Infrared Thermography, an essential tool for Builders, Architects, Surveyors,
Local Authority Planners and Building Inspectors

Why use infrared thermography in the building industry?

As we brace ourselves for higher gas and electricity prices, the need to conserve energy has never been stronger. Infrared thermography can effectively detect building and / or design faults that lead to energy losses, allowing cost-effective remedial work to be undertaken with minimum disruption.

Faced with new materials and ever-shorter construction times, architects and contractors are finding that efficient planning, supervision and documentation of a project’s air tightness and insulation are demanded. Infrared thermography can provide important information so that costly and time-consuming repair work can be avoided.

For building owners and insurance companies involved in property damage claims, clear images of normally invisible diagnostic evidence can be invaluable for planning restoration or evaluating insurance settlements.

Detecting construction faults

Using thermal imaging, heat losses, humidity and air leaks in buildings become instantly visible, providing clear evidence of construction faults.

Drying of buildings

Drying machines are often used to evaporate the moisture in walls and other parts of new constructions. Thermal imaging can help to ensure that this process has been effective, with areas still containing moisture appearing as ‘cold spots’ on the infrared image.

See air leakage on structures

Detecting air leaks

Thermography is commonly used to identify air change rates with the help of the so-called ‘blower-door’ process, which creates under-pressure in buildings. Because the air pressure outside is higher than the pressure inside, the air will try to enter through unsealed areas. Using an infrared camera, this airflow can easily be seen, clearly revealing any unsealed areas, which can then be attended to before coverings and fittings make correcting this potential fault both expensive and time-consuming.

Find leaks in flat roofs

Finding leaks in flat roofs

Water tends to retain heat longer than roofing material and leaks can easily be detected using thermography at night, when the rest of the roof has cooled down. This ability to determine the exact location of a leak in a flat roof system makes it feasible to repair the faulty areas, rather than the entire roof, saving both time and money.

Redevelopment planning and quality assurance

Infrared technology is an invaluable tool for redevelopment planning, quality assurance and the inspection of new buildings.

During the construction-drying process, thermal imaging can be used to monitor its progress and speed it up if necessary. If this process can be accelerated, and it can be proven, with the help of infrared images, that the construction is totally dry, then the building can be handed over earlier to the client, often resulting in a bonus for the contractor.

Concrete Block Buildings.
Block core identification

Building renovations

Infrared thermography provides valuable information during the renovation of buildings and monuments. Framework constructions, hidden behind mineral plaster, become clearly visible in the infrared image and decisions can then be made as to whether exposure of these structures is necessary. Thermography can also detect the detachment of plaster from walls at a very early stage, enabling preservation measures to be taken.

For Insurance / Risk Assessors

Fire Protection

Crevices, leaking joints and loosening stones in chimneys and exhaust sections of heating systems can clearly be seen using infrared thermography. Overheating areas, which can lead to chimney fires, are immediately visible on the infrared image. Fire hazards, caused by building too close to hot heating and exhaust areas, can also be recognised at once.

See mildew under wall coverings

Damp and mildew prevention

Structural damage, health problems and allergies develop in living and working spaces where damp and mildew are present. Fungus spores grow in areas where humidity from the ambient air forms droplets and falls, and mineral substances from walls, wallpaper and paint are excellent breeding grounds. Infrared cameras, with specialist software functions for dew point visualisation, can identify potentially hazardous areas automatically, via a colour alarm in the image.