Thermal imaging of buildings is a popular method that makes it possible to identify areas in which heat leaves the premises, to form an effective plan aimed at eliminating structural defects. What is the procedure? What are the features of its implementation? Let's try to answer these and other questions.
What is a thermal imager?
The device with which thermal imaging is performed reproduces an image that shows how the temperature of the surfaces under study changes. The visual picture is displayed in real time on the display of the device. The range of individual temperatures is indicated in different colors. Moreover, the error in the indicators is not more than 0.1 about C.
Thermal imaging of the building can also be done through the use of an alternative device - a pyrometer. The main difference between the latter is the absence of a color monitor. At the same time, pyrometers have a lower cost and allow measuring temperatures in a wider range.
What organizations perform thermal imaging?
Thermal imaging control can be performed by the following structures:
- community of homeowners and home management companies;
- energy and heat supply organizations;
- power generating enterprises;
- regulatory authorities.
Thermal imaging technique
As you can see, to conduct a thermal imaging
inspection of buildings and structures, a specialized camera is used that reproduces the image in infrared format. It should be noted right away that such events do not need special preliminary preparation, but only in cases when thermal imaging is performed in the cold season.
When conducting a study in the summer, the obtained data can be significantly distorted, due to the significant heating of the surfaces by sunlight. To identify problem areas in the building structure with the help of a thermal imaging apparatus in the warm season, the use of air conditioners is required, which will cool the room from the inside.
Subject to the above conditions, thermal imaging of a house will allow you to get high-quality images that show areas of heat loss, deterioration of thermal insulation, destruction of building envelopes, gap in the roof, etc.
Ultimately, shooting using a thermal imager makes it possible to assess the quality of the facility. Using the device, you can instantly detect structural defects that are invisible to the naked eye, and identify other builder errors.
Advantages of the research method
Thermal imaging:
- reduces the time required to determine the location of the zones of heat leakage through the holes in the building envelope;
- makes it possible to identify the so-called cold bridges;
- allows a comprehensive assessment of the quality of work of specialists in the field of installation of floors
- helps to determine the freezing areas in the insulating shells of the structure, to detect obvious wall defects.
Another obvious advantage of using a thermal imager is the objectivity of the information received, as well as the ability to perform calculations of the highest accuracy. The device makes it possible to obtain pictures of both internal and external ceilings. Thus, the specialist is provided with data on all available types of defects.
Performing a survey using a thermal imager is an absolutely safe method. Moreover, during the course of the events, the integrity of the structures of the object is not violated.
Housing survey
Thermal imaging of housing is recommended prior to its acquisition or acceptance of an act on the work performed from a construction organization. If during the examination critical defects are detected in any of the nodes of the object, the buyer has every right to demand a reduction in its value. In case of detection of flaws using the thermal imager after payment, the building will have to be repaired independently.
Overlap defect detection
Thermal imaging is an extremely effective solution if you need to visually fix the location of cracks in the ceilings, holes in window and doorways, and brickwork. Determining the exact localization of these defects allows without any problems to improve the heat storage in the room.
Detection of defects in the heating system
Thermal imaging allows you to analyze the effectiveness of the functioning of heating systems. Using a specialized thermal imager, it’s quite simple to find out how effective the existing heating devices are, how much heat is lost when they are placed in certain areas of the premises. Based on the information received, in the future it will be possible to eliminate the shortcomings and increase the efficiency of heating systems by contacting the appropriate specialists for help.