Building Thermal Insulation Performance Inspection
Can you use a drone with a thermal camera to inspect building insulation?
New buildings are now very efficient when it comes to heat management, retention and thermal living comfort, which can be attributed to architects using modern design tools, understanding and planning techniques. However, things can get missed and mistakes can be made during the building phase resulting in insulation failures and even thermal bridging whether in the design or from irregular building practices.
Building insulation performance should always be inspected and measured following a new build to ensure that there are no defects such as missing insulation material and thermal bridging in the cavity walls, a problem caused when discarded cement/mortar is inadvertently discarded into the cavity wall – affectionately referred to as ‘snots’!
Older properties may suffer from thermal failures due to older building methodology and building materials, a simple insulation inspection to determine where heat leaks may be occurring is a sensible investment.
Insulation surveys are best conducted during the winter months as the primary environmental condition for the survey is to ensure that a minimum 10°C delta between the internal temperature of the living space envelope and the external outside ambient temperature.
Clearly, heating a property up in the summer months to 10°C above the outside temperature when it is already in excess of 21°C presents a very uncomfortable living temperature for those indoors. The winter months ensure a much more efficient survey process. In most cases the only requirement is for the property to remain heated for a period of 24 hours (minimum) to ensure any heating leak has time to penetrate clearly through to the outside.
Using a drone, equipped with a thermal camera is only part of the equation. It is vitally important that any thermal imaging inspections are conducted by a qualified thermographer.
An appropriately trained and certified thermographer will ensure that the data collected meets the strict commercial standards governing the environmental conditions in which the survey is conducted and the correct equipment calibration with the right emissivity and background radiation values to ensure that the results can be relied upon.
Once the data is collected from site correctly, a category 2 qualified thermographer will be able to analysis the data collected and provide a report that can be used to schedule the correct response from maintenance companies and trades people.
In all cases thermal imaging solutions when deployed from a UAV drone, offers a non-destructive, simple, and cost effectively solution to getting infrared analysis from hard to reach and difficult to see places.
Drone Media Imaging use the latest thermal infrared equipment and fully trained and insured thermographers, get in touch to discuss your thermal survey and inspection and we will provide you with a clear no obligation quotation.
Thermal Survey and Inspections
Drone media imaging are qualified, approved and insured aerial thermographers
specialising in providing thermal imaging and anlysis reporting through the use of Drone technology
Expert Infrared Inspections for Accurate Thermal Assessments
Need professional thermographic analysis for your project? Our certified experts use the latest infrared technology to deliver precise results. Contact Drone Media Imaging today for expert thermal imaging services.
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Trained and Certified in Aerial Thermography
Drone Media Imaging use trained and certified thermographers to deliver thermographic services and inspections across many domestic, industrial and commercial sectors throughout the UK. Whether it is solar photovoltaic panel inspection in accordance with IEC 62446-3:2017 and BS EN ISO 62446-1:2016 or fire detection and management in disasters zones or underground landfill fires, Drone Media Imaging can deploy across the UK quickly, efficiently and with the right experience.
Aerial Thermography Category 2 Thermography certification to category level 2 focuses on radiometric temperature measurement analysis and the benefits of obtaining precise temperature data from challenging environments for diagnosing and reporting purposes. Whether for qualitative evaluation or quantitative evaluation our report and diagnosis analysis provide you with answers following a non-destructive inspection format from the air via UAV drones equipped with the latest technology. Drone Media Imaging is a small but unique drone operations company specialising in airborne thermal imaging across the UK. Our certification and experience when paired with our CAA enhanced OSC permissions, means we are more than capable of performing any aerial thermal imaging job however challenging. As level 2 thermographers we dive into the fundamental principles of surface emissivity, reflected temperature correction, spatial and measurement resolutions, and as a result providing clients with accurate data reporting that can be trusted.
Aerial Thermal Imaging Infrared Cameras Thermal Imaging cameras capture the reflected radiation from a surface or heat source and convert the recorded temperatures to an image map for analysis. This unique worldview provides numerous advantageous and cost-effective non-destructive options for commercial and residential needs. Aerial thermal cameras of the highest quality provide non-contact temperature measurements in difficult to reach locations that cannot be observe from the ground. As is the case with all drone inspections, the hazards connected with operating at a height are minimised as is the potential of inflicting damage to the structure during the inspection procedure.
Case Study – Explosion at a Grain Store Port of Tilbury London Following an explosion at the Port of Tilbury London grain store in July 2020, Drone Media Imaging were hired to provide aerial thermal data support to emergency service gold commanders and the senior management for the grain store. Flying thermographic data collection missions, hourly, daily, and weekly for over 13 months from the initial explosion and subsequent silo fires, we provided important thermal data reports as the fire developed, enabling the fire management strategy to be accurately measured over time. Comprehensive reports, thermal imaging, RGB photography, and video pictures were used to provide the information essential to effectively manage the problem until the building was destroyed in 2020.
