What’s Infrared Imaging?

People use infrared imaging to examine buildings for a number of different reasons, but it’s most common use is to help identify the need for preventive maintenance. For example, infrared images reveal temperature differences in electrical panels, wires and breakers, and can help to identify hot spots or overloaded circuits.

What Can You Use It For?

Now that you know the basics, let’s look at some other uses for infrared imaging:

1. Water Damage to Roofs—To find moisture damage under an existing roof membrane, infrared imaging indicates areas where water has absorbed.
2. Window or Roof Leaks—Infrared imaging is also useful in identifying leaks around windows and roof edges on the interior of a building. Water damage in these areas can reduce the structure’s ability to resist thermal transfer, or in other words, insulate the building.
3. Broken Water Lines—How do you know if the walls, carpets or ceilings are wet from a pipe leak from an icemaker, sprinkler line or other water sources? Infrared imaging uncovers the areas where sheet rock is wet, to determine how much must be removed to prevent mold growth. Sometimes, there is no evidence of water damage until the infrared imaging captures it.
4. Masonry Construction—在具有砌体施工的外墙上，红外线相机可以识别墙壁内的缺失灌浆或灌浆区域不排列。红外线相机还可以识别外部问题，这可以帮助业主和经理在没有拆除墙壁的情况下进行维修。
5. 地下管 -You can use infrared imagery to identify buried tubing used to melt snow or ice under pavement or concrete. By identifying the location of the tubing, a contractor can avoid puncturing the tubing when anchoring or core drilling.
6. Furnaces and Refractories—The infrared camera is capable of viewing inside a large combustion furnace or refractory. It identifies hot and cold spots where the interior brick linings may require maintenance or where there are broken spots.

How Can We Help?

Braun Intertec uses infrared imaging to help our clients optimize building performance. Our technicians use this technology to identify areas impacted by water damage, air leakage, or lack of insulation. For more information on our building science services, please contact Steve Flaten.