Seeing the invisible
May 5th 2009 It’s so much easier to conserve energy if you can sense it. For example, when lights and heating are left on in a high-rise, largely unattended office block that wastage is easily perceived. What we don’t see however, at least not to the naked eye, is energy loss through building defects. Thermography has evolved into one of the most valuable methods of seeing this energy loss.
The commercialisation of the technology has allowed it to be applied economically to an exceptionally broad range of tasks in this field. Predictive maintenance of heating systems for example is a well established application. But with the development of cameras dedicated to the specific needs of the building and construction industry the technology is now widely used to spot construction failures and insulation defects.
The New Harmood Estate in the London Borough of Camden is a typical public housing development that uses thermography in a traditional predictive maintenance role. Built in the 1980s, the site comprises more than 200 dwellings that receive communal hot water and heating via a vast network of pipes. This ageing system connects the properties to a remote, central boiler house.
It was on this estate that Mechanical Services Manager for the Housing Department, John Stow, decided to test-drive his new FLIR Systems ThermaCAM thermal imaging camera. Readings from the pressurisation unit water meter in the boiler house had told him the New Harmood system was leaking substantial volumes of water. Without the benefit of site construction plans and in advance of thermography training, he scanned the estate and within half an hour had found the problem.
“I didn’t trust it at first,” John explained. “I thought I might have simply discovered a buried, unlagged pipe. But when the contractor started digging, the major leak was evident. I couldn’t believe it had been so simple to find.” Thermal imaging is certainly not a new technology to the Camden Council. To ensure a high level of service to its tenants as well as to reduce running and maintenance costs, thermal imaging surveys have been regularly outsourced. However, while this service has been effective at pinpointing problem hotspots, it is not readily available.
With the cost of a thermal imaging camera now very much reduced by comparison with prices prevailing in the mid-nineties, John Stow sought Council funding to bring the service inhouse. It was a move that made a lot financial sense as the Council is responsible for no less than 35,000 properties including 200 district heating systems that serve from 10 to 400+ properties ranging from bed sits to five bedroom properties.
There is no doubt that the problem on the New Harmood Estate could have taken up to a week to resolve if thermal imaging had only been available as an out-sourced service. In the event, speedy diagnosis resulted in the residents being without a full service for just 18 hours. Finding leaks fast is therefore of critical importance in cutting these costs and the fundamental reason why the Council purchased a ThermaCAM thermal imaging camera.
While good service delivery to its residents is clearly an important commitment for the London Borough of Camden, so too is the reduction in green house gasses and making sure that best value is achieved from investment. Reducing energy loss is therefore another key reason for purchasing the thermal imaging camera.
Building applications
• Quickly diagnose building conditions
• Detect plumbing related problems
• Locate HVAC problems
• Check energy efficiency. Locate and address heating and cooling losses, air infiltration and exfiltration
• Identify proper installation and operation of radiant heat flooring
• Detection of building moisture related issues and water damage
• Locate electrical problems with infrared
• Document and record building conditions More articles from Express Instrument Hire Ltd: | 
