Real Estate Due Diligence Infrared Scanning - Part 4

I'm sure you've been waiting anxiously for the next installment of a Day in the Life of a Thermographer. So far I've showed how how I did a roof and building envelope thermal scan as part of a Real Estate Due Diligence Infrared specific transaction. This week I'll tell you what it all means.

The results from the roof and building scan were pretty good.  As a brief review, I began the thermal inspection while the sun was still heating the roof and building surfaces. I then watched the temperature drop over several areas so I could check for irregular and elevated temperatures in different areas of the roof and building (remember, if it has moisture, it cools down slower than dry areas).

I also noted any equipment because equipment (and the areas below equipment) will generally exhibit a hotter temperature. In other words, I can't compare the temperature of the roof surface to the temperature of an air conditioning unit; I have to compare the temperature of the roof surface to the same area on the roof surface as it cools, and likewise I have to compare any equipment to the same equipment.

There were no significant anomalies as the roof cool. However, I always recommend that areas however around the floor drains and roof mounted equipment be included in a regular maintenance program since they are very vulnerable.

The exterior wall system also showed very small temperature differentials as the surface cooled, indicating there no significant moisture entrainment in the sheathing areas. However, when I did a visual inspection, I did see some areas where the caulk was cracking. This means that even though moisture hadn't gotten in yet, maintenance should be done to make sure the integrity of the EIFS system remains intact.

So far so good, right? But wait until you hear what happened when I took a look at the mechanical and electrical systems.
When was the last time you checked what was going on behind the walls? Want more information? Call me at 803-328-2889 or drop me an email!

We believe so strongly in using Infrared Thermal Imaging for your Real Estate Due Diligence, that we created a Discount Membership for our repeat customers. Learn more about it here: http://www.irinfraredservices.com/PremierMember.html

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit www.irinfraredservices.com or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

A Day in the Life of a Thermographer - Part I

I want to take a little different approach over the next month and walk you through how a Real Estate Due Diligence Infrared project is done. With an thermal inspection project for Due Diligence, there are a lot of moving parts. For this one, I did a commercial roof scan (and other infrared scans as well) as part of a specific Real Estate Due Diligence transaction for a large hotel chain in Myrtle Beach a few months ago and thought it might make for a fun few blogs.

Let me set the scene for you. It's Myrtle Beach, which is lovely this time of year - the ocean is beautiful as always but it's off-season so it's a perfect time to do a roof scan. Not too many tourists and you have enough time between rainstorms to perform an effective infrared roof scan.

The hotel in question is a little over a quarter of century old. It has two different integrated structures and stands about 9 stories tall. At first glance, it looked like a fairly conventional structure with lots and lots of windows.

It had EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing System) panels between the rows of windows (and a lovely view of the beach, I admit it). The hotel had a flat roof - perfect for infrared scanning!

Before starting any Real Estate Due Diligence Infrared project, I talk with the client to determine what the overall goals are. We set 4 goals.

1. Check the roofs to see if moisture had gotten into the insulation.
2. Check the Electrical system using infrared scanning to make sure everything is functioning correctly (remember - stuff gets really hot before it fails!
3. Make sure no moisture was getting through the EIFS.
4. Inspect the interior walls to make sure no moisture was present and make sure the wet walls (walls that carry the supply water, waste water and soil stacks from the top floor to the bottom floors) and the bathroom walls weren't wet.

Big job, huh? Next week I'll tell you what I did.

When was the last time you checked what was going on behind the walls? Want more information? Call me at 803-328-2889 or drop me an email!

We believe so strongly in using Infrared Thermal Imaging for your Real Estate Due Diligence, that we created a Discount Membership for our repeat customers. Learn more about it here: http://www.irinfraredservices.com/PremierMember.html

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit www.irinfraredservices.com or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

Lowering Commercial Electric Costs

Did you see that that Phoenix, Arizona recorded a temperature of 119 degrees last week? It has been unbelievably hot across the United States, resulting in increased use of energy grids and power to keep buildings cool.

If you are responsible for the maintenance of a large building or factory, rising energy bills are an ongoing concern. Proper building insulation is the most significant factor in reducing the energy consumption required to heat or cool a building. Unless you have a very old building, today’s insulation does not “go bad”. This doesn’t mean you can breathe a huge sigh of relief just yet.

Missing Insulation

Two insulation factors can affect energy performance. First, missing insulation is a common problem. Once the walls go up, it’s hard to tell if your insulation is installed properly or if it’s missing entirely in places.

Second, if you have or have had any type of water leaks or moisture seepage, the insulation may be wet. Wet insulation has almost no insulating value at all.

Using infrared thermal imaging, we can accurately determine the areas where insulation is insufficient, areas where there are water penetration problems, and air leakage through the building envelope.

Commercial building thermography is non-invasive and cost-efficient. Local insulation improvement can reduce heat escape during the summer. The larger your building, the greater your potential savings.

When was the last time you checked what was going on behind the walls? Want more information? Call me at 803-328-2889 or drop me an email!

We believe so strongly in using Infrared Thermal Imaging for your Predictive Maintenance, that we created a Discount Membership for our repeat customers. Learn more about it here: http://www.irinfraredservices.com/PremierMember.html

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit www.irinfraredservices.com or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

Buying an Infrared Camera

So you've been reading my blog for years (indulge me). And I've finally convinced you of the importance of infrared thermal scanning for predictive and preventative maintenance, energy efficiency scans, and roof scans. You are ready to go buy your own infrared camera and do it all yourself.

While that is certainly possible, I don't recommend it (and not just because that's what I do for a living)! Using a certified thermographer, whether it's IR Infrared Services or another infrared services company, is a better choice. Why?

First, a thermographer will have professional level equipment that generally will produce higher and better quality scans. It's his or her job to have the best equipment available. A high quality (and expensive) infrared camera like those used by professionals means a lower probability of missing or misinterpreting a fault. The cheaper infrared cameras on the market are best used for spot checks - not building envelope or roof scans.

The sophisticated level of technology and the value of use makes infrared cameras expensive. One really must look at the economics of purchasing an IR camera. There is a lot of economic merit in using an experienced, qualified full time thermographer, delivering a quality service with good equipment at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a camera to be used occasionally by relatively inexperienced operators.

Last, you can't underestimate the value of experience and knowledge. A certified thermographer has been trained to properly read and interpret the results from the infrared scan and has gone through many hours of ongoing training and certification. Why would you trust the safety of your building, electrical equipment, or roof integrity to anyone but a certified infrared thermographer?

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

How Do I Know When My Roof's Waterproofing System Has Failed?

The obvious answer is - when you see water! Unfortunately, you won't always see a leak until moisture has contaminated the roofing substrate and insulation. Since most types of roofing systems absorb some amount of water, it is harder to find the exact spot of water contamination in the insulation because it may not leak into the building until the insulation has absorbed all the water it can hold.

On-Roof Infrared Moisture Surveys (also called roof scans) are able to detect if your waterproofing system has been breached before the visible effects of leaks and contaminated insulation and drywall (or the dreaded black mold) appear.

The thermal roof scan picture demonstrates how areas of moisture create heat that is invisible to the naked eye. By using infrared thermography, we find the trapped moisture and mark the wet areas so that repairs can be made surgically. This can save you money because you may not have to replace the roof as soon. By marking paint directly on the roof, repair areas can be seen by anyone standing on the roofs after the survey is performed.

If extending the life of your commercial roof is a concern, why not consider a roof scan? I can work with your roofer to pinpoint the exact areas needing repair and then, just as importantly, verify the roof is no longer leaking.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Too Hot to Handle? Thermal Imaging and Electrical Safety

Overheated Electrical Systems are A Major Cause of Commercial Fires
A commercial building can have dozens of points where electrical wiring connects to supply apparatus and equipment and every one of those points can cause heat buildup. Junction boxes, electrical outlets, breaker panels and connections to equipment that need electricity to operate all have the potential to develop problems.

Over time lug nuts that hold wiring in place and wire nuts used to connect two or more wires together can become loose or cracked, causing dangerous heat to build up or even cause electrical sparks inside your walls. Add to that electrical equipment heating up because of worn bearings, drive shafts that are out of balance or terminal blocks that are cracked or dirty and you have the potential for real trouble!

Thermal Imaging Can See What Can’t Be Seen!

With Thermal Imaging I can "see" through walls, look behind electrical panels and inside your equipment to find those potential problems. By scanning your building and equipment I can develop an overall thermal picture of your location. Analyzing the results of the thermal pictures allows me to identify the hot spots - allowing you to have them repaired before the fire alarms begin to sound. A yearly Thermal Scan can be a powerful weapon in your maintenance and safety arsenal. Give me a call and let me show you how inexpensive it can be to unleash the power of Thermal Imaging for your business. Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Roof Leaking in my Building - Again!

Roof Leaking in Your Commercial Building?

I was recently in a large retail store and right by the registers was a common sight - a yellow "Caution Wet Floors" sign and several large plastic buckets capturing water leaking from the roof. Now, you would think that a large retail store would be able to keep a leak-free roof, right? Not so easy, and if you work in building maintenance, you know it can be challenging and expensive to track down the source of the leak.

I started a series on roof leaks back in January - you can catch up with the series here and here. In our last blog, we talked about how leaks develop in Flat Roof systems. No matter what kind of flat roof system is installed on your building, they all have some weaknesses in common. Whether there is just one layer or several layers, the material in the substrate and the applied membranes will have seams that can become weak with age. Weather, foot traffic and UV rays from the sun can break down adhesives and materials, even PVC, asphalt and tar. Once water finds an opening in the outer layers it will continue to flow along the substrate until it finds another opening. Water will soak any insulation, wood or ceiling tile in the way until it reaches its saturation point, and then continue on its way until it finally reaches your floor.

You can see why leaks can be so difficult to locate; the water you are seeing on your floor can be a great distance from where it actually enters the building. You can call a roofer to fix the problem but even an experienced professional may make several attempts before he finally finds and repairs the problem. To add to your frustration and expense, he may have to take out areas of the interior ceiling in order to track the water. Unfortunately, with each failed attempt, you can expect even more damage with each subsequent rain event. Another complication will occur when you have wet insulation mixed with the heat inside the building; mold will begin to infest the insulation. Mold eradication is expensive and dangerous for anyone occupying the space.

Quickly Locating The Source of Roof Leaks

With Infrared Thermal Scanning I can help you narrow down the search area for your roofer to ensure a fast and targeted repair. How does it work? During the day the roof builds up heat. It releases heat as it cools in the evening. The interesting thing is that all that wet material under the roof will hold the heat longer than dry material. Those wet, warm areas show up clearly on an infrared scan allowing me to indicate the most likely areas to check for repair.

Calling a certified infrared thermographer is the quickest and most cost-effective way to identify the source of water leaks in your flat roofing system. Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

HVAC Duct Seal Testing in the Carolinas

I know I promised to finish my discussion of commercial roofing systems today, but recently I have had several calls from some panicked homebuilders in the area asking for my help with a new building regulation in both North and South Carolina.

The 2012 building codes in several states including North and South Carolina have added HVAC Duct Seal testing to their building codes. Duct Seal Testing is a service for both builders and private home and business owners to ensure that the HVAC systems in their homes and businesses are performing at peak operating efficiency.

Why is Duct Seal Testing Important to You?

The government estimates that as much as two thirds of all the HVAC Duct systems in the United States leak. Leaky duct work can cause early equipment failure, health issues inside the building and wasted money. Leaks on the intake side of your HVAC system can cause your system to waste precious conditioned air by heating and cooling your attic, crawl space or garage. The extra work load on the system can seriously shorten the life of your HVACequipment.

Leaks on the supply side of your duct system can pull dust, particles of insulation or even toxic mold into the living or working space of your building, endangering the health and quality of life for you, or your employees.

For more information on the new regulations, please check NC energy codes.

If you are a Builder who needs Duct Seal system testing for your final Building inspection, give me a call. Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit us on the web or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Construction Defects in Commercial Roof Build and Repair

A Million Reasons Why A Commercial Roof Can Equal Massive Opportunity for Damage

Representing an investment that can run into the millions of dollars, commercial buildings and their contents are a valuable asset that must be protected (and no, I'm not talking about insurance although you need that too)!

Commercial roofing systems protect the integrity of the building as well as the assets within. It is imperative that your commercial roof is both weather tight and energy efficient. Any compromise could result in excessive heating and cooling costs, property damage, and production loss. Of course, when you stand outside and look up, everything looks ok, right? So how do you know if the integrity of your commercial roofing system is intact?

Infrared thermography is still one of the most effective non-intrusive test methods to determine if moisture intrusion is happening (BEFORE you can actually see the damage) and if you are losing heat or cooled air. In fact, regular infrared roof scans can increase the lifespan of your commercial roof by as much as 300%!

Infrared thermography not only detects and verifies moisture infiltration, but it can also "see" and tracking moisture migration paths. Using infrared thermography can detect stone veneer, stucco, brick or other siding construction defects and it can be a valuable tool to reduce remediation costs by identifying the source of the issue. Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter:  We are proud to offer the very best infrared thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

*Ideas for this blog entry derived from:
Infrared Applications in the Fields of Forensic & Construction Defect Engineering, Fronapfel, E.L. & Amhaus, E.G., InfraMation 2003, ITC 092 A 2003-08-15

6 Steps To Create a Predictive Maintenance Program

Creating an effective Predictive Maintenance Program requires some upfront work. Not every piece of equipment in your facility is mission-critical. Knowing the failure rate of your equipment and your manufacturer recommendations is very important. You will need to create some type of database that holds this information as well as the tracking measurements of your program. Generally, these are the basic steps to setting up a Predictive Maintenance Program:

1. List your critical processes, applications and equipment

2. Prioritize each item on your list in order of the impact a failure would have. For example, high failure impact would be equipment that:

• Directly impacts safety, the environment, revenue, or customer relations
• Is unique or costly to replace, or used constantly (24x7)
• Is difficult to find spare parts for or has a long lead time for repair

3. Determine how likely your equipment is to fail. You can use PdM software, past maintenance history and internal operator experience (e.g.: when units broke/ how often, why, and what they cost to fix) to make this estimate.

4. Create an inspection schedule based on failure probability and critical impact.

5. Set up a database that contains the above information for each process, application and piece of equipment.

6. Take baseline data and store it for each piece of equipment. Be sure to include repair histories, manufacturer recommendations and operator knowledge: when units broke/ how often, why, and what they cost to fix.

Most facilities either purchase or develop a specialized database. These databases are referred to as asset management systems (AMS) or computer managed maintenance system (CMMS). In addition to the information above, many of these systems also track warranty status, depreciation records and purchasing information.

So why am I, a certified thermographer, writing about predictive maintenance? Because steps 3, 4, 5, and 6 are generally when we get called in. The use of infrared (IR) cameras in predictive maintenance is well established. Using an infrared camera, we produce thermographic images of your equipment. These temperature measurements provide an early warning of potential equipment failures and unsafe working conditions.

We help create your baseline data, and then be part of your regular inspection schedule. Most mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic equipment can be measured and tracked for your preventative and/or predictive maintenance program using infrared thermography. Most of our clients find that bringing us in while they are creating their programs is most cost-effective and efficient way of creating initial baseline data (and many times we find immediate issues that need attention!)

Interested in learning more? Give me a call at 803-3328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

This article series was developed using ideas from http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2009/124.html?page=full and http://www.myflukestore.com/crm_uploads/part_one_of_a_predictive_maintenace_series.pdf for source material.

Creating a Predictive Maintenance Program for Your Facility

Maintenance programs aren’t “one size fits all”. Each predictive maintenance program should be developed based on your facility's size, equipment, regulations, and your productivity goals. So how do you create a predictive maintenance program?

First, it’s important to understand what some of the most common predictive maintenance methods are. Reactive maintenance is the kind of program that depends on you doing absolutely nothing. You run it til it fails or breaks. Remember that knock in your car engine? You have two choices – keep running it til the engine fails completely (mega car repair bill and lots of downtime!) or take it in to get it fixed. Letting your car engine fail when all it needed was regular oil changes is the equivalent of Reactive Maintenance.

Preventive Maintenance (PM) is when you create a schedule and perform maintenance repairs on your equipment whether it “needs it” or not. The schedule is based on either a specific amount of calendar time or machine run time. This is cheaper than reactive maintenance, but you still need personnel and a large inventory.

What this series is about is Predictive Maintenance (PdM). This means you track indicators over time to predict when equipment needs repair. An effective predictive maintenance program measures equipment on a regular basis, tracks those measurements, and then takes corrective action when measurements are about to go outside the equipment operating limits. This option is the most cost-effective method, but it does require some commitment on your part in order to effectively track performance.

Infrared surveys are particularly important for electrical equipment because failure of electrical equipment usually translates into critical mission failure. And, as you are aware, certain kinds of electrical failures pose life-threatening risks to workers.

Interested in learning more? Give me a call at 803-3328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit www.irinfraredservices.com or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

This article series was developed using ideas from http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2009/124.html?page=full and http://www.myflukestore.com/crm_uploads/part_one_of_a_predictive_maintenace_series.pdf  for source material.

What is Infrared Thermography? Does it Work?

I cover alot of information about infrared thermography, roof scans, preventative maintenance, and energy audits. I thought it might be time for a "back to basics" review!

I'm often asked why I think thermography is so effective. What makes it better than a normal inspection?

A normal inspection uncovers what the eye can see. An infrared inspection finds what the eye can't see - and remember - what you can't see CAN hurt you (and your building!)

All components within a building generate infrared radiation. This heat is invisible to the human eye and can only be detected by infrared thermography. Generally, right before an electrical or mechanical component fails, it generates heat. While the component might appear fine, imminent failure may not be readily apparent. This is why infrared is often used for preventative and predictive maintenance.

The building itself may have issues that you can't see. If insulation is missing or wet, if the grout in a CMU wall is missing (or worse, once we found an entire section of a supporting wall that was missing multiple blocks!), an infrared scan by a certified thermographer will be able to locate these construction defects. And of course, if a roof is leaking, a thermal image during a roof scan can detect the location of the source leak.

These types of findings simply cannot be done through a "standard" inspection, or require intrusive and destructive methods. IR infrared inspections are cost-effective, non-invasive, and accurate.

The following list details some of the types of surveys we routinely carry out:

• Location of leaks on flat roofs
• Identification of water leaks or damp
• Assessment of energy loss from buildings
• Identify faults or leaks in underfloor heating systems
• Location of pipes in floors or walls
• Survey and inspect underfloor heating systems
• Identify insulation defects in walls
• Locate drafts or air infiltration in buildings
• Check cold store insulation and air integrity

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter:  We are proud to offer the very best infrared thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Why Use Infrared for Building Inspections?

Is it possible that an owner doesn't want to know about building problems? Of course! Inspecting a building to determine its condition can have many implications.

In many cases, buildings are leased to another company. Tenants want the building to be energy efficient to reducing utility costs. However, if the building is not energy-efficient, it can be expensive to re-insulate the building or to fix air leaks. A building owner may not have any financial motivation to make expensive changes to make the building energy efficient since he/she is not responsible for the utility bills. On the other hand, if building energy costs are low, that can be to a building owner's advantage during a sales/rental negotiation.

Inspecting a building can sometimes uncover major problems - and once those problems are documented, they may require repair.

Infrared thermography is an easy and inexpensive way to document energy leaks or repair needs. For tenants or potential building buyers, it can be a way to make sure a building owner has done the necessary building upkeep and maintenance to make the financial investment a sound business deal.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter:  We are proud to offer the very best infrared thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

The ideas for this series of blogs are derived, in part, from Greg Stockton's excellent article Infared (IR) Thermography for Building Managers.

Infrared Thermography for Data Centers

Happy 2012! I hope your holiday season was a good one.

So many people receive electronics over the holidays - computers, smartphones, ipads - so much data. Which is a not so subtle way of leading into January's Infrared Scanning Series on Data Centers.

Does your company use networked computers? Then chances are, somewhere in your offices is a data center. Data centers are usually filled with servers and other equipment - the technological backbone of your business. As you can imagine, the heat generated by so many electrical components can be intense, and so data centers are carefully monitored for temperate spikes or drops.

More than just the data center itself needs to be monitored. Along with all those servers comes a lot of electrical equipment. A thorough predictive/preventative maintenance (P/PM) program uses infrared thermography to detect excess heat radiating from those components.

What you can't see CAN hurt you!
Remember, electrical components heat up before they fail.

Loose connections, overloaded or imbalanced circuits, faulty breakers, damaged switches, faulty fuses and a wide range of other unwanted electrical conditions produce a heat signature that cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can be easily detected using an infrared scan camera. Remember, what you can't see CAN hurt you!

If you haven't had a thermal heat scan of your data center in the last six months, now is a great time!

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Going Green: Infrared Scanning and The Green Initiative

Found a great website today - the Green Business Bureau. They have wonderful information about "going green" - and what was super cool was the pop up customer service rep who was eager to assist (you just have to appreciate good customer service!)

Here's what I found fascinating - the CSR didn't know a whole lot about thermal scanning. We chatted about why incorporating infrared imaging into a company's green inititive program makes good business sense:

1.Save money and reduce your company's carbon footprint by having areas where you are losing energy through improper insulation or other issues repaired by qualified contractors.


2. Infrared scanning is environmentally friendly: it's non-invasive, non-destructive, uses no chemicals, and requires no drilling, or other harmful procedures.

3. Sustains the life of your building by detecting latent moisture damage.

Is your company participating in a Green Initiative or trying to get Leeds-certified? Make thermography and infrared scanning a part of your plan.

Infrared Scanning - We Help You Go Green!
Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!  

Using Infrared Thermography to Evaluate College Campus Infrastructure

Summer is almost over. I can almost hear the collective groan of college students everywhere as they prepare for classes, buy books (have you seen the cost of college textbooks lately? I'm going to have to increase the college fund for my grandkids!), and move back to campus.

At the same time, many of these campuses are aging. Buildings that were built decades ago show the strain. Electrical systems, plumbing systems, roofs - all of these may have been state of the art when the building was built, but what about today?

Colleges concerned with sustainability, and smart administrations who watch the bottom line, are utilizing infrared thermography as a cost efficient way to examine the underlying structural integrity of their campuses. For example, take a look at Willliams College in Massachusetts who recently commissioned an aerial thermographic scan of their campus: http://sustainability.williams.edu/highlight/helicopter-infrared-survey-of-campus-steam-lines

Smith College also has a terrific (and educational!) set of thermographic scans of its buildings here: http://www.smith.edu/staffcouncil/08thermo.html (note the picture of the cracked window allowing heat (and thus costly energy) to escape.

So I challenge you, colleges and universities of North Carolina and South Carolina - when was the last time you had an infrared scan done of your campus?

Infrared Scanning - it's not just for commercial buildings anymore!


Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial  users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North Carolina and South Carolina!

Heat Transfer and Infrared Thermography

Last week we talked about how one of the functions of infrared radiation is to transfer heat. Heat transfer happens all the time. Have you ever sat down in a chair after someone vacates it? It's nice and warm, isn't it? That's a form of heat transfer. Heat can transfer through conduction, convection, or infrared radiation.

If you've been reading my blog, you'll know that I often say everything gets hot before it fails. It's starting to make a little more sense now, doesn't it? An infrared camera can detect that heat transfer through infrared energy (radiation).

Does this mean you should run out and buy an infrared camera to see if you have any potential heat loss in your building? Only if you are a certified thermographer - and next week we'll talk about why that matters.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!


IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

Infrared Thermography - Definitions You Need to Know

There are alot of misconceptions about thermography - exactly what is it, and what can it do? Can it really see through walls? Target moving people in a room? Is it the equivalent of being able to have Superman vision? Well, I'm sure my grandson would love it if that were the case - nothing would be cooler than to have a real superhero for a granddad!

What is infrared radiation? In laymen's terms, it's part of the electromagnetic spectrum. You can see some forms of light, but the light you can't see is what we call infrared light. How can you see what you can't see? You could walk around wearing night goggles (probably not really practical) or you could use an infrared camera to detect certain levels of infrared light.

How? Well every object radiates infrared energy.  Like a lightbulb glows, every object has a kind of "glow". This glowing is a function of infrared radiation - one of ways heat transfers.  Why is that important to us? Check in next week and we'll talk about how the heat transfer from infrared radiation is important in the world of infrared thermography.

Now, I've got a superman cape to find.

Interested in learning more? Call me at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!
IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com/ or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

Business Facilities Managers: Calibration Questions to Ask Your Thermographer

We're continuing our series on questions to ask your thermographer to ensure you get the best possible service!

What type of infrared cameras do you use?

Infrared cameras are not all the same. Different types of cameras are used for different types of applications. Your thermographer should be able to tell you what kind of camera they use and why it is appropriate for your particular infrared scanning need. For example, what is the maximum distance required for accurate, good resolution readings? How old is the infrared camera? How familiar is your thermographer with his or her thermographic imaging equipment

Do you own, lease, or rent your own infrared equipment?

Infrared equipment is NOT cheap, in fact, it can be very expensive. Some companies purchase their equipment and some companies lease their equipment. The important issue is really whether the cameras are maintained and calibrated, and are fairly new and up to industry standards.

Regular calibration is important because of the sensitivity of infrared equipment. Infrared equipment should be maintained and calibrated regularly to ensure optimum performance. If the equipment is not being calibrated, then the scan results may not be accurate

Next week, we'll take a look at the type of questions you should ask about the infrared reports you will receive as part of your thermographic imaging scan.

Interested in learning more? Give me a call at 803-328-2889 and let’s talk!

IR Infrared Services provides top quality thermographic service at a competitive price to commercial and residential end users in North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.irinfraredservices.com// or follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/infraredscans. We are proud to offer the very best thermography services in North and South Carolina!

Source: http://www.infraredprofessionals.com/thermal-imaging-infrared-resources/thermal-imaging-infrared-quick-start-package.html

Happy Holidays from IR Infrared Services

Happy holidays everyone! We hope you enjoyed our December series on Predictive Maintenance and the use of thermal imaging. We look forward to working with you next year and providing you with quality service for your facility! IR Infrared Services thanks you for your business and we look forward with you toward a safe and prosperous 2011!


Brian