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Why are infrared cameras indispensable for building inspections? What is infrared thermography? Thermography, also called thermal imaging, is the production of non-contact infrared or “heat” pictures from which temperature measurements can be made. Handheld or fix-mounted infrared cameras scan equipment or structures, then instantly convert the thermal images to pictures for monitoring or quantitative temperature analysis. By detecting anomalies often invisible to the naked eye, thermography allows corrective action before costly system failures occur.

Infrared thermography has evolved into one of the most valuable diagnostic tools for Predictive Maintenance and many other applications. It maximizes operations and safety in many industrial environments, but it also increases building efficiency. It is the most economical way to discover construction failures and to communicate them.

Rising energy costs

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning costs have doubled over the last years and they will not drop spectacularly in the near future. Legislation pushes the implementation of energy-saving construction technology, materials and appliances for both residential and commercial buildings.

What has this to do with infrared thermography?

The major advantage of infrared cameras is that they image and measure entire surfaces and provide clear images that can be stored, sent and analyzed. SoCal Infrared utilizes infrared cameras with special measurement features for building diagnostics which enable easy detection of building anomalies that often result into energy losses. Such cameras eliminate costly inspection techniques that require labor, time and destructive probing. Finding and repairing faulted areas thanks to infrared thermography saves energy resources, time, money and last but not least, provides a rapid return of investment on the infrared survey

Who is interested in a building substance assessment?

Building Owners –

The building is an asset that is to be preserved or improved. Against this background, it is imperative to be able to assess and value the building substance thoroughly and quickly. Infrared building diagnostics caters to the private house owner as well as to investment companies owning huge real estate units and employing or outsourcing a huge facility management staff. Clear infrared images of normally invisible diagnostic evidence carry invaluable information prior to far-reaching decision-making, ranging from the costly roofing or façade repair of a row house to major investment project decisions.

Insurance companies

Building inspection data gathered by an infrared camera provide convincing evidence in property damage settlements. In addition, regular inspection of the building and its facilities allows the insured party often to obtain a substantial discount on the insurance contract.

Building contractors, experts and specialists

Planning, control, supervision and documentation of the works becomes an important issue as the building sector is faced with new materials, a growing set of building regulations, ever-shorter time frames to get the job done and, in some regions, lack of a skilled workforce. The infrared camera enables to clearly document repair, restoration, insulation or HVAC works. Thermal images show customers and clients the exact problem and prove to them that the problem has been repaired correctly. This evidence adds value to the contractor’s skill and expertise. Moreover, to serve the above-mentioned groups, the infrared camera expands the range of services offered by building sector specialists. Using a building applications infrared camera before every building valuation, transaction, or major HAVC repair maximizes value and minimizes costs.

What can be done with an infrared camera?

The camera can be applied inside as well as outside. Fields of application include any symptoms and signs marked by a temperature difference on a surface. Here’s a list of concrete capacities according to field of application:

Leak, humidity detection

• Floor heating thermography
• Heating thermography inspections
• Building envelope thermography
• Air tightness testing
• Door seal inspection
• Wall seal heat loss inspection
• Moisture thermography inspections
• Roof moisture thermography
• Dew point thermography inspection

Building valuing/ damage, repair inspections

• Due diligence thermography
• Covered openings search in walls
• Work documentation, quality control (before and after repair)
• Energy investigations
• Education

Classic maintenance AND building application

• HVAC system performance and repair
• Home electrical inspection
• Indoor environment inspection
• Pest control
• Distant heating system inspection
• Checking drying efficiency of walls, floors, ceilings

Benefits : Infrared cameras pave the way to –

• reducing heating costs
• preserving and increasing the building substance
• supporting contractors in warranty claims
• checking repair quality
• detecting long-time construction damages
• detecting and preventing mold and decay
• preventing formation of condensation
• preventing humidity intrusion in building

What Do Thermographers See?

Heat Loss
Mold and Moisture
Missing Insulation
Door and Window Seals
Hot/Cold Water Leaks