perimeter
¬ moisture damage due to
leaks or condensation, especially in the walls or roofs
¬ ice damage to sloped roofs
¬ poor HVAC distribution or performance
¬ inadequate verification of construction details or
structural performance
delaminations of facade materials
¬ "sick building syndrome," mold growth and other
health related issues
A great value
of infrared thermography is that it provides a means of
seeing the invisible thermal signatures related to many
of these problems in building. When properly used,
thermography enables building owners, architects,
contractors and inspectors to locate problems, verify
building performance, and validate solutions. When
people act on this information, significant savings
result and buildings are more comfortable!
Building applications for
thermography
The major building-related applications
for the technology are detailed below.
Insulation checks
Air leakage location
Excessive air leakage
can account for up to half of the energy consumed to
condition buildings. Of course
adequate air exchange is essential for the
occupants' health and safety, but
most buildings have a far higher rate of
air exchange than is necessary. The
root cause is often poor design and/or
construction which allows air to move
across the thermal perimeter. The
problems can be as straightforward as
a failed door weather seal or as complex
as an air pathway through a plumbing
chase in an interior wall or ceiling plenum.
The leakage pathway is often complex
and, without infrared, extremely
difficult to visualize.
Moisture intrusion or condensation
As building designs and
techniques produce tighter thermal envelopes,
moisture (from leaks or condensation)
has created more and more problems.
The water can intrude through a small
crack but it is then trapped between
the relatively impermeable building
materials. Good building techniques typically
must deal with both air sealing and
moisture retarders to keep moisture from
accumulating inside the wall
sections.
EIFS construction
The growing popularity
of buildings using Exterior Insulation and Finish
Systems (EIFS) has been
accompanied by numerous cases of moisture-related
structural damage. Although
often attributed to leaking windows, water
typically intrudes where
sealing or flashing systems were inadequate or have
begun to fail. Moisture is then
trapped under the relatively impervious foam. In
warm climates the decay of
structural wooden elements, which can occur very
rapidly, is a major problem.
Mold growth also often accompanies the moisture
resulting in health concerns.
HVAC performance
HVAC systems can be plagues by design and installation
problems resulting
in excessive energy use and/or
uncomfortable buildings. Thermography helps
building specialists visualize
the otherwise invisible impact of this poor
performance as indicated by
excessively hot or cold areas. Once these have
been located, the root causes
can be determined; these may include reversed
or misdirected airflow or
poorly placed supply ducts, leading to short-
circuiting of air directly to
the return ducts.
Subsurface heat sources
Heating
coils are being used more and more either to keep
outside walkways
or entrance ramps snow
free or to provide heat to areas and rooms via hot
water or electric cables.
Thermography provides a quick way to verify location
and performance of these
subsurface devices. Typically the thermal pattern
shows up very clearly
even when the heat source is embedded in several
inches of concrete.
Similarly, water pipes in wall sections can usually be
located quite readily.
Water leaks from pipes,
whether in a wall section or under a slab, may also
be located using IR.
Verification of construction detail
No area of
application is more important these days, particularly
in
commercial buildings,
than the verification of construction details and
performance. Thermography
is being used with great success to verify bond
beams and placement of
reinforcing in concrete masonry unit tip-up walls.
How? The solid portions
of the wall is in a thermally transient condition -
typically
in the early evening as
it cools down. Because the inspection is conducted
during construction,
deficiencies can be corrected prior to occupation with
relatively minor
inconvenience.
Sick-building syndrome
When buildings
are too tight or too moist, health-related problems
quickly
come to the forefront.
Grouped together as "sick building syndrome," these
can stem from inadequate
HVAC performance, moisture trapped in walls, mold
growth on cold, damp
surfaces and inadequate air change rates. Many of
these can be visualized
and diagnosed, at least in part, with thermography to
help solve these very
serious - and common - problems.
Roof moisture inspections
The inspection of flat roofs, especially built-up roofs
(BUR) has been proven
for a number of years.
The technique allows for the detection of moisture
trapped in a roof system;
over time the moisture leads to the pre-mature
degradation of the roof.
Here is a before and after shot of what we found
when we took off the original siding of this home:
|
 |
|
Before |
After |
We had suspected some damage
but did not know to what extent.
At this time we did not
have
thermal imaging equipment.
Notice how
clean and un-disturbed
everything looks with the original siding.
This
could possibly be
your home or your potential next home.
If you
are in the market
of buying a new home, we would be able to assist
you in
finding
any areas like these that you were not expecting to
encounter. The bottom line is that you spent pennies compared to
what you
would have spent in repairs.
The interior of your home is just as important as the exterior.
Water can find its way inside the home through cracks
and cavities
that thermal imaging finds.
It can seep in under carpets and padding
as well as hardwood flooring leading to costly repairs
and the development of mold growth.
For more information regarding these services or to schedule an
appointment please contact our office by phone or email
anytime between 7:30 - 4:30 Monday through Friday.
Click
here for examples of how Thermal
Imagers detect these issues
Below is a map of the counties that we are able to accommodate with this
service but not limited to. If you live outside the
service area please contact us.
Pricing is based according to your area and
payment is required at time of service.
Anderson,
Blount,
Jefferson,
Knox,
Loudon,
Monroe, McMinn,
Meigs,
Roane,
Sevier