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Infrared Consulting Services thermography inspection

Could You Be Facing One of These Common Insulation Problems?

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Insulation in a commercial building can sometimes be hit-or-miss. It is typically one of the last things on the list to get replaced if a building is older. However, newer buildings could have much better insulation, depending on when it was built.

There are many insulation problems businesses could have and not even know it. Since you generally don’t see your insulation on a daily basis, a thermography inspection may be required to see exactly how it’s holding up. You may not even know you’re facing one of these common insulation problems.

Aged Insulation

If a property was built more than a decade ago, chances are the insulation isn’t as effective as it could be. Of course, it may not necessarily be bad enough where the cost of replacing it is justified. When you use an IR thermography expert to analyze your insulation, they will be able to tell where the weak spots are and provide an estimate on how much longer it will be effective.

Too Much Insulation

When you have too much insulation, you could be causing some serious health issues for people in your building. Multiple layers of insulation could restrict airflow. Furthermore, if you have any sort of leak in your floors, walls or roof, moisture could pose a problem since it has nowhere to go. Mold and mildew can grow in the insulation and eventually become airborne as well. One of the main benefits of infrared inspection is to detect those holes to keep moisture out as much as possible.

Not Enough Insulation

Not having enough insulation won’t necessarily pose a health risk, but it can hurt the pocketbook. The main downfall of not having enough insulation is energy leaving the building. Your hot air won’t stay inside during the winter and your cool air won’t stay inside during the summer. This causes your HVAC unit to work overtime, which will result in higher energy bills.

Damaged Insulation

Insulation can be damaged by a variety of elements, including rodents and water. Animals try to find a warm place in the winter, so the first place they will look is in and around buildings. If they find an opening, they could damage your insulation quickly by making their nest in it.

A roof leak is also a main cause of damaged insulation. If you haven’t gotten a thermography inspection on your roof in a while, now is the time to do it. Once water gets into your insulation, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible.

Contaminated Insulation

Animals are generally the culprits when it comes to contaminated insulation. Their urine and droppings can create some bad smells in the house and can reduce the effectiveness of the insulation drastically.

Infrared Consulting Services is here to help provide IR thermography inspections for commercial buildings. To learn more about the benefits of infrared inspection, or to set up an appointment, be sure to contact us.

infrared thermography

What Affects Cost of an IR Low-Scope Roof Scan

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The cost of maintaining a commercial low-slope roof can be quite expensive over its lifetime. The exact cost depends on a variety of factors, including preventative maintenance practices, weather elements, and others. You can always reach out to infrared consulting services to get a better idea of the cost of getting an infrared thermography scan, but it is must cheaper than replacing the entire roof.

The worst thing any business owner can do is wait until there is a problem with the roof before addressing any issues. Getting ahead of the game by detecting issues before they become larger problems will help reduce maintenance costs on your low-slope roof in the long-term.

Early Intervention Can Reduce Maintenance Costs

You can’t intervene on commercial roof issues without the help of IR thermography, in most cases. Very rarely do people spend a significant amount of time inspecting a roof on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. Inspecting your roof daily isn’t necessary, but having the proper equipment to identify issues is critical.

That’s why IR thermography is used. This technology can identify a potential problem before the human eye can see it. When small problems become a large problem, the cost of the maintenance will rise. Infrared technology helps reduce the overall cost of roof maintenance since the issues identified can be fixed at an earlier stage.

Neglected Issues Can Make Cost Rise

If you don’t use infrared thermography on your roof, then you could be neglecting potential problems and not even know it. You may notice the water isn’t draining very well off of the roof during a rainstorm, or you may see water stains on the ceiling inside the building. Failure to address these issues right away will only lead to higher repair costs. Sometimes the issue is an easy fix, but many times it’s just getting worse by the day. Neglecting roof issues is the number one way to make the overall cost of your roof rise.

Schedule Regular Infrared Inspections

The best way to keep a budget on your commercial roof repairs is to conduct regular and frequent IR thermography inspections. This preventative maintenance strategy will essentially pay for itself when you compare it to the potential cost of roof repairs or a replacement.

Plus, a healthy roof can help reduce energy bills since the insulation will remain intact longer. There are many benefits a business owner will gain out of having a well-maintained roof, but those benefits may be non-existent without the proper use of infrared technology.

Infrared Consulting Services has been in business since 1988 and has helped thousands of businesses save money on their commercial roofs in the process. With the best-certified thermographers in the industry, you can ensure you’ll receive quality service to extend the life of your low-slope roof. Be sure to contact us for an evaluation and to start managing the cost of your commercial roof.

Extending the Life of a Low Slope Flat Roof

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The old phrase of being “out of sight, out of mind” is especially true when it comes to a commercial roof. Most people don’t walk on the roof of a building every day, so it can be easy to forget about. This could be problematic after years of neglect, since a roof can be extremely expensive to repair or replace at a certain point.

Extending the life of a low slope flat roof isn’t too difficult as long as you take small steps to protect it. Using IR thermography to help identify any issues is critical in preventing roof leaks and other issues is beneficial. Here are some of the best ways you can help extend the life of your low slope flat roof.

Drainage System Maintenance

Since flat roofs don’t have much of a slope for water to run off of, you have to make sure the drainage systems are properly maintained. Standing water on a roof is a recipe for disaster, as it could cause the materials to break down and cause leaks. Most of the time, you don’t even need a thermal imaging inspection to identify when a drain outlet is clogged. Just pass by them and remove any debris regularly so they work properly when needed.

Address Issues Immediately

You don’t always have to be on the roof or use infrared detection technology to detect a roof problem. If you notice water stains on the ceiling or drips coming from a place in the building where it shouldn’t be dripping, it’s a sure sign of a roof leak. Don’t just ignore these signs. Many times, the issue can be easily fixed if detected early enough.

Re-Surface an Old Roof

If you have an older roof, you could consider re-surfacing it to extend the life. Low slope flat roofs aren’t as forgiving as steep slope roofs, so they may require a new surface after 10-15 years. Applying a new surface could extend the life another 10-15 years or more and reduce the amount of maintenance on it during that time as a result. If your roof is having constant leaking issues, this is one of the best options to consider for a long-term roof life.

Conduct Regular and Frequent Inspections

Above all else, conducting a regular thermal imaging inspection is the best way to extend the life of your roof. Many times, infrared detection technology can identify an issue in a low slope flat roof before it actually becomes a visible problem. This provides business owners with a more cost-effective way to repair the roof, since there’s usually no damage done. Conducting an IR thermography inspection a few times each year will greatly extend the life of your roof.

At Infrared Consulting Services, we’ve helped many businesses extend the life of their low slope flat roof by offering the best infrared testing in the industry. If it’s been a while since you’ve evaluated your roof, or if you want to put a maintenance plan together for it, be sure to contact us at any time.

thermographic scanning

Cost of Electrical Systems Fire (and How to Prevent Them)

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Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent every year in property damage as a result of fires in industrial environments. These fires can be caused by a number of factors, but one thing they all have in common is they can be prevented. It’s easy to understand the benefits of infrared inspection for companies, especially when used as a disaster prevention tool.

The scary thing about electrical systems fires is you may not even know something is wrong until it’s too late. By incorporating thermographic scanning into your regular maintenance budget, you’ll be able to put your company in a safer spot.

Causes of Electrical Systems Fires

Electrical equipment is going to be hot in most cases. Fires can occur when dust, dirt or grease is covering the equipment. Those particles provide fuel for a fire to continue burning, rather than being short-lived if the equipment were clean. Other causes of electrical fires include:

  • Overloaded circuits
  • Exposed or damaged wiring
  • Overloaded outlets
  • Worn extension cords
  • Static discharge

With the high-paced work occurring in industrial workplaces, it can be difficult to spot a potential electrical issue. However, all it takes is a little spark from one of these components to cause a potentially devastating fire. That’s why many companies are leaning on IR thermography to identify any possible issues so they can be fixed before a disaster occurs.

Preventing Electrical Systems Fires With Thermographic Scanning

It’s obvious how to avoid fires started by some of the most common causes, like replacing damaged wires or extension cords. However, these are just temporary fixes, for the most part. Instead, the best way to prevent electrical systems fires in your workplace is to incorporate regular thermographic scanning into your schedule.

With a thermal imaging survey, you don’t even have to shut down your operations most of the time. A thermographer can come to your workplace and give you a comprehensive view of what may need to be fixed or replaced. Infrared thermography detects heat and moisture and is clearly identified on the survey. When these spots show up, it’s a clear indication that something isn’t how it should be and needs immediate attention.

Have a Plan in Place 

The great thing about IR thermography is companies are able to detect problems they didn’t even know they had. This is especially important when it comes to electrical equipment. Have a plan in place to have a thermal imaging survey conducted quarterly, or at least a couple times each year.

Not only will these surveys create a safer work environment, but they could save your company thousands, if not millions, of dollars by avoiding potentially devastating fires. A regular survey, along with general maintenance and awareness on a daily basis, will go a long way in ensuring your company doesn’t have to deal with an electrical fire.

To learn more about the technicalities of infrared thermography, or to schedule your next survey, be sure to contact us.

Water intrusion can be identified with a thermography inspection.

What Is Water Intrusion and Why Is It a Problem?

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Water intrusion is a problem for any building or structure. It could be the result of holes, damaged walls, poor building design or even leaky water pipes. The main problem with water intrusion is it’s not easy to detect with the naked eye until it escalates. When moisture and water get behind walls and inside the building envelope, you could be looking at a lot of money in damages and repairs. With the help of IR thermography, you can prevent major damages by getting ahead of the problem and identifying the water intrusion before it takes over.

Water Intrusion in Walls and Roofs

There are many reasons water can get in walls and through roofs, but sometimes those reasons aren’t easy to identify. If water intrusion happens slowly and gradually in walls and roofs, the damage could get to the point where the entire structure has to be replaced. Mold could develop, making it a dangerous place to live or work in. However, by doing a regular thermography inspection, you can catch the problem before it gets to that point.

Preventing Mold and Other Water Damage

When water gets inside the building envelope, the moisture doesn’t have anywhere to go nor any ventilation to evaporate through. That creates an environment ideal for mold growth and can get worse the longer it’s there. Once the mold is detected, the affected building’s occupants will have to evacuate immediately, causing further problems on a much wider scale. Thermal imaging services can identify areas where moisture could be growing so you can take quick and decisive action.

Why You Should Use Infrared Technology

Sometimes it’s impossible to see a potential leak. Whether it’s in a pipe behind a wall or a pipe that’s clearly visible, any potential sources of water intrusion must be examined frequently. A routine thermography inspection can give you images of areas where moisture is present by examining temperature differences. It’s impossible to see or feel these spots without infrared equipment so having a professional run a survey periodically will help prevent major water intrusion.

Water intrusion can happen in any building, no matter how well it is maintained. As buildings get older, their materials start to wear down and slowly allow water to enter where it shouldn’t. Before you have to deal with the headache that comes with major water intrusion, give us a call to do a quick infrared survey and give you peace of mind.

Consider IR thermography to look for little known problems.

Four More Little-Known Uses for IR Thermography

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Companies today are beginning to see the importance of conducting routine infrared testing. In fact, IR thermography testing is required in some places. Infrared technology is most commonly used in detecting roof moisture, electrical inspections, building envelopes, high voltages and other objects and structures. However, there are other uses people may not be aware of. Proper awareness of the benefits of infrared technology outside of the basic uses will help prevent potential costly issues. Here is a list of four uses for infrared technology you may be able to benefit from.

  1. Transformers

Fluid-filled transformers must have the proper liquid level to perform properly. Over time, the gauges can become difficult or impossible to read, leaving people to guess at what the liquid level is. Thermal imaging services can help detect the fluid level in transformers and indicate when there’s a radiator cooling issue. If you have a warm transformer tank with a cool radiator, you know there’s a risk of the transformer overheating.

  1. Terminations and Splices

IR thermography is typically used for terminations and splices as a safety precaution. In many cases, before professionals go underground to work on splices, infrared testing must be performed to ensure safety. Infrared testing can also identify problems relating to conductor integrity.

  1. Switchgears

Identifying possible thermal failures of important switchgear equipment is crucial for worker safety. In some cases, permanent thermal sensors have to be installed to identify problems immediately. Outdoor switchgear assemblies have strip heaters to regulate the temperature during different times of the day or year. Thermal imaging services come into play when there is no detection of heat, meaning there’s a problem that needs to be addressed before a larger issue occurs.

  1. Items Not Carrying Current

Most of the time, infrared consulting services will take a quick look at the entire job site, in addition to the specific equipment they’re testing. The reason behind this is to detect heat from objects that shouldn’t be carrying current. Inductive heating can be a hazard to workers and equipment and it would go unnoticed without infrared testing.

Another item generally not carrying current is a ground connection. If infrared testing indicates a ground connection has increased in temperature, it signifies a potential problem.

Infrared technology has many more uses than the common ones associated with it. At Infrared Consulting Services, we know the ins-and-outs of infrared technology and can help in any industry. For other little-known uses for infrared technology or to learn how we can help provide your company with routine IR testing, contact us at any time!

Electrical thermography was changed by the NFPA.

What Impact Could the NFPA Leave on Electrical Thermography?

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For an organization with no regulatory power, the NFPA sure is influential. When it comes to infrared thermography, no other organization has generated more of an impact over the last few decades than the NFPA. It all starts with two documents that have completely changed the face of electrical thermography.

Since the NFPA doesn’t have any regulatory power, they rely on other organizations to give their recommendations some legs. When OSHA adopted the recommendations from the NFPA documents, it created a huge demand for infrared cameras in the United States and worldwide.

Recommended Practice for Electrical Equipment Maintenance

This is the first document from the NFPA to leave an impact on the IR thermography industry. It goes into detail about the importance of preventive maintenance, which could reduce overall costs, increase safety and even provide a boost in production. The document goes on to state the conditions under which a routine thermography inspection should be conducted, especially with newer equipment or any type of change in the current systems in place. This may seem like a common sense rule of thumb, but it wasn’t a standard until the NFPA took a stand.

Workplace Electrical Safety

This is the second document from the NFPA, which discusses the types of protective equipment people must wear when working with live equipment. Different types of equipment require people to be a certain distance away or wear a certain amount of gear to protect them. If you don’t comply with these standards, you are putting yourself and your company at risk of being fined for violating them.

The new performance procedures for electrical thermography inspections have completely changed the industry. Companies are able to manufacture and distribute new infrared technology in many shapes and sizes, and it’s all due to the standards set forth by the NFPA.

At Infrared Consulting Services, we can help your company comply with the strict standards and regulations set in motion by the NFPA. Our professionals provide businesses with the highest quality IR thermography inspection services to help keep your property safe and also help you save money. Contact us today to learn how we can work together to improve your standards and processes when it comes to infrared thermography preventive maintenance.

Identify air leaks with thermographic scanning.

How to Spot Air Leaks – And What to Do About It

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Every business owner knows the importance of preventing problems before they have the chance to escalate so why do certain potential problems slip our minds? Take your commercial facility’s ventilation systems, for instance. People rarely notice the signs of energy leaks until they receive their utility bills for the month. Yet, even after this shock to the wallet, most people fail to recognize just what is causing this spike in energy prices for their facility.

Eventually, they may seek thermography inspection services but not before the problem becomes unmanageable. Here is how you can effectively identify signs of air leaks within your facility and take full advantage of an infrared inspection before your problem gets worse.

Look for Cracks

While these methods are not fool-proof, they may prove to be a great place to start in terms of locating air leaks. One method involves slipping a small piece of paper or a dollar bill into one of the spaces in your facility, such as a window or door. You’ll know you have a leak if the dollar can be easily removed through the spaces. Additionally, you can have a helper stand outside the facility while you point a light at any spot you suspect could contain a crack. If any large crack exists in the structure, you have a definite leak on your hands and should contact a thermographic scanning professional.

Perform a Pressurization Test

If neither of the above-mentioned methods help you uncover any leakage issues, you can always turn to a pressurization test. To do this, wait until a particularly blustery day to switch your exhaust fans and/or furnaces off. Afterward, close any venting spaces that lead to the outside. You can then walk around your facility and test the areas you suspect of leakage with your hand or a lighter to see if there are any signs of wind leaking from the outside.

Examine Your Facility

You will most likely find leaks around doors or windows. This proves especially true if your facility is an older building. Check them out by grabbing them firmly and moving them side-to-side. If you find they creak or wiggle, you can safely suspect a leak is present.
Additionally, you can check other ventilation and circulation systems around your facility just as easily. If you see any loose areas around your foundation or pipes, it’s highly likely you have a leak on your hands.
There are a few other areas you can and should check as well:

  • exterior of your chimney
  • outdoor plumbing
  • corners of the facility’s exterior
If none of these tests are successful, another easy method of detecting leaks is IR thermography. In fact, thermographic scanning is the most effective means of detecting leaks and other problems due to their highly accurate but non-intrusive nature. Contact us today to learn how you can use IR thermography to help your facility save money and be more energy efficient!
Identify issues with the help of a thermographic inspector.

Top Two Reasons to Hire a Thermographic Inspector

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Have you formed a plan in the event of a maintenance emergency, such as a water or air leak? You may not have considered the possibility of such an event happening to you and your building. However, it is a real occurrence that happens to factory owners every day. You must always be prepared for anything that could go wrong. This means taking preventive measures. The best way to stay safe and informed of your building’s condition is through the help of thermography inspections, which can only be performed by a professional in the thermography field. Here are some of the best reasons to consider consulting a thermographic inspector for your facility.

A Thermographic Inspector Can Detect Problems With Your Facility’s Roofing

Leakage is perhaps the worst problem that can plague a roof because it has the potential to affect the interior of your facility and even damage your equipment. Because of this risk, it’s best to recognize signs of potential leak issues before they become too severe. Other issues your roof is vulnerable to include splits or decay within the roof’s structure.

Thermographic scanning is one way to search for problems without causing further damage to your roof, while also accurately pinpointing exactly where issues lie so you can know what to do about them. Thermography inspections also save you many thousands of dollars you would have to pay to replace your entire roof. Getting a scan performed can help you focus on specific areas of your roof needing repair, rather than considering replacing the entire roofing system.

A Thermographic Inspector Will Find Trouble Within Your Electrical Systems

Over time, problems develop within  the electrical equipment in your facility before they actually malfunction. Poorly functioning equipment will give off much higher temperatures than properly operating equipment. This is best detected through the use of thermographic scanning, which can read the temperature of an object and report the amount of heat generated.

Don’t wait for a problem to escalate before you get help. At Infrared Consulting Services, we provide thermographic inspections and more. Contact us for more information on how we can help you.