Frequently Asked Questions 

  What is infrared thermography and how does it work?

Infrared thermography is the technique of converting infrared energy (radiant heat) into a picture.  This is analogous to photography which turns light into a picture.  An infrared imaging camera, which looks similar to a video camera, “sees” the radiant heat through the lens and the internal electronics converts the heat patterns into a signal that is displayed on a normal video screen.  The result is a visual image based not on light or color but on radiated heat. 

  Why would anyone be interested in infrared thermography?

 A heat based image provides valuable information about the condition of the subject.  A skilled person can determine if the heat patterns are normal or if there is a problem.  With industrial equipment, a failure while in operation is often preceded by a period of increasing temperature, especially with electrical equipment.  Identifying problems enables scheduled repairs to be made, thus avoiding the expensive consequences of a failure. 

  What are the industrial and commercial applications of infrared thermography?

This technique has many applications such as industrial electrical systems, furnaces, refractory, locating wet areas in large flat roofs, identifying heat loss in buildings, security and surveillance, and medical observations.

At IRIS Associates we specialize in industrial electrical distribution systems, furnaces, refractory, and building envelopes.  Our principal, Mr. Maury Confer, has 20 years of experience in this field.

Since you are looking at heat pictures, abnormal patterns often mean specific things: a high resistance electrical connection is hotter than other connections under the same conditions, missing insulation in a building wall will show up as a warm area on the exterior, a wet area on a flat compound roof is cooler than the area around it, etc.

For more information, please see the Applications of Thermography page of this web site.

  How are the problems found during an infrared thermography survey documented? 

With a high quality infrared camera like that used by IRIS Associates, real time images viewed by the camera are digitally frozen and stored, then later downloaded to a computer.  Utility software is used view the IR picture, analyze temperatures, and adjust pictures for optimum clarity.  The temperature of the “hot spot” compared to a reference temperature often provides valuable information about the severity of the problem.

The infrared picture is inserted on a form and accompanied by a detailed description of the location and nature of the problem, along with other vital information.  A normal visual picture is also included.  The documented problems are included in a report that is used to direct repair efforts to the equipment in question.

For more information please see the Sample Report page of this web site.

  Why should I hire IRIS Associates to perform my infrared survey?

IRIS Associates offers the highest level of service at competitive prices. 

Mr. Maury Confer, the principle at IRIS Associates, has over 20 years of electrical and mechanical maintenance engineering experience.  This includes not only infrared thermography inspections, but also a wide range of other inspection and testing techniques.  This diverse body of experience enables Mr. Confer to bring exceptional insight and value to your infrared inspection program.

For more information, please see the About IRIS Associates page of this web site.

  If an infrared camera sees only heat, why are some images in color and others in black & white? 

The infrared camera senses the amount of heat coming through the lens from each small element of the picture.  It assigns a color (or a shade of gray) to each level of energy (which is proportional to the temperature).  The camera adds the color since it does not exist in the infrared world.  The end result is that we see a picture that is based on the heat coming from the subject.

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