Tracking Down More than Just Moisture Problems - by Ronald LintierTracking Down More than Just Moisture ProblemsBy Ronald D. LintierCdfR has reported extensively on the time, cost and benefits of using infrared (IR) [thermograph ro inspect buildings in order to trace the source and scope of water damage, and thus potential mold. In addition, IR thermal imaging is extremely fast, noninvasive and provides evidentiary-quality, intuitively understandable data that have a much higher degree of accuracy and reliability than other moisture detection technologies. But moisture detection is only one of a number of ways that IR cameras can earn their keep by helping cleaning and restoration professionals locate and diagnose a broad range of ailments—existing or potential—in buildings. The following are actual examples of how cleaning and restoration professionals are "exploiting" their infrared cameras to assess energy efficiency; reveal construction defects; inspect electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems; Energy efficiency An IR camera can quickly and non-destructively detect areas of missing, moisture-laden or otherwise damaged insulation in walls, crawlspaces and attics or around doors, windows, electrical outlets and other access plates. All of these problems can increase a building's energy costs by allowing cold air to enter the building and heated air to escape in the winter, and the reverse in the warmer summer mondis. IR can also identify poorly or uninsulated pipes, another source of costly heat loss. One process that assists in the thermal inspection of a building envelope for energy loss involves the use or pressurization or depressurization of the structure to determine air leakage, which in turn often helps locate points of water damage as well. The building is scanned under normal operating pressure and the operating pressures for each floor documented. The structure is sealed and dien pressurized or depressurized. The highest sustained positive operating pressure is sustained and documented for each floor. The building is then scanned again with the IR camera following the same inspection pattern as in me first inspection and the surface temperatures for each inspection are compared to reveal any significant differences, which might provide the basis for further investigation to find a leakage, and then to make the necessary repairs. Construction defects. The increased use of EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems) and stone, stucco, brick veneers and siding as facades on residential as well as commercial buildings invites the possibility of water intrusion if they are not properly installed. IR can detect or verify moisture infiltration in these weatherproofing "barrier" systems, which are usually the result of insufficient detailing such as inadequate or improperly applied flashing or sealants. These are the cause of many "mystery" leaks that are virtually impossible to find without an IR camera, which can reveal moisture migration paths within the walls, floors and ceilings. Electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems. Infrared cameras are very effective at detecting overloaded circuits, faulty wiring and loose electrical connections, which generate heat and can pose serious fire hazards. IR can detect thin spots in furnace heat exchangers and flues; mechanical problems such as worn, under-lubricated pumps, motors and bearings in fans, compressors and furnaces; electrical faults; refrigerant leaks and blockages in FIVAC components. Roofing IR inspection Is best conducted after sunset, since the wet areas retain the heal absorbed during the clay longer than the surrounding dry areas, causing a temperature difference that can be imaged, with the wet areas showing up as hot spots. IR can also be used to inspect roof decks from inside a building, a highly effective approach when working with metal and ballasted roofing systems, which are difficult or impossible co inspect from above. In this case, inspection can be performed shortly after sunrise, when the wet areas of die underside of the roof warm up more slowly than dry areas and show up as cold spots. Such anomalies are easily imaged with currently available lightweight, handheld IR cameras, which ean discern temperature differences down to 0.08 of a Fahrenheit degree. "An IR camera can effectively evaluate deficient conditions in a cold roof system by measuring temperature differentials indicative of heat loss that can result in heated sheathing surfaces that allow snow to melt and subsequent ice damming," say Edward I,. Fronapfel and Eric G. Amhaus, whose Colorado-based company, Professional Investigative Engineers, specializes in forensic and construction defect engineering. "IR can also be utilized to check for dead spots and insufficient coverage of ice melting systems used to prevent the freezing of gutters and downspouts. And Infrared can be used to inspect interior and exterior in-floor radiant heat systems used, respectively, for heating interior floors and for melting snow and ice on outside walks and driveways, thereby eliminating the need for shoveling and reducing the risk of slips and falls." Post-casualty inspections. Alter fires, IR can quickly locate remnant hot spots, assuring that the fire is completely extinguished and providing invaluable data for insurance companies' Cause and Origin investigations. The clear IR images of normally invisible diagnostic evidence Gin assist in the planning and execution of the restoration effort and in the settlement process. After flooding, IR can quickly assess the extent of water damage and enhance the drying process by rendering the wet portion of materials visible. How Infrared Thermograph/ WorksThermograph enables us to see and measure heat. All materials on earth emit heat energy in the infrared portion of the spectrum. Unfortunately, the unaided human eye cannot see in the infrared. Thermo graphic, or simply thermal, images allow the user to see thermally, revealing anomalies that in turn identify problems in buildings and their component electrical, mechanical, plumbing and waterproofing systems. Today's lightweight and rugged infrared cameras can-no: only see in real-time, but can also record infrared images and measure the temperatures of target objects quite accurately—to within 1/10 of a Fahrenheit degree or better. Points of possible concern show up clearly as hot or cold in relation co their surroundings. Recorded thermal images can be easily inserted into reports and e-mailed, greatly facilitating communications among trades, attorneys and other professionals and also serving as invaluable, rational, evidentiary data in cases involving controversy. New, high resolution FUR ThermaCAM® B-Series infrared cameras are specifically designed for building inspection and can instantly and non-invasively detect moisture intrusion and other building defects and problems. The 1.5-pound B1 is a rugged, ultra-compact and affordable model that can instantaneously inspect entire rooms—including places that are difficult to reach. All B-series cameras store thermal images as J-PEG files that can be easily downloaded to a PC and used with Microsoft Office® and other software to generate reports with a simple click of a mouse. Even termites. Although considered cold-blooded creatures, termites arc hosts to bacteria, which help break down and digest cellulose, the main ingredient of the wood they digest. The digestion process generates heat, and when large numbers of termites in nests congregate, a substantial amount of heat is concentrated in one area. An IR camera can detect this heat non-invasively as it's conveyed to the surface of walls or floors and then facilitate corrective action. The unexpected. There are many instances where an infrared camera will find problems that the cleaning and restoration professional wasn't necessarily looking for. Such serendipitous findings ean only enhance the contractor's reputation and standing with his or her client and reinforce the business relationship. One such find occurred when Four Star Cleaning & Restoration of Fremont, Calif., was called in to document the water damage for insurance purposes at the site of a serious electrical fire at a garment dyeing facility. In addition to the wet walls, which had been soaked by the sprinkler system and fire department hoses, Four Star's IR camera found an unexpected thermal anomaly, an excessive heat source within a closed 32-gallon drum containing sodium hydrosulfitc, used in the dyeing process. Some water had apparently penetrated the drum to produce poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas and enough heat to cause spontaneous combustion and a potentially explosive condition. A hazardous waste hauler was called in, and under the supervision of HAZMAT and local County Health Services, the drum was disposed of" Not only were we able to document the water damage, but we were able to help prevent a second-order catastrophe," says Bill Weber, vice-president of Four Star. "It it hadn't been for the camera, it's quite possible there would have been serious damage to person or property. As a result, the tenant, the property manager, the fire department, city and county officials and the environmental professionals were all pleased with the outcome. And we were guaranteed a good reference and a future client." In another case, Chris Gerber, a certified indoor environmentalist with the Environmental Consultant's Group, Sacramento, Calif., reported that me electric bills of a homeowner in a rural area were exceeding $1,000 a month. The owner had the utility company replace the electric meter but that didn't fix the problem. The owner noticed that an automatic waste water pump was running continuously. Thinking that the system was defective and wouldn't shut off, he replaced the pump motor and installed a manual on-off control. The electric bill remained high. Then, because his son was frequently get ting very sick, the homeowner hired Gerber to perform an environmental investigation. After arriving on site, "I noted that his floor was buckling and my contractors IR camera, confirmed that there was water underneath," says Gerber. "When we cut a hole in the side of the- house to gut into a tight crawl space to determine the source of the leak, we discovered that someone had installed a second water heater in a pit under the house. The second water heater was leaking, and while It was not the cause of the buckling floor, it was forcing the water pump to work continuously The eye of the beholderRegardless of what an IR camera is used to look for or at, its effectiveness is dependent not only on the contractor's skill in operating the camera, but also on knowledge and understanding of the component being inspected as well as the science involved in the assessment of the thermal evidence. The trained and experienced thermograph knows that not every hot or cold spot represents a problem, but may in fact reflect a component's normal operation, performance or location in the structure. Alternatively, a thermal image may actually show heat from sources other than the target that is reflected from or transmitted through the target material. That's why it's often said in the industry that: "There are IR camera operators, and then there are thermograph ers." Ronald D. Lucier it a regional thermograph course manager at FUR Systems, a global leader in infrared cameras and technology. A mechanical engineer with 26 year experience, 20 of those years have been in infrared thermograph. |
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