A practical guide to infra-red

thermography for building

surveys
 Section Contents Page No.

1.0 Introduction 03

2.0 Scope 03

3.0 Basic principle of infrared thermography 04

4.0 Referance documents 05

5.0 Guidance 05

6.0 Personal qualification requirement 05

Fire prevention through infrared scan of

7.0 06
Electrical Equipment

8.0 Incidents Reports 08

9.0 Benefits of building thermal imaging surveys ns 12

10.0 Interpretation of images for building application 13

11.0 Investigation brief & inspection findings 14

12.0 Sample report 15

13.0 Conclusion 17

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 2 of 17

 1.0 Introduction Introduction to change

Aries marine & engineering services is an worldwide Infrared thermographic inspections

consulting firm. using the most advanced thermographic cameras and analysis, our engineers
evaluate the performance and safety of electrical & mechanical systems inspections, building
inspections and furanace inspections.

2.0 Scope

Infrared electrical inspection uses thermal imaging to detect potentially dangerous hotspots
and anomalies that can lead to equipment malfunction and fire hazards. To the naked eye, electrical
systems and rotating equipment may seem normal. Infrared inspection has the ability to detect
potential fire hazards in electrical, mechanical, and steam system components before the malfunction
occurs, keeping your premises and building occupants safe.
Thermal imaging inspections are being used for a wide variety of applications. The ability to
measure temperatures in a non-contact mode, they can also easily be used for fire prevention. Any
industry which has some type of storage area where goods or material is kept is susceptible to self
combustion of material. Typical examples of this are storage of splint wood, batteries, waste recycling
materials and coal. All these applications have in common that there is a fundamental need to detect
hot spots and prevent that they turn into a fire.
This guide discusses the numerous applications for the technology currently being used to
inspect building envelopes. These include validation of Electrical failures,structural details,
verification of energy performance (conduction and air leakage), location of moisture intrusion,
and the identification of structural and system degradation of roofs and facades.
Infrared thermography is a non-invasive technique for measuring large amounts of surface
temperature data. The technique uses relative measurements of infrared radiation energy. Thermal
radiation is one type of electromagnetic radiation that is continuously emitted by all substances due to
molecular and atomic agitation associated with the internal energy of the material.
Building IR applications can actually be some of the most demanding on thermal imager
sensitivity and spatial resolution, the two most important factors in an imager's ability to focus in on
what can be physically small and/or thermally miniscule problems on a giant object. Coming up with
effective techniques and good timing to perform these surveys also presents a challenge. For example,
there is a different methodology for surveying the framing, missing insulation, heat loss, air leakage
and moisture intrusion in the same building. IR can only detect surface temperature differences, but
the patterns that these differences leave (IR signatures) can often indicate, what is going on within the
building to a very high degree of confidence

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 3 of 17

 Infrared (IR) inspection is a powerful and non invasive means of monitoring and diagnosing
the condition of buildings. An IR camera can identify problems early, allowing them to be
documented and corrected before becoming more serious and more costly to repair.
An infrared inspection within building diagnostics help:
• Fire prevention
• Electrical fault detection
• Visualize energy losses
• Detect missing or defective Insulation
• Source air leaks
• Find moisture in the insulation, in roof and walls, both internal and outside
• Detect mold and badly insulated areas
• Locate thermal bridges
• Locate leaks in flatroofs
• Detect breach on hot-water pipe
• Detect construction failures
• Locate radiant floorheating faults
• Monitor the drying of buildings
• Find faults in supply line and district heating

3.0 Basic Principle of Infrared Thermography Syste

Infrared/thermal testing involves the use of temperature and heat flow measurement as a
means to predict or diagnose failure. This may involve the use of contacting or non-contacting
devices, or a combination of both. A fundamental knowledge of heat flow and the thermal behavior
of materials are necessary to understand the significance of temperature and temperature changes on
a test sample. Contacting devices include thermometers of various types, thermocouples, thermopiles
and thermochromics coatings. Non contacting devices include convection (heat flux) devices, optical
pyrometers, infrared radiation thermometers, infrared line scanners and infrared thermal imaging
(thermographic) equipment.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 4 of 17

 4.0 Reference Documents

 ASTM E1934 – 99A. Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with Infrared
Thermography.
 ASTM C1060 - 11a(2015)- Standard Practice for Thermographic Inspection of Buildings
 ISO 10880:2017(en) Non-destructive testing -Infrared Thermographic testing- general
principles

 ISO 18251-1:2017(en) Non-destructive testing-Infrared thermography-Part1: Characteristics

of system and equipment
 ISO 18434-2:2019(en) Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machine systems –
Thermography- Part 2: Image interpretation and diagnostics.
 SNT-TC-1A-2016 Personal Qualification & Certification in Non-destructive testing
 CNDT/WP/01-Rev-09 Recommended Practice for personnel Qualification and Certification
in Non- destructive Testing.
 NFPA 70E-Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace
 NFPA 70B – Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance (2016 Ed)
 ANSI/NETA - Standard for Maintenance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power
Distribution Equipment and Systems

is this required?
5.0 Guidance

For guidance on points that are covered within this publication, advice should be sought from the
Aries Marine Engineering Services; email: pms@ariesgroup.ae

6.0 Personnel Qualification Requirements

Personnel conducting Examination accordance with this procedure on behalf of Aries Marine &Engg.
Services (ARIES) shall meet below qualification requirements:
 ARIES/ NDT/ GQP/ 01/ Rev. 10 in accordance with ASNT document SNT-TC-1A.
 Thermographer-Engineer Shall be BE Or B.Tech/Diploma Any Dept. with relevant
experience.
 Examination Person Shall be an ASNT or ISO CAT Level I / II.
 All the personnel shall have natural or corrected near distance acuity in at least one eye such
that they are capable of reading a minimum of Jaeger Number 1 or equivalent type and size
letter at a distance of not less than 12 inches ( 30.5 cm ) on a standard Jaeger test chart.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 5 of 17

 7.0 Fire Prevention Through Infrared Scan of Electrical Equipment

Electrical Fires

A fire within a clean room will cause significant property damage, contamination, and
business interruption. Loss history has shown that electrical failures are the source of origin for 85-
95% of clean room fires. Effective IR thermal imaging programs will identify hot spots, loose
connections, and circuit imbalances that frequently cause electrical failures resulting in thermal events
and fires. Identification allows for mitigation before the eminent failure. Fire prevention better than
fire protection.
According to the latest statistics from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s
report on “Fires in Industrial or comercial Properties”, electrical distribution and lighting equipment
caused 11% of fires and accounted for 15% of direct property damage in industrial or manufacturing
facilities from 2009 to 2013.

A key way to prevent electrical fires is through predictive maintenance to detect the onset of a
condition that could eventually lead to a fire, then correcting that condition prior to significant
deterioration of a component that could cause a fire, catastrophic equipment failures, and
unscheduled plant shutdowns.

All modern buildings feature electrical wiring behind the wall for light and power. Unfortunately,
electricity carries inherent fire risk. Old or defective wiring, overloaded circuits, loose connections,
faulty fuses, imbalanced electrical loads, and many other electrical or lighting problems can develop
that lead to overheating or sparks that ignite a fire.

Due to their complex wiring systems, commercial and industrial buildings are much more prone to
electrical issues than residential properties. To ensure your building remains safe, it’s crucial to
perform routine checks. Here are a few common electrical problems that can be seen around
commercial and industrial buildings.

Common causes of electrical fires

Need to show sample photos of defect
Poor maintenance

Poor maintenance is the leading cause of electrical fires. Performing regular maintenance on electrical
panels will reduce the risk of fire. Maintenance includes removing dirt and dust and inspecting and
replacing faulty circuit breakers. Kinks in wiring cause electrical resistance within the wire, which
creates heat and could cause an electrical fire. Arcing can lead to a fire and occurs in electrical panels
and enclosures, frayed wires and extension cords, and even in damaged phone chargers.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 6 of 17

 Flickering Lights

Poor connections tend to be the root cause for flickering and dimming lights in commercial buildings.
If the issues aren’t resolved fast, this could lead to long-lasting damage and may require a full repair.
If you notice the building’s lights being to flicker or dim, contact an electrician immediately to help
identify the issue and recommend a solution.

Tripping Breakers

If a circuit breaker begins to trip, this is caused by them either being overloaded, ground fault or a
short circuit. If not addressed, this becomes a fire hazard for the building. It then needs to be shut off
to stop the electrical flow which will stop the circuit from overheating. Contact an electrician to repair
the issue to prevent any potential hazards.

Sparks
If sparks begin to emit when an appliance or machine is plugged in, this could result in wires either
melting or burning. It’s critical to turn off the main power source and call an expert electrician to
address the issue.
Predictive Maintenance for Electrical Systems (IR Scans)

For electrical equipment, a common way to identify conditions that could eventually lead to a
fire is to utilize an infrared camera to identify loose or corroded connections, load balance issues,
defective breakers and switches, and excessive loads.Infrared energy is light that is not visible to the
human eye. It is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum perceived as heat. Infrared scanning works
off the principle that electrical equipment gives off heat, but malfunctioning or overloaded electrical
equipment will give off excessive heat due to increased electrical resistance.
This heat can be detected by an infrared camera, and the various temperatures can
differentiate between normal and malfunctioning equipment. The images can then be used to identify
exactly what equipment is affected, and how serious the problem is, based on the temperatures and
temperature differentials.
Temperature differences of 1°C to 3°C indicate possible deficiency and warrant investigation.
Temperature differences of 4°C to 15°C indicate deficiency; repairs should be made as time permits.
Temperature differences of 16°C and above indicate major deficiency; repairs should be made
immediately.
Condition of various elements of an electrical power distribution system and to provide information
that is used:
To determine whether any corrective maintenance or replacement is necessary or desirable.
To confirm the ability of the element to continue to perform its design function adequately.
To chart the gradual deterioration of the equipment over its service life.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 7 of 17

 8.0 Incidents Reports

According to studies, 42% of fire incidents are caused by faults, defects or use of non-standard
electrical products leading to short circuits.Approximately 13 deaths are recorded in India due
to electrocution and fire trigged by electrical short circuits and 8% death are caused in factories.
Incidents of fire have led to the loss of more than 600 lives and damages worth Rs.110.42 crore in the
last decade. In the 10 years between 2008 and2018, 49,391 fires were reported, and over 33,000 or
68.72% were caused because of short circuit.Lack of adherence to standards in design and the
tendency to procure the low-cost devices for power distribution, without the assessment of risks to
safety, remains the untold cause behind most electrical fires, either caused by poor PQ or other
factors. While statistics published in various studies, have time and again, highlighted the severity of
the menace of electrical fire, what's more worrying in context of electrical fires is the continued
inclination to save costs over increased risks. Unskilled workmanship, poor maintenance, non-
compliance to regulations or ignorance of standards, prioritizing cost savings at every cost translate to
the high risks to lives and property from electrical fire, in every field.Allover the world the electrical
hazard are one of the main cause for the fire.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 8 of 17

 Electrical short circuit caused Address hotel fire –
Dubai police
The blaze on New Year’s eve gutted the 63-storey luxury hotel
BY AARTI NAGRAJ
JANUARY 20, 2016

The massive blaze at The Address Hotel in Dubai on December 31 was caused by an electrical short
circuit, the Dubai police confirmed on Wednesday.

An electric fault in a spotlight used to illuminate the hotel led to the fire at the 63-storey hotel, police
told local media.

A spark from cables connected to the light reportedly set-off the fire at about 9.25pm. It is anticipated
to have started between the 14th and 15th floors of the tower.

Police chief Khamis Mattar Al-Mazeina also confirmed that flammable liquids such as petrol did not
play a role in the accident.

The blaze broke out on the luxury Address Hotel Downtown Dubai hours ahead of New Year
fireworks at the neighbouring Burj Khalifa. A total of 15 people were injured, according to officials,
while another person suffered a heart attack.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 9 of 17

 Allahabad: Short circuits cause 70
percent fire mishaps
TNN | Jul 2, 2019, 05.40 PM IST

ALLAHABAD: Around 70% of the fire accidents in Sangam city are caused by electrical short
circuits in both commercial and residential buildings.

As per the statistics released by the fire department, a total of 321 cases of fire accidents were
reported in city between January 1 and June 30 this year.

While highest 97 cases of fire mishaps were reported in month of May followed by April (77), June
(58), March (44), January (27) and February (18). Officials of fire department, however, claimed that
no death related to fire mishap was reported in past six months and only three persons were injured.

Similarly, statistics also revealed that firemen have rescued as many as 65 lives from fire incidents.
While 15 lives were rescued in the month of June and April followed by May (14), March (10),
January (6) and February (5).
Chief fire officer (Allahabad) RS Mishra said, “ Short-circuit was found prime cause behind majority
of fire incidents especially in commercial buildings like shops and hotels.” He further added “around
20% fire mishaps were attributed to LPG leakage at residential as well as hotel/restaurant industry.”

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 10 of 17

 While fire caused by short circuits can take place any time during the day or night, the electrical fires
at homes always take place at night when the appliances are overworked. Officials claimed that during
the rainy season and in summers, the number of electrical fires at homes caused by ACs short circuit
increases suggesting people to keep fire extinguishers in their homes.
Mishra, meanwhile, advised owners of commercial establishment to check loose connections and
take all precautionary measures and also keep at least two fire extinguishers. Similarly, house owners
should put a check on LPG connections on frequent intervals.
"Remember, the first thing to do in case of a fire caused by a short circuit is to turn off the main
supply of current and then tackle the fire," says an official adding “water can be used only if you are
sure that all current supply has been stopped. Sand or a fire extinguisher are always safer ways to stop
the fire.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 11 of 17

 9.0 Benefits of Building Thermal Imaging Surveys

 Thermography (thermal imaging) makes it possible to identify electrical defects such as loose
connections and over loaded circuits (the most common cause of electrical fires), transformer
cooling faults, motor winding faults and induced currents.
 A thermographic survey inspects electrical equipment including distribution fuseboards, MCB
boards, contactors, switch boards, transformers, motors, battery banks, UPS's, control panels,
switch fuses and isolators etc whilst the equipment is in operation, causing no disruption to
business operations.
 Electrical thermal imaging surveys are non-intrusive, enabling inspections to be completed
safely and efficiently, without interruption to your business operations. Appointing Red
Current Ltd to undertake a thermographic survey of your electrical systems enables the
following benefits to be realized
 Electrical thermography identifies electrical issues that are unlikely to be detected during fixed
wire testing and inspections.Periodic Fixed Wire Testing is carried out to ensure that safety
devices such as earth protection, fuses and circuit breakers operate as required under short
circuit and fault load conditions. These devices provide no protection against the risks
associated with poor connections.
 There is no other technique that is able to identify electrical issues such as poor connections,
overloading, phase imbalances, faulty equipment etc. as safely and as quickly. A
thermographic survey is non-intrusive, meaning no disruption to normal business operations.
 Electrical thermography enables the identification of only those items of equipment that
require remedial works together with the severity of the defect. This enables maintenance to
be suitably planned around operational commitments maximising the availability of plant and
equipment.
 A thermographic survey can give an excellent insight into the operational effectiveness of
equipment, enabling the identification of opportunities to make energy savings together with
increasing the operational lifecycle of equipment.
 Depending on the type of equipment and its location, the cost of electrical failure can run into
many thousands of pounds in repairs, lost production, injury claims, etc.
 As defects are found before they cause equipment to fail, the associated cost of repairs is
minimal compared to the cost of equipment failure.
 Facilitates detection of construction defects
 Facilitates detection of construction defects
 Enables the capture of moving targets in real time
 Measuring in areas where other methods are impossible or dangerous
 Showing a visual image that helps in comparing temperature differences over a large area
 As a tool for building inspection infrared is extremely helpful in locating problems and
affording repairs while the contractor is still on site

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 12 of 17

 10.0 Interpretation of Images for Building Applications

Electrical Faults

One of the most common faults in buildings are electrical faults. Most of the time these electrical
problems are invisible to the naked eye, but an infrared camera instantly makes hot spots
visible on a thermal image. You can scan electrical cabinets, components and survey multiple wires,
connections and get an instant picture of potential trouble. The problem area can be
detected and repaired before real problems occur! Common electrical targets in the building industry
are fuses, electrical panels, and lighting.

Locating Leaks in Floor Heating

Infrared is an easy-to-use tool to find and check pipes and tubes for leaks, even when the water pipes
are laid in the flooror under plaster. The heat of the pipes radiates through the surface and the
pattern can be easily detected with an infrared camera.

Cold Storage Plant

Cold storage plant and cold storage chambers have a great requirement to insulation and tightness.
Ordinary indoor temperature at a cold storage plant is -23 °C to -25 °C. Lack
of insulation and leakages causes condensation and ice in the construction, which creates the need for
more energy - and ice will eventually destroy the construction.

Redevelopment Planning & Quality Assurance

Infrared technology is used during redevelopment planning, but also in quality assurance and the
inspection of new buildings.During construction-drying, infrared images make it possible
to determine the progress of the drying procedures so that necessary measures can be taken to speed
up the drying process.If this process can be accelerated and it can be proven, with the help of an
infrared camera, that the construction is totally dry, the building can be surrendered faster to the
client.

Building Renovations

Infrared thermography provides valuable information during the renovation of buildings and
monuments. Framework constructions hidden by mineral plaster can become clearly visible in an
infrared image. It can then be decided whether exposure of these structures is useful. The
detachment of plaster from walls can also be located in a very early stage so that preservation
measures can be taken.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 13 of 17

 11.0 Investigation Brief & Inspection Findings

The Electrical thermography report report has been commissioned to:

 Conduct a thermal imaging inspection of all electrical panels within the complex/indusrty
 Provide a detailed report report including visual image,thermal image of all panels
 During the survey time any critical abnormalities observed will recommend for immediate
creective actions
 Report on any abnormalities provide recommendations for rectification (based on the
severity of the abnormalities suggest the after repair duration)
 After the rectification conduct the after repair survey to ensure its safety
 Provide after repair inspection report on fault detected panels
 Re inspect the same electrical panels within the complex/industry in every year to ensure the
safety.

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 14 of 17

 12.0 Sample Reports

Electrical Thermography

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 15 of 17

 Building Thermography

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 16 of 17

 13.0 Conclusion

Infrared Thermography survey is a form of non-destructive testing that detects emitted radiation in
the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The technique is mainly applied to Industrial
situation like
• Electrical Systems (faulty electrical connections or overloaded circuits)
• Mechanical Equipment (abnormally warm motors or possible bearing failures)
• Fluid Systems (line blockages, tank levels or pipe temperatures)
• Building Applications (detect missing insulation, air infiltration or moisture damage)
• Low-Slope Roofs (locate wet roof insulation)
As a predictive maintenance method it applies to commercial as well as the residential building to do
a periodic inspection mainly to Electrical switch boards (high voltage and low voltage panels) in order
to find whether any electrical problem like loose connection, phase unbalance , breaker problem,
overloads etc. which may leads to major accident and energy losses.
This method also performs to identify and building problems like insulation problem, moisture
issues, air or water leakage etc.
The thermography survey is usually conducted in period of one year, The survey report will be issue
with a one validity, in the report there will be proper analysis and recommendations will be provided
for any fault is identified in electrical panel or in building , after the rectification a re-survey will be
conducted. And rectification report also be issued

A practical guide to infra-red thermography for building surveys Page 17 of 17