What is Thermal Imaging ?

Thermal imaging is the measurement of radiation energy emitted from a surface. As the relationship between infrared radiation and temperature is proportional, this result is displayed on an infra red camera using the visible spectrum of light to determine the differences in temperature.

There is more detailed information available on thermal imaging, including thermography courses, however the following is a brief guide.


How do infrared cameras work ?

IMPORTANT: INFRARED CAMERAS DO NOT MEASURE MOISTURE!
Infrared cameras measure the energy emitted from a surface and the result is displayed as a colour range depending on the temperature.
As a guide, the warmest areas are normally displayed as white and bright yellow, intermediate temperatures are displayed as oranges and reds, and the coolest parts are displayed as blue. (Note, many imagers can inverse infrared images to show the opposite)
There is however a close relationship between surface temperature and the detection of moisture. Colder areas can often indicate the presence of moisture.

IMPORTANT: INFRARED CAMERAS DO NOT SEE THROUGH WALLS!
Infrared cameras measure surface and sub surface temperatures only. If there is an object or substance which is influencing the radiation emmited from that surface (i.e. heat coming from the other side of a wall), it will show on the camera.

When combined with moisture meters, infrared cameras are an exellent solution for locating moisture in leaky homes, buildings, offices andf apartments.


Uses for Infrared Cameras

• Locating moisture problems in leaky homes, apartments and buildings.
  
• Electrical maintenance of Power lines, transformers, switchboards and underfloor heating systems.
  
• Manage and analyze heat loss in homes and buildings to improve the efficiencies of heating or cooling air conditioning.
  
• For firefighting to see through smoke, find people and localize the base of a fire.
• Monitoring temperatures of exhausts, vents and high temperture conductive materials in manufacturing.
• Determining injuries and inflammations in animals by veterinarians.
  

What kind of Infrared Camera do I need ?

For Building & moisture evaluation, infrared cameras can be used at close range (indoors) but also need to be able to record images outside of multi storey complex apartments and buildings.
For exterior applications, requiring greater distance image recording, manual focussing and a larger detector type (pixel count) provides sharper, more detailed images and provide better results.
Aa radiometric infrared camera with the following specification is an approximate guide:

• Thermal Sensitivity of 0.10 deg C.
  
• Infrared detector with 160 x 120 pixels or higher.
  
• Manual adjustable focussing.
• Adjustable level & span control.
  
• Adjustable emmisivity & ambient temperature
• Software for creating a thermal imaging report
  

For General Electrical work, the spot size of the detector is a crtitcal component of the choice of camera used.
Generally, the higher the detector type (pixel count), the smaller the spot measuring size is giving better results for small electrical componentry..
For switchboxes & underfloor heating, a radiometric infrared camera with the following specification is an approximate guide:

• Thermal Sensitivity of 0.10 deg C.
  
• Minimum size Infrared detector with 120 x 120 pixels or higher
  
• Manual adjustable focussing.
  
• Refresh rate of 50/60 Hz for moving electrical components.
• Temperature measuring range of upto 600 degrees C..
• Adjustable emmisivity & ambient temperature.
  
  
  

For Powerlines & Transformer Electrical work, this is in most cases done with highly accurate and expensive infrared technology.
The spot size of the detector is a crtitcal component of the choice of camera used. Powelines are often measured from the air with a camera system attached to a aircraft.

A radiometric infrared camera with the following specification is a broad
approximate guide:

• Thermal Sensitivity of 0.08 deg C or higher
  
• Minimum size Infrared detector with 320 x 240 pixels or higher.
• The option of connecting different size optical lens and external displays .
• Refresh rate of 50/60 Hz.
• Temperature measuring range of upto 1000 degrees C..
• Adjustable emmisivity & ambient temperature.