Application purpose:
Identifying areas of missing insulation, cold air infiltration, air leakage and excessive thermal bridging
Using the table below, select the most appropriate camera model based on the following application level descriptions. Please also consider any limiting factors that may apply.
- Basic Applications include: Internal surveys to give a qualitative overview to identify cold areas that may be associated with cold air infiltration, missing/defective insulation and excessive thermal bridging. (Not recommended for external surveys)
- Intermediate Applications include: Internal and external surveys to give a qualitative overview identifying defects that may be associated with air leakage, cold air infiltration, missing/defective insulation and excessive thermal bridging. Defects will appear colder than typically observed on internals surfaces and warmer on external surfaces.
- Advanced Applications include: Basic and Intermediate applications requiring high quality radiometric images for the purposes of carrying out quantitative analysis and presenting within a report.
Model |
Basic |
Intermediate |
Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
FLIR E4 |
 |
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FLIR E5 |
|
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FLIR E6 |
|
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FLIR E8 |
|
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FLIR E53 |
|
|
|
FLIR E54 |
|
|
|
FLIR E60 |
|
|
|
FLIR E75 |
|
|
|
FLIR T540 |
|
|
|
FLIR T640 |
|
|
|
FLIR T660 |
|
|
|
FLIR T865 |
|
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FLIR T1020 |
|
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FLIR T1030sc |
|
Preparation/Environmental Conditions
To achieve a reliable result from the survey, preparations need to be made to ensure the building fabric has been sufficiently heated. To achieve this, the heating should be in operation a few days preceding the survey to heat through the building fabric.
On the morning/night prior to the survey, the heating should be set to run constantly throughout the night at a temperature that will achieve a minimum internal–to-external air temperature difference of 10°C. To assist in maintaining the temperature difference throughout the building, all windows/doors should be kept closed as far as is practical prior to the survey.
Surveys should be carried out on overcast days or ideally at night/early hours of the morning to limit the effects of solar gain. Solar gain can mask defects during internal surveys and create false defects during external surveys.
Limiting Factors to be considered
In circumstances where there are large areas to cover, or the distance from the surface is likely to exceed 10 meters and/or where the internal-to-external temperature difference is likely to be challenging, consideration should be given to selecting an increased specification camera which will have a greater chance of success.
Insufficient weather conditions (i.e. high wind speeds, rain/snow, and solar gain) and insufficient internal-to-external temperature difference will affect the accuracy and effectiveness of the results. Consideration should always be given to ensuring surveys are carried out at a time which will achieve the best possible result.
Please note that the thermal imaging camera selection guidance above is intended as a guide only, Red Current Ltd will not be held accountable where the desired results do not meet preconceived expectations.
