What to Expect During the Infrared Inspection Process?
Contact Us for a Proposal
We book at a daily rate. We can provide an estimate for the number of days based on the number of pieces of electrical equipment that need to be scanned or we can generate a quote based on the square footage and type of facility.
Schedule the Inspection
We will work with your schedule to determine the best date for the inspection. We recommend that your facility operating under normal conditions. You can count on our thermographer to arrive on time on the scheduled inspection day.
Provide Onsite Support
Your staff will need to show our inspector the equipment to inspect and we request they be escorted throughout the facility for safety reasons. Support should also be provided to remove any panel covers and deadfronts as necessary to properly inspect your equipment.
Certified Infrared, Performs your Infrared Inspection
Our Certified level II/III technician will perform your inspection, using professional grade equipment, to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), ASNT (American Society for Nondestructive Testing) and NETA (International Electrical Testing Association) standards. All issues or anomalies, along with infrared images will be documented in our report. Any critical safety concerns that require immediate attention will be discussed with your onsite staff.
Review Inspection Report
You will find our reports to be comprehensive and easy to understand. We will provide a complete list of all equipment inspected. For any issues we find, we will provide a detailed account pinpointing the source of the problem. Additionally, we will provide a thermal image of the issue so that you can see what our inspector saw. Finally, we will provide a visual reference image with an arrow indicating the area of concern. All reports are reviewed by an electrical engineer before they are released. For an example of the report you will receive, please review our sample report page.
Take Action from Any Findings
If any thermal issues are found, a suggested cause and recommended rectifications will be provided, as appropriate. 85% of the issues we find are simply loose connections – many only requiring a few turns of a screwdriver!
Schedule a Re-inspection (if desired)
A follow-up inspection is recommended to confirm issues were resolved or we can review during our next scheduled inspection. We recommend annual inspections for most clients.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
What is an infrared inspection?
An infrared inspection, or thermal inspection, uses a specific thermal imaging camera to detect infrared radiation, or heat, emitted by a piece of equipment. The images show surface temperature of the object. This allows us to detect overheating components, loose connections, and faulty wiring before they become problematic to you and your facility.
Can you shoot through panel covers?
We cannot shoot “through” the panels. In some cases, we can see heat that bleeds out to the surface of the panel. Ideally equipment covers are removed for our inspections. However, we can upon request, perform a scan with covers in place, to look for any major hazards, but more nuanced issues may be missed. We recommend at a minimum removing the exterior panel trim. If anything questionable is found, dead fronts can be removed for further investigation.
Can you remove/replace panel covers?
We only provide the actual electrical infrared inspection and do not remove or replace panel covers. However, if you don’t have someone you can reach out to, we have a few partner organizations we work with on an as needed basis.
When should I plan my inspection?
Inspections are typically scheduled during regular business hours because it is best to evaluate your equipment running at its usual electrical load. Our thermographers are trained to ensure inspections will be completed in a safe manner with no intrusion to your daily work flow. Your staff or clients will not even know the inspection is taking place. After hour inspections can be scheduled if required.
How long will this inspection take?
The inspection time will vary based on the size of the facility, the amount of equipment onsite, and the pace at which the equipment covers are removed for our thermographer to complete the inspection. Typically, we can inspect 50-100 pieces of equipment each day. With 20 years in business, we’ve become quite accurate estimating the number of days it will take to complete your inspection.
How will I know the results of my inspection?
Following your inspection, you will be sent a report of our findings. This report will include any anomalies detected followed by a full equipment list of all items scanned during the inspection. Each anomaly will show both a visual and infrared photo, along with specific information related to the problem. We will also recommend a repair procedure based on the severity of the problem and the criticality of the piece of equipment. This report will be emailed within ten business days of your inspection, in a PDF format, ensuring you can share it with all necessary parties and repair people.
What information will my report contain?
Certified Infrared’s report will provide all necessary information to repair any issues found. Visual and Infrared photos of the issue will be provided. Arrows will be added to photos to pinpoint the issue. In most cases, a suggested cause and remediation steps are provided. Most issues we find are simply loose connections! Visit our sample report page to view an example.
Why should I choose Certified Infrared for my inspection?
Certified Infrared has been performing inspections since its inception in 2006. Fully certified Level II (and higher) thermographers use professional grade FLIR equipment to complete inspections. Reports are summited by the onsite thermographer and then reviewed and verified by an electrical engineer. Our inspections are created and reported according to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), ASNT (American Society for Nondestructive Testing), NETA (International Electrical Testing Association) and Infraspection Institute standards. Our extensive background in electrical systems make us uniquely qualified to analyze all anomalies that are reported and make recommendations for the best course of action to maintain an efficient electrical system. We suggest all repairs, depending on severity, are verified during a rescan or during your next scheduled inspection.