Thermographic Building Inspections and BREAAM

Thermographic surveys are now a feature of BREEAM – the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings. BREEAM sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation. BREEAM New Construction and BREEAM Domestic Refurbishment programs both recognise the benefit of a thermographic survey by awarding credits for a Level 2 certified thermographer carrying out a suitable thermal survey.

Whether your building inspection is for insulation continuity in Part L2(b) of building regulations, paths of air leakage, insulation checks or underfloor heating inspections for either commercial or domestic projects, Ti have a survey to fit your requirements. Our integrity is guaranteed to bring you true results.

BREEAM THERMOGRAPHIC SURVEYS – HOW THEY WORK

Infra-red thermographic measurement works on temperature differential. As the internal of a habitable building will have a higher internal temperature than external ambient at least one point over a

24 hour period, it is possible to assess the performance of the insulation. In order to correctly carry out this thermographic assessment, it is necessary to achieve a 10ºC differential between internal

and external ambient. With this, if facing the external of a building envelope, it will be possible to view escaping heat through poorly insulated walls or badly sealed windows as elevated

temperatures. Likewise, if viewing the same envelope internally, these same areas will show up as areas of lower temperature.

Air leaks are common throughout a building envelope and these can lead to higher energy consumption, ventilation and condensation, resulting in a poor indoor climate. To detect air leaks with a thermal-imaging camera, a temperature and pressure difference over the construction is needed.
The air leak itself is invisible but the camera will provide evidence of the characteristic patterns that occur when there is cold air ingress through a structure that causes surfaces to cool down in its path.
Thermal imaging is also suitable for identifying potential sites for condensation build-up, which is important as moisture damage is the most common cause of structural deterioration. Air leakage can cause condensation to form on walls, floors or ceilings and as wet insulation takes a long time to dry it becomes the prime location for mould and fungi.
Within Our Reporting You Will Receive:
• Cover Page for Visual: This is a summary report which offers the amount of problems found and their severity grade. It is for a complete site overview.
• List of all open problems: This is the full list of areas found with problems and includes their locations.
• Inspection Inventory: This is a full inventory of areas inspected and their test status.
• Documentation pages: These pages include the details of all anomalies found for individual areas.

Building Thermal Imaging Reports Example – Ti Thermal Imaging LTD

COMMERCIAL BUILDING THERMAL IMAGING

Whether it be for insulation continuity in Part L2(b) of building regulations, paths of air leakage, insulation checks or under floor heating inspections for either commercial or domestic projects, Ti have a survey to fit your requirements. Our integrity is guaranteed to bring you true results. Common problems that Thermal imaging can help to identify

• Missing, damaged, or inadequate insulation,
• Building envelope air leaks and moisture intrusion
• Destructive water damage

Whether it be for insulation continuity in Part L2(b) of building regulations, paths of air leakage, insulation checks or under floor heating inspections for either commercial or domestic projects, Ti have a survey to fit your requirements. Our integrity is guaranteed to bring you true results.

FLAT ROOF THERMAL IMAGING

The dynamics behind thermal imaging of flat roofs are essentially the same. Temperature differential allows us to show where flat roofs are leaking or have failing insulation present.
Damp and dry roof insulation have a different thermal mass so by exploiting one of two windows of opportunity to image the roof found at either end of the day, it is possible to locate these areas. As dry roof insulation heats up and cools quicker than damp roof insulation, a temperature anomaly will form in the affected area and it is this area that is most likely to have the problem

CHIMNEY STACKS

Using our long wave infra-red cameras, it is possible to detect and provide a qualitative assessment of chimney linings. This is because the basic principles of achieving a temperature delta between the internal, hot and external, colder surfaces enable us to bring to light any areas where the chimney lining is breaking down and may need further inspection to discover the true extent of the damage/erosion.

THERMAL IMAGING CAMERA ENERGY AUDIT

Air testing and Thermal Imaging is used for diagnostic control when building or renovating a building. Heat losses in commercial and domestic buildings can account for up to 50% of the total energy consumption and comes from air leakage through various factors
Thermal imaging is effective for the detection and visualisation of hot spots and can help to identify areas of waste and problems related to energy loss, missing insulation, radiant heating, water damage on roofs and a lot more.
I thermal imaging in camera identifies patterns of heat loss which are invisible to the naked eye.