Thermographs have become a well known tool for everyday use by energy saving consultants. Thermographs can be used for many different jobs. Some of the most important jobs are checking structural joints, searching for faults and localising concealed heating pipes. It is a tool with great potential, but at the same time a tool which should not be used uncritically. It takes a great deal of understanding concerning thermo dynamics, knowledge of the limitations of the tool and a good portion of experience to compile a thermographic rapport.

Midtconsult has the theoretical knowledge and the necessary experience, so ask Midtconsult for advice and let us show you the way to go.

Thermographs are especially used in connection with pressure testing new buildings in order to check structural joints. The Industrial and Building Authority stipulates that County Councils must take random tests equal to minimum 5% of all new buildings. When pressure testing, the building is given an excess and negative pressure of 50 Pa alternately, intensifying the holes in the climate shield of the building. If the pressure test is carried out on a cold winter day then the holes and cold conductors will be very visible on a thermographic picture.

When the building construction has been completed and a problem has arisen, it can be nearly impossible to find the cause of the draught, cold or a heating consumption which exceeds the expected level. This is a typical problem which can only be ascertained after the inhabitants have moved in. It is rarely a solution to pull the building apart here and there in the hope of finding a fault in the structure, a process which will be of huge inconvenience to the inhabitants. In such cases a thermographic analysis carried out on a cold winter’s day can be a great help. With the right expertise it is possible to localise the problems which can be the basis for a further investigation.

The following shows a couple of examples where Midtconsult have used a thermograph to localise some structural faults and problems.

Per Overgaard Nielsen
B. Sc (Mech. Eng.)
Partner and Dept. leader
Mobile: +0045 2034 3136
pon@midtconsult.dk