The Rise of Thermographic Building Surveys has changed the way building surveys are carried out, with traditional building survey methods relying upon visual inspections which carry the higher likelihood of missing hidden problems lurking beneath the surface.
Despite being a valuable tool, missing a single leak, insulation gap or even electrical problem can lead to costly repairs down the line should the issue go unnoticed.
Thermography bridges this gap by using non-invasive technology to detect hidden moisture, and identify points where energy is being lost in your building, allowing you to rectify the problem and reduce upkeep costs.
Identifying Energy Loss
Thermal imaging surveys have proven to be an invaluable tool for detecting and highlighting issues which are often elusive to the human eye. Among the problems that can be effectively identified using this technology, energy loss stands out as one of the most important reasons.
In particular, poorly insulated walls, windows, and roofs are commonly found to be the main culprits behind energy loss.
The beauty of thermal imaging lies in its ability to visually represent temperature variations, thereby enabling trained professionals to pinpoint areas where heat is escaping or infiltrating a building. By accurately identifying these problematic zones, property owners and managers have the opportunity to fix the causes of the energy loss, enhancing their property’s energy efficiency.
Finding these problems early is extremely important as early identification of energy loss allows property owners to quickly address the issue before it escalates into more significant structural damage or spikes in energy expenditure.
Early intervention allows for timely maintenance and repairs, mitigating potential long-term costs associated with extensive repairs or increased energy usage.
Moisture Detection
By having Thermographic building surveys carried out on your property, you will be able to find any moisture intrusion or leaks within the structure of your building by detecting the temperature difference caused by the moisture.
Moisture intrusion can severely damage your building, decaying the wooden substructure, and causing mould to grow in hard to reach areas.
This damage can be extremely expensive to rectify, as it often involves inhabitants of the property moving out, as being around harmful moisture without the correct protective equipment can cause extreme health problems and in rare cases, fatal health issues.
As with many things prevention is better than the cute, and the remedy for the above situation is to use a thermal imaging specialist when carrying out your building survey.
By using the newest and most technologically advanced thermal imaging equipment, at Build IR we can detect moisture intrusion in your property, allowing you to take corrective actions which we can advise on, preventing the eventual build up of mould.
Electrical System Evaluation
Electrical systems are designed to be safe and functional, however, sometimes things go wrong and with the high currents passing through wires in your property, if something was to go wrong it could be catastrophic.
However, your fears can be eased by having an electrical thermographic building survey carried out that will highlight areas of concern within an electrical system.
A thermographic inspection serves as a valuable tool for pinpointing any areas of concern within the electrical system of your property. This inspection is capable of identifying a range of issues, including but not limited to poor connections, internal fuse damage, and electrical leakage.
By utilising infrared technology, you can detect and diagnose faults before they manifest, effectively minimising the risk of equipment failure and extending the overall lifespan of your electrical apparatus.
Moreover, investing in a thermographic inspection yields multiple benefits, one of which involves enhancing your property’s energy efficiency. By carefully scrutinising every nook and cranny, this inspection efficiently uncovers areas where energy loss occurs within your property and with professional suggestions opens up an avenue for long term gains.
Any homeowner who has had an effective electrical thermal survey can take the proactive steps to rectify and prevent further energy loss, resulting in reduced energy bills and a more sustainable energy footprint. In essence, by undergoing a thermographic inspection, you are taking a proactive stance toward safeguarding your property against potential electrical hazards.
Not only does this inspection mitigate the risk of failures, but it also presents an opportunity to optimise energy consumption and elevate energy efficiency, ultimately benefiting both your financial bottom line and the environment as a whole in your property, such as poor connection, internal fuse damage and electrical leakage.
Roof Inspections
The roof of your property is one of the places where an energy leak is most likely to occur. This is due to many reasons, with some of the key reasons being a lack of insulation, moisture build up, property decay, or even structural damage.
By using thermography to assess the condition of your roof, you can identify areas where moisture is trapped, or where heat is escaping and where insulation is ineffective/damaged.
The advantage of thermographic building surveys lies in its non-invasive nature, and when it comes to roofing this is particularly valuable as unlike destructive testing methods, there’s no need to drill holes or remove materials to confirm structural damage.
With high elevations and roofs being more challenging areas to reach, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are often used. These UAVs can be fitted with thermal imaging equipment, allowing them to survey the exterior of your roof without a human being put at risk. The UAVs are also effective as they can increase the speed in which a thermal imaging survey is carried out, allowing you to take corrective actions.
Another great use of UAVs is the ability to inspect large areas at a time. Unlike a human who is restricted by movement speed, obstacles and other factors, drones can just avoid these obstacles all together by flying above them.
Detecting Structural Anomalies
Thermography surveyors will have ample experience identifying a plethora of anomalies such as voids and air leakage within your properties building infrastructure and envelope.
Cracks and delaminations (separation of layers) within walls, floors, or ceilings can weaken a structure’s integrity. Thermographic building surveys can detect these anomalies by identifying temperature variations caused by differences in material density or air gaps within the structure.
These subtle temperature differences may not seem like an issue, but when it comes to the structure of your property, it can mean the difference between a normal energy bill, and an extremely expensive energy bill, most of which is from the wasted energy.
Build IR Thermographic Building Surveys
The benefits of thermographic building surveys for the building’s health are undeniable and any property owner can rest easy when using Build IR, as all surveys will be carried out by a minimum Category 2 PCN Qualified Thermographer, and additional work and reporting will be planned and overseen by a Cat 3 PCN Qualified Thermographer.
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