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    Infrared thermography is basically determining the surface temperature of an object, be it a wall, ceiling, floor, piece of equipment with a camera sensitive to thermal radiation. 

     Most people have heard of night vision. In order for night vision instruments to work, some visible light is necessary (moonlight, starlight, etc.) The instrument then amplifies this light thousands of times and renders objects "visible" to the human eye.  Thermal imaging, on the other hand, works by detecting the heat energy being radiated by objects and requires no visible light at all.  In fact, Infrared cameras can only detect electromagnetic energy in the infrared spectrum; the human eye cannot see infrared light.

     OK, so what good is infrared energy anyway?  Well, with a camera that can "see" infrared energy, we are able to find and analyze many different concerns (see below.)  Everything in the world that is above absolute zero (-459º F) gives off infrared energy.  Because of this natural occurrence, infrared cameras can transform this energy into something that we can see.

     That's about as technical as I will get here.  Now lets take a look at some applications and benefits of this fascinating science!

     Because we know that everything gives off infrared energy, the applications for analyzing a thermal image are really limitless.  However, there are some limitations on what an infrared camera can do so from that respect there are limitations.  That is why it is absolutely essential that anyone who analyzes thermal images and renders opinions as to their information be professionally trained and certified.  It is not as simple as taking pictures with a digital camera! 

     Take a look at the infrared image that follows:                 

    This an infrared image of a flat roof. The blue areas below the chimney indicate the presence of moisture beneath the roof surface, not visible to the human eye.  There were no visible stains on the ceiling below this roof so it may be that the leak was caught before any moisture had a chance to migrate to the drywall.  

     Applications go way beyond just what can be seen in a house or simple building.  In fact, industry has embraced and relied upon this technology for a long time for Condition Based Maintenance (formally known as Predictive Maintenance.)  From electrical power generation inspections, to electrical motor inspections, to boiler inspections, to mechanical bearing inspections, infrared imagery can reveal a lot about the condition of what is being viewed. 

     Some reasons that infrared thermography is so useful are:

• it's non-contact, meaning we don't have to touch anything that is hot or dangerous.
• it's two-dimensional, meaning that we can analyze many areas of the object being viewed at exactly the same time.
• it's real time, meaning that we are actually seeing the heat energy of the object at the speed of light.

      Here are some real-world applications:

• Electrical systems
• Mechanical systems
• Building envelopes and structures
• Roofing systems
• Petrochemical applications
• Steam turbine and hydroelectric generators
• Automotive
• Medical and veterinary
• Quality control and process monitoring
• Environmental

      The list is really endless.  Please call and let us help you design a protocol for your application!

      We look forward to helping you see Beyond the visible.^SM