Definition, features and benefits insured by infrared thermography
Infrared thermography (IR) is a technique for non-destructive investigation able to determine the temperature of a surface by measuring the infrared radiation emitted.
The map of temperature is displayed directly on the screen of a camera. At the radiance (brightness) of each pixel is associated with the temperature value corresponding to the point of the examined body.
The thermogram, therefore, is likely a representation of the object investigated, where you recognize proportions and shape.
Why use a camera? Until some time ago it was mainly used infrared thermometers this method is reliable and useful for measuring individual temperature points, but when you need to detect areas or components of large, increase the time and you can miss some areas. With the camera is like using at the same time tens of thousands of infrared thermometers with a resolution of the sensor.
For these reasons, thermography has major advantages such as the absolute non-invasiveness of the test with the ability to repeat the measurements in time and check out the changes to the changing conditions. This allows you to drastically limit the number of destructive tests and to identify a sample with the IRT (infrared thermal image) significant points for the assay.
You can make a thermographic measurement without the need to use scaffolding or elevation systems with extreme rapidity of execution of the tests. Unfortunately, the analysis of large areas in a short time allows no interruption of the normal activities within the building (eg. The production cycle of a factory or a plant).
It is important to be able to identify issues related to the building easily, quickly and accurately, using a contact thermometer is easy to miss a critical problem in a building. The use of a thermal imager provides a complete picture of the situation and the possibility of creating a detailed diagnostic report.
This allows the practitioner to operate through inspections easier to perform with the ability to identify problems not normally detectable by visual inspection, through the identification of deficiencies without destroying the structure and documenting critical issues through the development of specific reports (method non-destructive).
The main features of a camera are due to the quality of the sensor of the device that transforms the infrared radiation into electrical impulse, what determines the resolution of the camera, or the actual size of a pixel at a certain distance.
The sensitivity of the device represents a minimum difference of temperature detected by the camera. A very low threshold of sensitivity capable of detecting even small differences in temperature, ensuring the identification of states of degradation or even not at an advanced stage of different materials present in the structure (eg. Infiltration of water, rising damp, wall texture ).
The measurement interval describes the maximum and minimum temperature measured. A high value of maximum temperature (500/1000/1500 ° C) allows to operate not only in buildings, but also in the industrial sector.
Some cameras allow you to select the most appropriate range of temperatures depending on the desired application.
The applications related to the construction industry allows detection of a range of issues, such as the presence of: moisture, thermal bridging, air infiltration (windows), problems related to thermal insulation, water infiltration on the roofs, pipes are not insulated, ventilation and heating, underfloor heating, ventilation outlets. Also highlight gaps in electrical and hydraulic components, rather than analyzing the thermal losses, locate a wall texture, the state of the plaster or check the status of adhesion of ceramic coatings.
Another interesting application of thermography is that once the restoration of cultural heritage. The display wall weaving under the plaster allows you to intervene at specific points without damaging hidden structure.
As regards, however, the possibility of CTU (Office of Technical Consultancy) on behalf of the Administration Judiciary is necessary to make a course that allows enabling Thermographic Operator 2nd level in compliance with UNI EN 473 and ISO 9712.
The main objective of a course Thermography 2nd level is to equip professionals in the construction industry, industrial and cultural heritage to obtain correct measurements and then proceed to a proper interpretation and evaluation of a thermographic.
These courses teach the methodology required to store data and image quality, obtaining accurate measurements of temperature which take into account the parameters that can influence the result (for example, the distance and the emissivity).
22/11/2012
----------------------------------------
Translated via software
----------------------------------------
Source:
Italian version of ReteArchitetti.it