Benefits of Thermal Imaging

  • There are many benefits of using thermal imaging  for a wide range of building, electrical and mechanical applications. The key benefits include:

  • *   It reduces down time:  There is no need to shutdown operational systems during a      
  •       thermal  audit, allowing production to continue as normal..

  • *   It saves money: By early detection of faulty systems or components, remedial work can be
  •       planned and conducted before more serious problems or damage occurs which may cause long
  •       and unexpected interruptions to vital operational systems.
  • *   It is fast and accurate: Thermal surveys can quickly scan and measure the temperature
  •       distribution of entire surfaces of machinery and electrical equipment under normal load    
  •       conditions quickly and accurately with no need for lengthy preparation or pre-inspection work.

  • *   It is a totally non-invasive process: Thermal Imaging is non destructive and
  •       involves no physical contact  and consequently there is no potential for damage to the systems 
  •       or equipment undergoing thermal surveys

  • *  It reduces the potential for serious health and safety issues:
  •      Early detection will reduce the potential for injury to staff and risk of fire 

  • *  It has revolutionized predictive maintenance inspection programs: 
  •      By detecting problems and scheduling repairs before a major failure occurs, productivity,
  •      profitability and workplace safety are all increased.

How Does Thermal Imaging Work?

Thermal imagers are instruments that create pictures of heat rather than light. They measure radiated IR energy and convert the data to corresponding maps of temperatures. Today, instruments provide temperature data at each image pixel and, typically, cursors can be positioned to each point with the corresponding temperature read out on the screen or display. Images may be digitized, stored, manipulated, processed and printed out.

All objects have a certain temperature and emit waves of energy called infrared radiation. Hot objects emit more energy than cold objects. A thermal imager translates these energy waves into a viewable image, which shows a “heat picture” of a scene. The pictures above demonstrate the difference between visable light what the naked eye can see and a thermal image. Move your cursor over the images and you will notice the change between the visable and thermal images.