Non-Destructive Testing / FILE 07
Infrared Thermography
Thermal imaging reveals defects invisible to the naked eye. We use infrared thermography to detect moisture ingress, delamination, insulation gaps, and envelope failures across entire building facades in hours.
EVIDENCE / INFRARED-THEInfrared thermography detects subsurface defects by measuring surface temperature variations caused by differences in thermal conductivity. Delaminations trap air and appear warmer during solar heating phases. Moisture-saturated zones have higher thermal mass and appear cooler during drying. These thermal signatures are invisible to visual inspection.
The technique excels at large-area screening. A thermal survey of an entire building facade can be completed in hours from ground level without scaffolding, rope access, or building disruption. This makes thermography one of the most cost-effective screening tools for facade condition assessment.
We use radiometric thermal cameras with sensitivity below 0.05 degrees Celsius, calibrated for the emissivity of common building materials. Surveys are conducted under controlled thermal conditions (clear sky, low wind, during solar heating or cooling phases) to maximise thermal contrast.
Thermography results identify areas requiring further investigation by other methods such as GPR, coring, or physical opening-up. We do not rely on thermal imaging alone for structural diagnosis; it is a screening and targeting tool that improves the efficiency of the overall investigation.
Capabilities
What we deliver
10 deliverables across the thermography engagement.
- 01Facade tile and render delamination detection
- 02Moisture ingress path mapping
- 03Building envelope thermal performance assessment
- 04Insulation deficiency and gap identification
- 05Flat roof membrane leak detection
- 06Post-repair bond quality verification
- 07Electrical switchboard thermal survey
- 08Large-area coverage from ground level
- 09Non-contact, non-disruptive operation
- 10Radiometric image capture with calibrated temperature data
Process
Our methodology
01
Survey Planning
Assessment of building orientation, weather conditions, and optimal survey timing. Thermography requires specific thermal conditions for reliable results.
02
Thermal Survey
Systematic thermal imaging of all target surfaces using calibrated radiometric cameras. Concurrent visual photography for reference.
03
Image Analysis
Post-processing of thermal images with temperature measurement, anomaly identification, and classification of detected defects.
04
Reporting
Technical report with annotated thermal and visual images, identified anomalies, severity assessment, and recommendations for further investigation where warranted.
Use cases
Common applications
- High-rise facade condition screening
- Strata building envelope assessment
- Flat roof leak detection and mapping
- Post-construction thermal performance audit
- Heritage building moisture investigation
- Industrial building envelope survey
- Solar panel defect detection
- Pre-purchase building thermal assessment
Frequently asked questions
4 questions answered.
Q01
What can infrared thermography detect in buildings?
Thermography detects any condition that produces a surface temperature difference. This includes tile and render delamination, moisture ingress and damp zones, missing or damaged insulation, air leakage paths, membrane failures in flat roofs, overheating electrical connections, and poorly bonded repairs. It cannot detect reinforcement corrosion, concrete strength, or structural cracking directly. It is a screening tool that identifies areas for further investigation.
Q02
What weather conditions are required?
Optimal conditions are clear skies, low wind (below 15 km/h), and a period of solar heating or cooling to create thermal contrast. Surveys are typically conducted in the early morning (pre-dawn cooling phase) or late afternoon (post-solar heating). Overcast or rainy conditions reduce thermal contrast and may make survey results unreliable. We schedule surveys based on weather forecasts and reschedule if conditions are not suitable.
Q03
Can thermography replace scaffold-based facade inspection?
Thermography replaces the visual screening function of scaffold inspection by identifying defect locations from ground level. It cannot replace physical testing such as pull-off adhesion testing, sounding, or material sampling. The typical workflow is to use thermography to identify defect zones, then install targeted scaffold or EWP access only where physical testing is needed. This approach typically reduces access costs by 50 to 70 percent compared to full-scaffold inspection.
Q04
How large an area can be surveyed in one day?
A single thermal camera operator can typically survey 10,000 to 20,000 square metres of facade area in one day from ground level, depending on building access and geometry. This is equivalent to all four elevations of a 15 to 20 storey building. By comparison, a scaffold-based visual inspection of the same area would require weeks of scaffold setup and inspection time.
Related
Related services
- 01Building Condition AssessmentFull building surveys, dilapidation reports, and capital works planning.
- 02GPR Concrete ScanningSub-surface imaging for rebar mapping, post-tension tendon location, and conduit detection.
- 03Insurance Damage AssessmentIndependent structural assessment for storm, fire, flood, and impact damage claims.
- 04Structural Defect InvestigationIdentifying cracking, subsidence, foundation movement, and construction defects.