Thermal Imaging - Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see through the walls?  The correct technical answer is NO; however, through the principles of heat transfer, we can see things in the wall cavity.  For example, it is possible to see studs, drywall screws, insulation (missing or present) wet insulation, wet drywall, hurricane clips, and moisture intrusion.  From the outside, since most exterior building materials are denser than drywall, we can see air exfiltration, water under stucco, vinyl, lap siding, etc. What is Thermal Imaging? A thermal imaging camera takes an image of heat radiation from an object.  It travels at the speed of light but is not visible to the human eye.  Hollywood has made it most famous in Predator with Arnold and the alien.  When the alien “looked” around he saw what was an early version of infrared (thermography).  Primarily used in preventative maintenance, we have now found many uses in building inspection and forensics. Why should I use thermal imaging? It can see “problems” before the human eye will be able to, for example, moisture intrusion, missing insulation, construction defects.  It is non-contact, so it does not disturb the finished surface. Can it detect swimming pool leaks? If conditions are right, it can identify underground leaks; however the most efficient way to find a pool leak is to let it leak until it stops.  The point at which it stops is the lowest point of the leak. Can it detect slab leaks? It can definitely help locate the wet areas to facilitate in drying.  However, pinpointing the actual pipe and leak is best left to sonic equipment that “listens” for the water escaping the pipe.  Remember it is important to get the floor dry as quickly as possible to prevent mold. Can it find post tension cables? In order to find steel submerged in a slab we would need access to one end of the cable.  That is not always possible in the field.  We would then heat the cable with a heat source and locate the warm area with the camera.  A more efficient technology is electromagnetic frequency resonation.  What training does your operator have? Our operators have a minimum of a Level I equivalent.  The on staff expert has three certifications in thermography, they include Level I, Level II and Building Science. What school? Infrared Training Centers or ITC is the primary source for our certifications.  They are recognized worldwide for their achievements in infrared thermography. What are your camera types? We have a fleet of infrared cameras to better facilitate turn around time.  The one we like to call the “Big Dog” is a FLIR B-20 with LCD display.  Our others are all FLIR Can you do a roof survey? Definitely.  The best time in our area is about one hour after sunset.  Thermography is the perfect tool to find moisture in commercial flat roof systems.  We can even “map out” the wet areas for core testing and accurate bidding. Can you go to video capture for live water tests? Yes, we do lots of litigation work as well as forensic for builders.  We can go video or capture one image every 3 seconds and up.  This feature is very useful for live water rack testing. Can you find water leaks? Water leaks and moisture intrusion are a specialty.  Because water has different thermal capacitance than almost all building materials it makes it easy to locate. Can you find missing insulation? Missing insulation is another easy to spot item with our infrared cameras.  It used to be thought that missing insulation would only cause higher electric bills.  Not so.  It can also set up a potential mold scenario due to condensation behind the drywall. Click here to request a mold screening assessment. Click here to request more information.