News

Three Little-Known Ways Roof Moisture Can Damage Your Facility

August 23, 2016/in Thermographic imaging /by I R Test

Anyone who has ever owned or managed a building of any variety knows the damage risks a leaking roof can cause. The roof itself can easily suffer structural damage thanks to the extra moisture seeping in and eating away at it. However, there are many other issues a leaking roof can cause, far beyond the structure of just the roof. Here are a few of the other problems roof moisture can cause, which could convince you to look into commissioning infrared thermography as soon as possible.

1. Energy Leaks

This may sound like a bit of a head-scratcher, but think about what your roof is used for. It’s a means of keeping the interior of a building intact and the elements out, just like the walls and floor. To serve this purpose well, roofs are typically packed tightly with insulation to keep warmth, coolness and energy in and unwanted air and moisture out. If your roof is leaking, this leaves not just the roof itself vulnerable, but the insulation inside it as well.

Insulation isn’t made to handle moisture particularly well and too much leaves it soggy and unable to perform effectively. Drying the insulation is a time-consuming process, meaning if a leak should happen, you may as well invest in brand new insulation to protect your facility. Without a proper replacement, your energy use will increase dramatically.

2. Mold

Mold is the most common consequence of lingering moisture. You may have encountered it before in domestic situations, but it is just as likely in your commercial facility and perhaps even more hazardous if left to grow. The presence of mold lowers working conditions in your facility and can create certain health risks for your employees, especially those already prone to asthma and other respiratory issues. Even those without any documented illnesses should steer clear of mold because it can easily create breathing problems.

What we must point out here is if mold develops in your roof due to excess moisture, it can easily spread to the rest of your facility, such as the ceiling, the vents and anywhere else imaginable. You absolutely do not want to deal with eliminating mold if you can prevent it because the elimination measures can cost you days of valuable productivity. Most certified thermographers can pick up signs of moisture before the problem escalates to this point.

3. Pooling

If the moisture in your roof begins to accumulate, it can easily trickle down to your ceiling and drip from there, ending up as an ugly puddle on your facility’s floor. This is yet another safety hazard that can spell huge consequences. If a worker were to slip and fall in one of these puddles, you lose productivity, money and perhaps even a valuable employee. At best, they’ll be wet and a bit sore. At worst, they could suffer a serious injury and decide to pursue a lawsuit.

As with all other situations in life, it’s far better to be safe than sorry. We hope this article will enlighten you to the benefits of infrared inspection and how they can save your commercial facility in more ways than one. Contact us to learn how infrared thermography can help you!

Four Important Signs of Potential Roof Leakage Issues

July 5, 2016/in infrared consulting serivces /by I R Test

infrared problem prevention

If you are the owner and/or manager of any kind of commercial facility, you know the importance of careful and regularly scheduled maintenance. At the same time, it is all too easy to forget certain parts of your building, leading to costly maintenance issues.

Most commercial facility owners will run into issues with their electrical sources, foundation, air circulation and, most commonly of all, roofing. What few people realize is it’s very easy to take care of structural issues before they become a bigger issue. This blog article will explore the warning signs in your commercial facility’s roofing and how you can take advantage of infrared testing to avoid costly shutdowns.

Fractured Roofing

What did you notice the last time you glanced at your facility’s roof? Was it 100 percent intact? Did you notice any damage to the roof membrane or other parts of its structure? If you did, then you may want to hire an infrared specialist as soon as possible. Damage to the exterior of the roof ultimately means damage to the interior of the roof. Any holes or other signs of wear can easily allow in moisture that will trickle down to the inside structure of the roof and, eventually, build up into leakage.

Damaged Flashing

All low slope roofs have flashings, you’ll want to inspect it occasionally for signs of looseness and damage. Evidence suggests the origin of the large majority of leaks come from the flashings. Flashings can be found at any ventilation opening in your facility and, when intact, should look tight enough to keep moisture out. If you spot any evidence to the contrary, it’s time to get in contact with certified thermographers.

Clogged Gutters and Other Drainage Systems

The status of your gutters can be just as important as the roof itself. In fact, issues with your facility’s gutters can just as easily create problems with roof leakage. If you live in an area that is highly prone to severe winter weather, it is even more important that you check the gutters of your facility after every major storm, as well as towards the end of each season. You may find things like frozen debris inside the gutter, which can cause any extra water to pool toward the roof.

Other Types of Damage

There are other types of damage to look out for in your roofing as well, depending on how it’s built. For instance, if your roof is one flat shape, you may be able to spot blistering, splits and other defects

Should you find any of these issues present in your facility, you can always rely on infrared problem prevention to keep things from escalating. Contact us today to learn how you can utilize infrared scanning and protect your facility from costly maintenance issues.

How Can an Infrared Inspection Help You Fix Electrical Issues?

June 9, 2016/in Infrared inspection services /by I R Test

Look for overheating issues with an infrared inspection.

An infrared inspection identifies potential problems.

Prevent problems with an infrared inspection.

An infrared inspection can prevent problems.

How familiar are you with electrical thermography? It is an invaluable tool for those any commercial facility, as it easily detects issues with your equipment through careful temperature readings and enables you to create a plan of action should any signs of malfunction be found. You may be wondering just how this could be true. In this blog, we’ll be going over just how infrared inspection works and how it can be used to save you valuable equipment, time and money. There are a number of different equipment types that electrical thermography can detect problems with, including:

Transformers

One of the ways in which infrared inspection equipment can be used is for the transformers in your facility. Transformers are important to your facility’s operation and equipment, as without it your equipment wouldn’t be able to function whatsoever—yet most facility managers neglect to have the transformers in their facility properly inspected by a professional thermographer. When an infrared inspection is performed on your transformer, the inspector’s device will measure the amount of heat coming from the transformer’s cooling tubes. Problems may be developing with the transformer if any of the tubes are disparate in temperature from the rest. Normally there will be an even amount of heat flowing between them all.

Fuses

A broken fuse can display problems in one of two ways—both of which can only be detected through electrical thermography. A fuse that has completely blown will have gone cold. Meanwhile, a fuse that is on the verge of blowing will appear much warmer than usual. This is a sign that the fuse cannot handle much more energy and investigated

Wires

Electrical problems can occur most frequently and easily in your facility’s wiring. A certified thermographer will be able to detect issues with the wiring with little trouble, as the major warning sign for faulty wiring is excessive heat. During the electrical testing process, the inspector will most likely compare the faulty wire to other wires connected to similar machinery. This type of discovery can signal any number of problems. Regardless of the root of the problem, having electrical testing performed allows you to take quick action to solve the issue before it escalates.

MCC (or Motor Control Centers)

The different sections of an MCC may denote trouble, which could mean problems for your facility and its equipment. A thermographic inspector will be able to inspect each part of the MCC for any potential problems, which will display similar symptoms to the many others we described above.

Overall, the way infrared inspection works is very simple on the surface, but the positive effects are numerous. To learn more about how electrical thermography can help your facility, contact us!

What to Consider When Seeking an Infrared Inspection

June 2, 2016/in Infrared inspection services /by I R Test

Infrared inspection is a useful service.

Find out when you need infrared inspection service.

It's important to seek infrared thermography to identify issues.

Infrared thermography is a necessary service.

If you’ve spent considerable time on this website, you know the importance of infrared inspection for your business and have perhaps even made the decision to set up an inspection appointment for your facility. If you have, however, you don’t want to trust the job to just anyone! There are several noteworthy things you should consider before picking an infrared inspection service. To help you with this important maintenance procedure, here are a few tips on how to go about shopping around for an infrared inspection appointment.

How Much Experience and Training Do They Possess?

When you’re looking for an infrared inspection service to take care of your company, going with the least expensive option is the worst route to take. While this may work with your other shopping needs, when it comes to infrared thermography, you truly get what you pay for. You want only the highest level of service and the best quality procedures to ensure the inspection doesn’t miss any problems waiting in the wings within your equipment. Consider any extraordinarily cheap options you find to be a red flag above all else—something to be avoided because an inspection that is too cheap is the least likely to be as effective as possible. You absolutely don’t want to be told there are no problems with your equipment, only to have it malfunction and require serious repairs shortly after your infrared inspection is performed.

Because of this risk, it is best to ask the companies you’re considering about their level of certification. The more experienced the company is, the most effective inspection you can expect to receive. Try to get hard copies of any certifications they have, if possible.

What Types of Equipment Do They Use?

The best infrared thermography service will have staff members who not only are efficient with infrared procedures, but have the highest level equipment and know how to utilize it properly. Only then can you expect the most precise results possible from the inspection. With the best equipment, you’ll find the following traits: a user who is both skilled and experienced with the equipment, high-quality imagery within the equipment’s lens, the option to fine tune the equipment as needed throughout the inspection, field of view choices and a suitable amount of sensitivity in order to pick up on heat readings as easily and accurately as possible.

It is worth remembering brands don’t matter nearly as much when it comes to infrared inspection as it does the level of technology implemented within it. A piece of infrared equipment from one of the most well-known manufacturers can still be too problematic for proper usage. When you’re shopping around for the best service, be sure to ask about their infrared detection technology and its capabilities. Then you’ll know whether you have a great service to choose from.

We hope this article will help you pick the best quality infrared inspection service for your facility. At Infrared Consulting Services, we care about the well being of your facility and its equipment. Contact us to learn how we can help you!

Top Reasons You Need an Electrical Thermography Inspection

May 26, 2016/in News /by I R Test

identify issues early with electrical thermography.

Electrical thermography can identify issues.

Make necessary repairs with the help of electrical thermal imaging.

Electrical thermal imaging helps you find issues early.

If you own or work in a plant that runs with the help of electronic equipment, you’ve heard of electrical thermography to some degree. However, many facility managers don’t quite realize the value in electrical thermography. Too often, equipment is allowed to run until it malfunctions and needs either serious repairs or replacement, which can cost thousands of dollars. This shouldn’t have to happen, and there are ways you can prevent this costly ordeal. Organizing an electrical inspection is the best way to keep your equipment and pocketbook out of harm’s way. Here are some important reasons to seek an electrical inspection as soon as possible.

Your Equipment’s Overall Status

Think about your equipment from a technical standpoint. How well does it run? Don’t take seemingly great operation as a sign all is well! There could be problems lying below the surface, undetectable to human perception. Parts can always fail quietly, either through simply stopping or becoming misplaced through prolonged use or human error. If you can visibly tell your equipment is missing any components, you want to schedule an electrical infrared survey in the near future.

Maintenance

The safety requirements issued by the National Fire Protection Association change on a regular basis and must be checked frequently to ensure facilities are conforming to these incredibly important precautionary standards. However, despite this information, many don’t follow the NFPA’s maintenance suggestions to the letter. This is understandable because work easily captures your full attention and in the midst of trying to keep productivity flowing, it can be difficult to stop and tend to maintenance procedures. However, it is a highly important element of upkeep for your facility. Have your electrical equipment tested frequently by way of electrical thermography to make sure it’s still operating according to standards.

Electrical Malfunction

Equipment that isn’t working as it should, that fails on a regular basis and interrupts your workflow, deserves immediate inspection at your earliest convenience. This is one of the first and biggest signs your equipment is in serious trouble! The issue could be any number of things, such as resistance- or connection-related. However, you cannot trust your own perceptions when it comes to figuring out the issue. Rather, it’s best to call on a professional. Electrical thermal imaging is the only thing that can take care of this problem—namely, by finding the root of it. A specialist can not only pinpoint the source of the problem but speak with you on the best ways to take care of it before it escalates into something much worse.

We hope this list will help you learn how to discern the best times to call upon the help of an electrical thermography specialist. Doing so can save you hours of productivity, as well as thousands in cash, which can be allocated elsewhere in your budget in even more productive ways. To learn more about electrical thermal imaging and request a consultation, contact us!