Thermography can play a vital role in driving build quality and improving the thermal performance of buildings.
Everything that has a temperature above absolute zero (-273.15°C) emits infrared light, which is invisible to the human eye. If we were able to see it, this would be an extremely useful trait, as we could use it to detect differences in temperature in everything that is around us.
As we can’t see it, we have developed thermographic cameras to detect this light and convert it to an image that we can see. As heat is such a useful metric, thermography offers hundreds of practical uses, from detecting failing electronics and mechanical components, to veterinary medicine. Thermographic surveying of buildings is another use.
Thermography in buildings
Thermographic imaging is non-destructive, so we can use it to assess build quality in terms of thermal bridging, continuity of insulation, air leakage, faulty glazing, and evidence of moisture or water leaks to name but a few, all without any intrusive work.
It is a common client requirement that construction work is checked for continuity of insulation using a thermographic survey, as well as often being part of BREEAM certification.
It can also be used as a diagnostic tool for problems with buildings, such as identifying sources of roof-leaks in complex designs, checking under-floor heating, finding air leakage paths for air permeability testing, or to confirm building energy performance after a change in design or building materials.
Getting the best results from a thermographic survey
For surveys of buildings, the number one requirement is a temperature differential between the internal and external of at least 10°C across the entire envelope.
As such, most thermal surveys need to be conducted several hours after sunset, in buildings that are complete and have a heating system in operation to create the 10°C temperature differential. A survey of a large and complex building may take more than one night, but 99% of the time, they are done within 4 hours.
Can we help with your project?
Would you like to discuss your project and explore how a thermographic survey can benefit you?
Call us at 0330 055 34 05 or email be@buildenergy.co.uk for more information.
