EXPERTS IN THERMAL
WE'VE GOT THE KNOWLEDGE
If you are a building surveyor, an energy or sustainability manager in a local authority or housing association, you may want to have an infrared survey carried out for a variety reasons. Your objective may be to discover and diagnose energy inefficiencies or to detect and inspect property defects. Whatever it is, you want to know that you are getting value for your money and that it is well spent. CHP’S aim is to ensure you can make informed decisions.
Commercial Building Envelope Inspection
Infrared envelope inspections find energy loss
Missing, damaged, or inadequate insulation, building envelope air leaks, moisture intrusion, and substandard work are costly to residential and commercial building owners. An infrared camera can help you quickly see and find the sources of energy efficiencies, destructive water damage, and structural issues so you can make informed decisions on needed repairs that can help save energy dollars and stay more comfortable.
CHP only uses the best equipment available by FLIR. CHP’S Thermal imaging equipment make’s it easy to perform nondestructive inspections that isolate cold and warm air infiltration/exfiltration so necessary repairs and improvements can be made to tighten energy efficiency. Thermal imagers can also instantly show temperature differences that verify what’s wet and what’s dry and to make reliable diagnosing of a full range of building applications, from energy audits and restoration to roofing and commissioning.
Using Thermal Imaging for Building Envelope Inspections
Inspecting buildings using a thermal imaging camera is a powerful and non-invasive means of monitoring and diagnosing the condition of the building. A thermal imaging camera can identify problems early, allowing them to be documented and corrected before becoming more serious and more costly to repair.
If you are a building surveyor, an energy or sustainability manager in a local authority or housing association, you may want to have an infrared survey carried out for a variety reasons. Your objective may be to discover and diagnose energy inefficiencies or to detect and inspect property defects. Whatever it is, you want to know that you are getting value for your money and that it is well spent. CHP’S aim is to make sure you make informed decisions.
Commercial Roof Moisture Inspection
Consequences of Wet Insulation
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Roof leaks can cause costly interior damage to facilities and create hazardous conditions for building occupants.
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Wet insulation becomes a conductor of energy rather than a resister, resulting in increased energy bills.
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Trapped moisture in insulation is a great place for mold to propagate and may eventually lead to indoor air quality issues.
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Wet insulation often causes roofing fasteners to corrode and reduces the uplift performance of the roof, which can lead to a roof blow off.
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Trapped moisture can speed the deterioration of the building's structural deck.
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Wet insulation will degrade the roofing system.
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Wet insulation adds unnecessary weight to the building.
Infrared Thermography
Infrared Thermography, also known as an IR scan, is a non-destructive test method to detect and record temperature differences across the surface of an object. IR scans are the most common moisture detection method for identifying wet insulation on commercial roofing systems. During the day, wet insulation will absorb much more heat energy than dry insulation. At night, this heat is retained in the wet insulation longer and is released slower into the atmosphere. Most IR scans are done at night in order to capture this thermal signature of wet insulation trapped in a roofing system. It is common to precisely mark these damaged areas of wet insulation with spray paint on the roof surface. A CAD drawing is then produced identifying wet areas throughout the roof sections.
Infrared Rooftop Moisture Surveys
Infrared roof inspection is a proven method for detecting trapped moisture problems in flat roofs. Infrared roof Thermography can prevent equipment down time, production losses and help building owners and property management companies find roof problems when apartments below have become compromised by roof leaks. Due to the high cost of replacing a damaged roof, Thermal roof inspections should be performed whenever a building is purchased, sold, or leased. Infrared roof surveys provide the diagnostic information necessary for developing an effective roof maintenance program, planning capital budgets and for making informed decisions when considering roof repairs, replacement or resurfacing with one of the popular new roof coatings. Water enters a roof through defects in the waterproofing layer(s) due to deterioration, tears, cuts, poorly sealed penetrations, seams, failed flashings or caps causing the insulation to become laden with trapped moisture. The building experiences energy loss because wet insulation has a lower "R" value than dry material thus providing less thermal resistance. Our high-resolution Infrared thermal imaging cameras, find the trapped moisture as shown in the images above. Wet areas are identified and marked to show exactly where tactical repairs are to be made. By marking wet areas directly on the roof, they can be seen by building owners and roofing contractors after the survey is performed. Often, we find that the infrared survey shows is it is not necessary to replace an entire roof that only a few sections are "wet" and repairs can be made surgically to only these areas.
How It Works
During the day, the sun radiates energy onto the roof and into the roof substrate, and then at night, the roof radiates the heat back into outer space. This is called radiation cooling. Areas of the roof that are of a higher mass (wet) retain this heat longer than that of the lower mass (dry) areas. Infrared imagers can detect this heat and “see” the warmer, higher mass areas, during the “window” of uneven heat dissipation. Heat loss and other Thermal imaging services can be performed at the same time.
Radiant Heating Leak Detection Services
IN FLOOR HEATING SYSTEMS
Infrared inspection locates leaks in radiant pipe heating systems with precision and no destructive digging of your floors.
The benefits of infrared thermography as its technology applies to the investigations and inspections of various in-floor (interior) and concrete slab (interior and exterior) radiant heating systems, both electrical and fluid systems.
the benefits of infrared thermography as its technology applies to the investigations and inspections of various in-floor (interior) and concrete slab (interior and exterior) radiant heating systems, both electrical and fluid systems.
Both resistance electrical and fluid radiant heat systems have become widely used in high-altitude and colder climates. Initially, the objective of such systems was to reduce the need for manual methods of snow and ice removal from pedestrian or vehicular surfaces, but these systems have recently become fairly common forms of residential interior heating and temperature control in higher end homes. Manufacturer and design deficiencies, as well as installation defects, result in system malfunctions and non-performance issues. The cost of the failures is staggering, considering the cost to remove finish materials, determine the location of the problem, and then rebuild the system and replace the finish materials. Infrared thermography can help identify and aid in the development of positive solutions both in the post construction and pre-construction stages.
Mechanical Infrared Inspection
Save Time and Money with Mechanical Infrared Inspections
Heat caused by ware and friction is usually the first sign of mechanical failure. Thermal imaging detects these failures in their early stages and allows for corrective action.
This image is an infrared thermograph showing a pillow block bearing. Notice the bright yellow glow that indicates it is hot and potentially overheating. This condition, if undetected and unaddressed, can lead to catastrophic failure of the part that potentially damage other equipment causing unscheduled down time.
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Infrared inspection requires no down time for equipment, inspect while in operation and under load.
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Thermographic inspections can reduce equipment damage and the need to maintain a large spare parts inventory.
Applications Include...
Thermal imaging inspections is perfect for businesses and factories with electrical distribution panels, UPS power supplies, steam systems and HVAC systems. Rotating equipment such as bearings, belts, motors, gear boxes, and other mechanical systems can take considerable advantage of the benefits in early detection and productivity savings thermal imaging technology has to offer.
Applications include:
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Electrical Systems – Loose/corroded connections, overloaded circuits, faulty equipment
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Under slab/floor radiant heating and steam pipe leaks
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Mechanical Equipment – Motors, bearings, belts and transmissions
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Process Equipment – Pipe blockages, coolant leaks, steam traps, tank levels
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Building Systems – HVAC systems, building envelopes, flat roofs
