Infared thermography from Flir Systems Australia for the building industry

Why use Infared Thermography in the Building Industry?
Since the oil crisis in the 1970s we have become increasingly conscious that our energy stocks are valuable and limited. Global warming due to CO² emissions is also known to be largely caused by pollution related to burning fossil fuels used for heating buildings. Infrared can easily detect building abnormalities that result into energy losses. By repairing these areas energy can be saved.

Architects and contractors are faced with new materials and ever-shorter production times. Efficient planning, supervision and documentation of the execution with regard to air tightness and thermal insulation are demanded. Unhealthy situations, due to mold build-up or moist need to be avoided. Infrared thermography can provide important information so that costly and time-consuming repair work can be avoided.

Furthermore, to a building owner or an insurance company involved in property damage settlement, clear images of normally invisible diagnostic evidence can be invaluable for planning the restoration effort and rationalizing settlements.

Location of Leaks
Thermography is an easy-to-use tool to find and check pipes and tubes for leaks. Even when the water pipes are laid in the floor or under plaster. The heat of the pipes radiates through the surface and the pattern can easily be detected with an infrared camera.

A typical example is localizing leaks in underfloor heating systems. Leaks in district heating systems can also be detected and documented quickly with the help of infrared thermography. Determining the exact location of a leak avoids unnecessary digging and saves costs.

Detection of Construction Failures
Thermography is the quickest and best method to discover construction failures. Thanks to thermography it can easily be proven that construction work has been incorrectly executed. It makes heat losses, humidity and air leaks that occur in buildings instantly visible on colorful thermal images.

Drying of Buildings
To speed up the drying of a building drying machines are often brought in. The heat generated by this machines evaporates the water which is present is the walls and other parts of the construction. Areas where moisture is still present can be easily detected with an infrared camera. They appear on the infrared image as a "cold spot."

Visulisation of Energy Losses - Improving Building Insulation
Thermal bridges do not only indicate areas in a building where energy is wasted. These spots can also lead to condensation or the precipitation of humidity from the ambient air. Mold subsequently grows in these places, thus creating a risk for the occupant's health. Infrared thermography reveals faulty locations immediately.