What is infrared thermography?  
Thermography, also called thermal imaging, is the production of non-contact infrared or “heat pictures" (called thermographs) from which temperature measurements can be made. Infrared imagers that are either handheld or fix-mounted are used to scan equipment or structures, then instantly convert the information into thermographs for monitoring or quantitative temperature analysis. By detecting anomalies often invisible to the naked eye, thermography allows corrective action before costly system failures occur.

 

Why is infrared imaging indispensable for building inspections?
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 then communicate them to decision makers.

Rising energy costs
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning costs have doubled over the last several years and they will not drop spectacularly in the near future. Legislation and increased regulation are pushing for 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. Sandhills Thermal Imaging utilizes infrared cameras with special measurement features for building diagnostics which enable easy detection of building anomalies that often result in energy loss. 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 condition data gathered by an infrared camera provides convincing evidence in property damage settlements. Thermal imaging documents the full extent of a problem before any claims are paid. Insurance companies would always prefer to know the true condition of a property before underwriting. In addition, regular surveys of the building and its facilities may allow the insured party to obtain a substantial discount on the insurance contract. 

Building contractors, experts and specialists
Planning, control, supervision and documentation of the work performed 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 clear documentation of repair, restoration, insulation or HVAC installation. Thermal images show customers and clients the exact problem and can 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 infrared imaging?

The infrared imager 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 survey
• Building envelope thermography
• Air tightness testing
• Door seal survey
• Wall seal heat-loss survey
• Moisture thermography survey
• Roof moisture thermography
• Dew point thermography survey

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

Classic maintenance and building applications
• HVAC system performance and repair
• Home electrical survey
• Indoor environment survey
• Pest control
• Distant heating system survey
• Checking drying efficiency of walls, floors, ceilings

Benefits : Infrared cameras pave the way to -
• reduced heating and cooling 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

Should you invest in a thermal survey?
Every building should undergo a survey to uncover thermal and moisture problems both during and after construction, or prior to any building being sold. While most observations can be made with the naked eye, infrared technology is almost like x-ray vision in that it allows us to see thermal patterns which when properly intrepreted can give us an idea of what is going on inside the walls of a building. Thermal imaging enables us to find and document problems early, before they show obvious symptoms like stains and musty odors. These symptoms are the signs that problems are developing into major structural damage, and will require major expenditures to repair. Thermal imaging can catch the problems when they start, which is when they are easier and cheaper to fix.

As the owner, manager, or potential investor of commercial property you'll want to protect your substantial investment and use thermographic surveys as an integral part of your asset management program. You'll no longer wonder about the condition of your building... you'll know.

As a housing consumer, you may feel helpless wondering if your builder installed or constructed everything properly. You may wonder how much the busy building-code inspectors missed. You may wonder what's wrong with that house you want to buy. You may wonder what problems lie in wait down the road; we all hear the stories. But why trust your fate to trust? We are your advocate. We work for you and are completely independent from contractors and repair companies. Let thermal imaging give you the piece of mind you are looking for.

No matter what type of property you own, you should have your investment surveyed by our unbiased thermographers. We can act as a construction watchdog, alerting you to potential problems. We can discover the source of your mystery leak or inspect the property to confirm it is still watertight.

Infraspection Institute Certified Level-3 Infrared Thermographers®

(910) 835-1306

info@sandhillsthermalimaging.com