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Infrared Consulting Services thermographic scanning

How Does Wall Moisture Develop?

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Moisture problems in a building can be a huge issue for businesses. The problem with moisture is you sometimes don’t even know it’s present until it’s too late. Once mold and mildew start forming, you could be dealing with significant repairs and potential health issues for yourself and your employees.

The good news is regular thermographic scanning can detect areas where wall moisture is present. This allows you to address the area before it gets worse and causes significant issues. How does wall moisture really develop and what can you do to prevent it? Here are some facts and points to consider.

Poor Construction or Drainage

Many infrared inspection services realize wall moisture is simply a result of poor construction, especially in the drainage system. Some structures simply aren’t built to handle water drainage, no matter how structurally sound they are. This is one of the reasons why infrared thermography testing is critical before purchasing or leasing a new office space. When water sets in certain areas, especially on the roof of a building, wall moisture is inevitable. Thermographic scanning plays a large role in identifying large-scale issues that could lead to wall moisture at some point.

Cracks or Holes in the Wall

Any time you have cracks or holes in your wall, there’s a huge risk of moisture intruding. Moisture could hide in between the walls for a long time before you ever notice an issue. However, when you do an infrared thermography scan, thermographers will be able to detect the presence of moisture because of the temperature difference in certain areas. When these areas are identified, you can address the crack or hole immediately to prevent mold growth or other larger issues.

Humidity and Heat

If your building is in an extremely hot and humid environment, you always have to be concerned about moisture developing where it shouldn’t be. When you combine moisture with heat and small spaces, you’re sure to develop mold and other issues requiring extensive repairs.

The good thing about infrared inspection services is the IR technology can quickly and easily identify areas where moisture is present. This could be on a roof, in walls, in a basement, HVAC systems or anywhere else you normally don’t look. Humidity and heat are uncomfortable to begin with, but the combination can also lead to tough consequences for your business if it leads to wall moisture.

Infrared Consulting Services is the leader in providing the best thermographic scanning services in the industry. Our certified thermographers can not only detect wall moisture, but can also help you identify the root of the issue so it won’t occur again. Be sure to contact us to set up an appointment or to learn more about our services and how we can help your business.

Infrared Consulting Services thermographic scanning

A Quick Guide to Building Envelopes

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A building envelope is literally the part of a building you can draw lines around. The components include the walls, roof and foundation. These are obviously the most important components of any structure, but they are also the most overlooked. Many people take the building envelope for granted and don’t give it the proper attention and care it needs to keep people safe and comfortable inside. Since the parts of a building envelope take the most abuse from weather and other natural elements, infrared inspection services are often called to conduct an inspection. Here is a quick background on building envelopes.

Different Components, Same Goals

While there are three different components to a building envelope, they all have the same goals. Those goals include keeping cool or warm air inside, preventing water penetration, stopping air from entering in from the outside and drying out after rain to prevent mold and rotting. When any of these three components are compromised for any reason, thermal imaging services can be used to determine the severity of the damage. Sometimes property owners may not even realize the damage to the building envelope, so thermal imaging services can also be used to prevent disasters from occurring.

Challenges With Protecting Building Envelopes

You can’t completely protect a building envelope. Weather and natural disasters occur all the time, so the main thing you can do to protect a building envelope is to maintain it as much as possible, including preventative maintenance. Even if the building is in a climate where harsh weather doesn’t occur often, it is still exposed to sun, wind and rain at the very least. All of these elements could combine to wear on a building envelope over time, and thermographic scanning can help detect those areas that are worn down.

How Infrared Technology Benefits Building Envelopes

Due to the importance and function of a building envelope, it’s critical to conduct regular thermographic scanning through professional infrared inspection services. Some issues with the building envelope can’t be seen with the naked eye, but infrared technology can detect potentially serious issues before they become a big factor. Building owners may not be aware that moisture is present in the roof or in the walls. There may even be a slight air leak in those areas as well. Being aware of these issues before they become a large problem will help keep building envelopes healthy and stable for the long-term.

Infrared Consulting Services has over 30 years of experience dealing with and preventing issues related to building envelopes. Our experienced and certified thermographers will be able to identify issues before they become a big headache for your company. For more information on the importance of maintaining a building envelope, or to book your thermographic scanning appointment, be sure to contact us.

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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.

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.