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/IVSTRUCT-O-GRAM
T H EH A N D S - OTNR A I N I NGGU I D E
ISFSI F O RT H EF I R EI N S T R U C T O R

Thermallmaging Cameras
TASK ESTIMATEDTEACHINGTIME
This trainingprogramhasbeencreatedto prepareyou to use Basic Thermal Imaging Camera
a thermal imager in an ever-changing,extremelydangerous (TIC) Concepts .5 hours
and highly stressfulenvironment.Only your commitmentto BasicUse of ThermalImaging
continuedand ongoing training with your thermal imager will Camera t hour per person
allow you to increasethe safetyand effective use of it in an Drills utilizing TIC in cold/nontoxic
actuallife safetysituation. smoke 1-2hoursperperson
J Drills utilizing TIC in live fire
OBJECTIVES evolutions 1-2hoursperperson
1. Upon completionof this coursethe studentwill be able
to define what thermalimaging is. MOTIVATINGTHE STUDENT
2. Upon completionof this coursethe studentwill be able The environmentsthat we enterduring emergencyoperations
to demonstrateproper exterior size-uptechniquesusing at bestaredangerousand unpredictable.The useof additional
the thermalimaging camera. tools will enablethe firefighter to better accomplish tasks to
3. Upon completionof this coursethe studentwill be able meet the goals set for the incident scene.Thesetasks are the
to demonstrateproper interior size-uptechniquesusing strategiesand tactics set forth by the Incident Commander
the thermalimaging camera. that are designedto mitigate the sceneand render it safe.

4. Upon completionof this coursethe studentwill be able Being competent with every tool and having a working
to demonstrateproper safetytechniquesusing the ther- knowledge of the modern technology that is provided in
mal imaging camera. today'sfire servicewill help enhanceour mission.

INSTRUCTIONAL
AIDS PRESENTATION
Instructional aids will vary with each particular drill. Utilize
I. History
the equipmentthat you have availableon your department's
A. IR first detectedin 1800by Sir William Herschel-
apparatus.New technology can be introducedby utilizing
a British Astronomer.
resourcesat hand.
B. The first IR sensorwas patentedaround 1895for
use on steamlocomotives.
J
Copyright @ 2003 International Society of Fire Service Instructors
All rights reserved.No part of this document may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

M a r c h2 0 0 3 THEVoIcE . 13
 "Bolometer" and the purpose
C. The sensorwas a
was to wam the engineerabout animals or people
on the track.
D. World War I had handheld IR sensorsto detect
humansat 1000feet.
E. World War II had the first thermal imagers and IR
communicationdevices.
F. Korean conflict provided proof ofprinciple for
heat seekingmissiles.
G. Vietnam conflict brought modern IR and night
vision to the battlefield.
H. Iraqi conflict was the first full integration of IR
into virtually all tactical aspectsofbattle.
I. Basic Information
a Thermal imaging equipment comes in many
forms. Severalmanufacturerscurrently make
helmet mounted cameras,and handheld
camerasof all sizes,shapesand weights.All
camerasshouldbe testedby the individual to
seewhat will suit their particularapplication.
a What is shown as white is heat source
What is shown as dark is cooler.
a
a ThermalInversion
. A personin a room is 98.6 degrees.When
room temperatureis greaterthan 98.6 the
person will appeargray or black, other
objectswill appearwhite
II. How Does Thermal Imagining Work?
A. Thermal Imagers work similar to a video camera,
"infrared energy" (heat)
except that they detect
"light" to createan image
insteadof
oF) emit
B. All objectsaboveabsolutezero(-459.7
infrared energy according to known laws of
Physics.
C. Infraredenergypassesthroughthe imager's optics.
D. The energy is focused on the imager's sensor.The
sensorconverts infrared energy into an electronic
signal.
E. IR cameraswork very similar to a radio.
F. Aradio senseselectromagneticenergyat one
frequency and shifts it to another- our audible
hearing range.
G. An IR camera sensesheat energy at one
wavelength and shifts it to the visible wavelengths
where we can seeit.
H. The thermal image is a pictorial representation
createdby thousandsof dots of varying intensity
14 . THEVOICE
that are proportional to the temperatureat an
object's surface.
I. Thermal Imaging isn't Night Vision. v
Night Vision - is a type of light amplification or
intensification, and is not thermal imaging. Night
vision requiressome small amountof visible light
"Near IR"
or reflected energy to createan image.
is very shortwavelengthenergy- 0.8 to 1.2
microns.Many black & white CCD camerachips
can detectNear IR.
J. Infrared wavelengths(in the 8-12 micron range)
are not scatteredby smoke particulate.
K. Visible light wavelengths are about the same size
as the carbon particles that make up the smoke
particulate, causing scatterand therefore
impairing your vision.
L. Vision Thru Smoke
Longer wavelengthssuchas radio wavesare the
least affected by scatter.You will seecombustion
products, buming particles and other very small
hot objectsfloating in a buming room. This is
normal.
ilI. Methods of Heat Transfer
A. Heat is thermal energy moving from one place to
another,always from higher temperatureto lower
temperature.
B. There are three modes of heat transfer:
a Conduction
a Convection
a Radiation
.
Radiant energy can be emitted (function
of the temperatureof the surface),
reflected off a surfaceor transmitted
through a surface.
. Materials that are shiny in visible light
areprobably also good reflectors- in IR.
. IR energy can transmit through some
materials- optical crystals,most plastics.
IR energy does not transmit through
water,walls or glass.
Iv. Thermal Layering or Stratification
A. This is the tendency of gasesto form into layers
according to temperature.
B. Hottestgaseson top, coolestoneson the bottom.
C. If there are sufficient smoke particles in the gases,
you may be able to seethis with the thermal
imager.
March2003
 D. Most flames are ffansparentto IR radiation at the
long wavelengthsthe thermal imager operates.
What you normally seein IR are the heat products
\/
of combustion - smoke and material particles.
E. Flames will appearslightly smaller in infrared
than they will visually.
F. Avoid looking at the flames for long periods of
"F.
time and never look at anything beyond 1500
v. Limitations of Thermal Imagining
A. Al1 thermalimagershave limitations:
a They can not seethrough water, glass or any
reflective surfaceas the IR image is reflected,
much like an imagein a mirror.
'a Water, in the form of rain, fog, mist, snow or
steammay affect the ability to thermally
image a scene.
a Extreme temperaturesconsistentthroughout
the room may causecamerawhite out. This is
where the image in the camerais white due to
no gradient differencesin the objects in the
room.
a Failure to chargethe battery will result in you
getting no image!
B. Thermal imager'srangeof viewing, like all
cameras,imagersand your eyes,is also limited.
C. The effective range of most thermal imagers to
recognize a human is about 200 feet.
D. The minimum focus is 3 feet.
E. Depth perceptionis a concernfor personnel.The
camera'sminimum focus is 3 feet.This will limit
you as you maneuver in smoke-filled
environments.Failure to utilize standardpractices
such as feeling in front of you or sounding the
floor could result in falls or other iniuries.
vr. Thermal Imagining Applications and Uses
A. Size-Up
1. Exterior Size-up
a The use of thermal imagers in size-up can
be extremely helpful in locating the
potential seatof the fire.
a It can also show fire behavior inside the
structureby indicating the areasthat are
the hottest.
.a Can help you determine location of fire
when only heavy smoke is showing. This
is accomplishedby utilizing the areasof
hish heatto be areasinvolved in fire.
March2003
2. Interior Size-up
'a The six-sided view technique
. Floor - Scan the floor looking not only
for victims but for indications of heat
and potential hazardssuch as holes,
objectsor steps.
. Floor to Ceiling - Scan from the floor to
the ceiling slowly. Doing this will allow
you to identify the thermal layering or
stratification. This layer is important to
note. As temperaturebegins to rise the
smoke will bank down towards the floor.
With a thermal imaging camerayou can
seethe line of thermal stratification and
the changesyou can note.
. Four sides. Look at all four walls or
sides.This will indicatepotential
emergencyexits like windows should
you be required to get out in a hurry. It
will also indicateif ventilationis
occurring by the pull of heat towards a
window or to a different areaof the
structuredue to thermal stratification
being visible on the walls. It also allows
you to seeother personnelworking in the
room.
. Last is that you are able to closely
examine the room to seeif there are any
victims.
B . Searchand Rescue
a The Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) gives us
a sensethat we have not always had full
capabilitiesof during the past.That senseis
sight. The infrared images allow us to search
faster and more thoroughly than in the past.
The images visualized through the camera
can help us locate victims and therefore
expedite the operation.
a Always look closely at fumiture and the
floors for body heat traces.These traces
indicatesomeone'spresenceprior to your
arrival.
a On beds examine the bed clothing closely as
you search.Often a body will transfer heat
through existing bed clothing or linen.
C . Missing Personsor Body Parts
) Usually the only two sourcesof heat in fields
on land searchesare the victims and wildlife.
a If a heat sourceis detectedmove towards the
source
a Bodies much below 6 incheswill usually not
be seendue to the temperaturedifferences
and the clothing of individuals.
THEVOICE. 15
 D. Ventilation
a Looking at the slructure the same way as
describedfor interior operationswill work
effectively for extemal operations.
,a This technique will show you the need for
vertical ventilation of midline.
E. Fire Suppression
a Interior leaderscan find the fires that are
oftentimes called the needlesin the haystack.
These fires are hard to find and usually small.
TIC will assistyou in moving through what
could be heavy smoke to find the fire with this
infraredtechnology.
a Exterior structural examinationshelp you find
the bulk of the fire and allow officers to make
consciousdecisionswhether it is simple or a
complex operation is needed.
a Interior crews can now apply water more
efficiently to the fire without normal vision.
This minimizes water damageas we can focus
streamsdirectly to high volumes of fire.
a Officers can now direct crews and have a
stronger grip on accountability.
Overhaul
a Now hidden hot spots can be found without
creating heavy damage.Just focus on the
ceiling and find the hot spots.Then you can
pull down a minimum or cut open a small area
rather than having to gain accessto larger
areasto ensurethe fire is out.
G . HAZMAT
a Many chemical reactionsoccur when
chemicals are releasedfrom their original
containers.Utilizing infrared TICs we can see
The Instruct-O-Gram is the monthly training outline of the Intemational
Societyof Fire ServiceInstructors(ISFSI). The monthly Instruct-O-
Gram is provided as one of the benefits of membershipin ISFSI.
Call L-800-435-0005for information
on other benefitsof membership.
16 THE VOICE
exothermic and endothermicreactions from the
chemical reacting with the environment or other
chemicals.This will help us locate the product v
and help isolate it from further contamination,
run off or identifv if multiple chemicals are
involved.
a Containersofliquid can be assessed by utilizing
TICs. The portion of the tank that is loaded with
liquid will indicate a line of stratification. This is
useful in determining the amount of a product
loss or what is potentiallygoing to be lost.
a In Offensive operationson hazardousmaterials
incidents this will afford anotherluxury with a
tool to determine if there was any leak by seeing
the chemicals exothermic or endothermic
reaction with the atmosphereand the
surroundins environment.
RESOURCES
North Carolina Fire and RescueCommissionThermal
Imaging Instructor Upgrade, North Carolina Department
of Insurance,The Office of the Fire Marshal
Chapel Hill Fire Department Training Standard, Chapel Hill
Fire Department,ChapelHill, North Carolina, 1998
M assachusetts F irefi ghting Ac ademy,Thermal I mag i ng
Training, Marlborough,Massachusetts
Bullard Thermal Imaging CameraTraining Program
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The materials inthis Instruct-O-Gram were preparedby
DouglasK. Cline, BSW NREMT-P,Captain,ChapelHill Fire
Department, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and ISFSI Eastern
Resional Director.
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