Cost-effective, prevents failures, extends life, ensures safety, improves efficiency.

It’s a very cost-effective way of ensuring that your electrical system doesn’t burn out or break down. This is especially important in industries with high voltage systems and/or where continuity of power is critical to the business, e.g. data centres, banks, utility suppliers, manufacturing, hospitals.

The most common benefits are:

• Prevention of accidents and/or loss of life 
• Extension of equipment/building life 
• Less plant (critical asset) down time
• Less energy wasted through inefficient operation.
• The ability to prioritise and better target preventive maintenance
• The avoidance of consequential damage to plant or facilities from fires/short circuits

Yes, our electrical thermal imaging surveys are carried out while plant and equipment is running. There will be no interruption to electrical supplies and your operations (critical assets) will not be affected while the thermal survey is being undertaken. 

Our thermal inspections engineers are all certified electrical thermographer professionals, with extensive experience in thermal scanning of live electrical systems.  In all instances, undertaking a safe system of work is always our top priority.

There is a very important and simple answer – all our thermal imaging engineers are trained to level 3, which is the highest level you can achieve as a thermographic engineer. We also use large format thermal imaging cameras with high sensitivity which provides the absolute best chance of solving any potential issues whilst utilising thermographic technology.

Our specification includes:

• Level 3 thermographic certification
• Level 3 qualified thermographers
• Large format, hi sensitivity FLIR cameras with 45-degree lenses
• The highest quality reportage with fault diagnosis and trend data

As our level 3 certified electrical thermal imaging surveyors are trained to a minimum of Level 3 and use only the highest resolution thermal imaging equipment, its means we can keep further away from the danger zone. Our engineers also have a vast amount of experience in conducting this type of survey which further lowers risk.  We issue a risk assessment and method statement for each and every survey we undertake.

Our team of Level 3 certified professional Thermographers are highly experienced in carrying out thermal imaging surveys and have many years’ experiences in all aspects of engineering, construction, maintenance, management, and professional survey work. Our thermal imaging equipment is some of the most accurate on the market, ensuring we pick up faults that other equipment may miss. 

Our reports are professionally presented and are clear, concise, and easy to follow. We endeavour to give our clients a first-class service every time. Here is a typical service: 

Thermal Imaging Service

• Supply of an ITC trained thermographer and level 3 reporting assessment using a large format FLIR P6n-Series (640×480 resolution) thermal imaging camera. 

• To supply an external thermographic inspection of the electrical systems, taking into account, distribution boards, fuse boards, Switchgears, switchboards, Control panels, Busbar systems and Transformers.

• Looking for loose connections, overloaded and/or fatigued components, uneven voltage distribution and blockages in cooling tubes of transformers

Reporting

• Single report to include Introduction and fault cover pages, summary problem pages, elevation inventory,

• Detailed fault documentation pages with possible root cause and remedial recommendation (isotherm included if using equations), baseline IR and DC image of every area (100% coverage-no isotherm)

• Application of thermal indexing formulas

• Eco Friendly Email Report

Highly qualified thermographer’s usually produce better quality and more technically consistent inspections. Highly trained Level 3 thermal engineers have the ability to troubleshoot, calibrate equipment, interpret data, and create reports.

It also allows our engineers to develop inspection procedures and severity criteria for our clients, as well as interpreting relevant codes, and manage a client-based thermography program, including overseeing and providing training and testing, and calculating the return on investment for the program.

When you are employing a thermographer, you should check to see that they incorporate the high specifications possible for their inspections. Are they certified to Level 3 and do they use large format FLIR thermal imaging cameras?

Their specification should include:

1. Level 3 thermographic certification
2. Level 3 qualified thermographers
3. Large format FLIR cameras with 45-degree lenses
4. High quality level 3 reports 

The are hundreds of reasons why you should undertake thermal imaging to electrical systems within your building; however, here is the top 10 reasons: 

1. Safety of electrical systems: Thermal imaging can identify overheating components, loose connections, and other issues that may lead to equipment failure or fire hazards resulting in injury or even loss of life!
2. Preventive Maintenance: It helps avoid reactive repair and replacement costs. By being proactive, you can help reduce operating costs.
3. Energy Efficiency: A single critical fault can mean additional energy costs.  Thermal imaging can help identify such electrical faults, so repairs can be made to reduce running costs. 
4. Cost Savings: On average, each infrared electrical inspection reveals five to eight faults, highlighting the relative affordability of this predictive service. Its also one of the quickest inspections so defects can be quickly identified. 
5. Fire Safety Compliance: Many regulations ask for annual infrared inspections for electrical systems. A comprehensive infrared inspection can discover hidden defects, prevent unplanned failures, business interruption, equipment damage, and insurance losses.

   

6. Insurance Premium Reductions: In some cases, your business might qualify for a reduction in insurance premiums by conducting annual predictive/preventive maintenance thermographic surveys. 
7. Non-Intrusive: Electrical thermal imaging surveys are non-intrusive, enabling inspections to be completed safely and efficiently, without interruption to your business operations and/or critical assets. 
8. Planning Maintenance: Electrical thermography inspections enable the identification of only those items of equipment that require remedial works together with the severity of the defect. This enables maintenance to be suitably planned around operational commitments. 
9. Extend Equipment Lifecycle: An electrical thermographic survey can give an excellent insight into the operational effectiveness of equipment, enabling the identification of opportunities to make energy savings together with increasing the operational lifecycle of equipment.
10. Reduction in Breakdown Costs: Depending on the type of equipment and its location, the cost of electrical failure can run into many thousands of pounds in repairs, lost production, injury claims, etc. As defects are found before they cause equipment to fail, the associated cost of repairs is minimal compared to the cost of equipment failure and/or accidents in the workplace. 

Our thermal imaging reports have been set up to satisfy the requirements expected by insurance companies, facility managers and safety auditors. Our electrical thermographic inspection reports usually comprise of the following four sections:

• Our thermographers are trained to level 3 and use the latest high resolution and sensitivity cameras – often the minimal requirement for insurance companies. 
• use the latest Introduction/Report Summary – This section provides details on the survey carried out along with summary of the overall findings.
• Main Body Report Pages – this section explains where faults/anomalies are identified, an individual report page is produced providing a description of the fault, its severity and recommended remedial action.
• Condition Monitoring Assessment – this section provides an understanding of the current operational condition of equipment that have been reported during previous surveys – an ongoing assessment if you will. 
• Appendices – This section provide a checklist along with images of every asset inspected during the survey. This provides an auditable record of what was inspected, together with equipment health at the time of the thermographic survey.

The building should be prepared (and health and safety items supplied) as follows:

A thermographic inspection survey by competent person(s) should be carried out at regular intervals to demonstrate that the panel is operating correctly and that the internal components are not overheating due to wear & tear. Preparation The survey areas around the wall should be prepared (and health and safety items supplied) as follows: 

1. Parking for a transit type van on site. 
2. All access permits should be in place prior to the survey. If permits are not in place delays be incurred and extra visits may be required to complete our inspection works. 
3. The client representative should know all the items that need inspecting on site, prior to our inspection visit. If areas cannot be found and/or extra items need to be inspected extra visits may be required. Any extra items will be charged on a pro-rata basis. 
4. Assistance from a responsible client site representative for panel cover removal, access, and keys etc. 
5. All electrical and mechanical equipment to be running under normal load patterns. 
6. All access panel covers removed where safe do so. 
7. Cubicle isolators defeated where safe to do so. 
8. Any access equipment required to reach panels will need to be provided by the client. 
9. A clear working area will be required for the inspection, it is still the client’s responsivity to remove any trip hazards and any items that may affect the line of site for collecting the images and data. 
10. Safe site lighting should be in place in all areas under inspection. 
11. If mechanical machinery is to be used to aid the thermographic survey it must be operated by a suitably trained driver and suitable fall/harnesses etc. provided. 
12. If a survey requires mobile access, due to the expanse of the building/s under review, then extreme care is required, and the client must provide safe access mobile/fixed. If its mobile access the client must provide a mobile platform that is fit for purpose along with a fully qualified driver as well as the appropriate fall arrest system/s. The surveyor and driver must also be attended to by a banksman where and when required. 
13. As the survey will generally be undertaken during daylight hours, a single engineer will be provided. If lone working is required on the site, the client must provide a representative to accompany the engineer throughout his survey inspection. 
14. Thermographic inspectors shall have unrestricted access to the Site. Where access is limited or there are obstructions which cannot be overcome, then the survey report will reflect this. Thermographic inspectors shall not be liable for any deficiencies in the report because of poor access or the presence of an obstruction. 
15. Surveys undertaken by walking over the surface of the roof or next to water will only be undertaken under the accompaniment of a client’s representative. Safety harnesses (that are fit for purpose) must be supplied by the client and worn as required. 
16. The client will be responsible for the safe conduct of the inspection and will be responsible for all operatives and equipment in his charge. 
17. Tests may be witnessed by the contractor, the Contract Administrator (CA) and/or the Building Inspector. The contractor should liaise with all parties in advance to ensure their attendance. The engineer cannot wait until witness parties arrive as this will cause delays to the survey. 
18. Any accidents, injuries or unsafe conditions on site must be notified immediately to the main contractor. Accidents and/or injuries sustained by APT engineers must be recorded and notified to the main contractor. Notification under RIDDOR must be arranged by the consultant through the main contractor, should such situations arise. 
19. Quality control and Supervision – the client shall be responsible for the site quality control to check that the subcontractors and suppliers complete the work in accordance with the contract drawing and specification. 
20. If the client requires a site-specific RAMS for the works, notification must be sent through in writing (email) at least one week prior to the test date. 

Recommend Environmental Conditions

The survey would aim to be carried out under the recommended environmental conditions – detailed below. 

1. All electrical and mechanical equipment to be running under normal load patterns. 
2. Areas should be free of water – both leaks and pooling. 
3. All panels should have clear and safe access with panels removed where required. 

If you have any questions about the required environmental conditions to undertake the survey, please ring our office on 01525 303905 or Call Darren direct on 07775 623464 to discuss them.

In some instances, the electrical equipment being inspected may pose a safety risk due to the extent of the temperature rise. NETA (International Electrical Testing Association) guidelines dictate immediate action is required when the difference in temperature between similar electrical components under similar loads exceeds 15 °C (27 °F) or when the difference in temperature between an electrical component and the ambient air temperatures exceeds 40 °C (72 °F), this is called a ”red alert” in electrical infrared inspections.