Thermal Imaging of Buildings - a pocket guide (BG 72/2017)

Overview

Thermal imaging is increasingly used in the construction industry to show faults in thermal insulation, electrical installations and mechanical plant. It can also be used to test for areas of unusual heat loss or gain and cold areas of internal surface that might lead to discomfort, condensation and mould growth. This makes it a useful tool for checking quality in new and existing buildings. In recent years, the price of entry level thermal imaging cameras has dropped and the simplest cameras are now much easier to use, so they are accessible to almost anyone involved in checking the performance of buildings. But it is easy to make mistakes in the interpretation of thermal images, whether they appear on the screen of an infrared camera or in a report produced by a professional thermographer.

This pocket-sized guide aims to help you get the best from thermal images. It explains what thermal images can and can’t show, what you can do with them and how infrared cameras work. It refers mainly to the use of handheld cameras although cameras on airborne drones are also mentioned. Finally, it highlights some trends that will affect the future of building thermography.

Sections include:
• Heat loss through building fabric
• Infrared cameras and thermography
• Getting a good image
• Building fabric thermography
• Procedures for conducting surveys
• Desktop software
• Developments in building thermography
• Qualifications and experience