Electricity powers our homes, our businesses, and our world. It’s a huge asset, but unfortunately, electrical systems also pose one of the greatest risks to equipment, buildings, and the occupants inside.
Faulty electrical systems can cause damage from equipment breakdowns to fires, and they don’t always exhibit visible warning signs until it’s too late. That’s why regular infrared electrical inspections are a must.
Infrared electric/al system scanning is a non-invasive and non-disruptive method of assessing an electrical system’s safety. Certified thermographers scan electrical components to identify hot spots and problem areas — before bad electrical components put your equipment, building, and occupants at risk.
At Building Envelope Allies, we have Level II and Level III Certified thermographers on staff. We are an experienced, third-party organization that’s dedicated to energy efficiency and safety in commercial and residential spaces.
The steps of an infrared electrical system scan
Most of the time, our inspectors do infrared scanning under normal working conditions — so there’s no need to disrupt your schedule or shut down operations.
Identifying the electrical equipment
We start your infrared electrical scan by identifying the equipment to be tested. We regularly test a range of electrical equipment for safety, including breaker panels, disconnects, switchgear, motors, and more.
Wherever possible, our thermographers remove covers, like panel doors and switch plate covers, to view the electrical equipment directly.
Performing the infrared scan
Our thermographers are trained to use thermal imagers for infrared electrical system scans. Also called infrared cameras, thermal imagers are devices that detect heat without coming into contact with any equipment.
During the test, our thermographer visually scans the electrical equipment. We pay close attention to areas that are most likely to cause system failures, like electrical connections and other points of contact.
We look for hot spots, which are areas of elevated temperature within electrical systems. If we find hot spots, we investigate the probable cause, which is often excessive resistance in a circuit.
Our team has extensive experience evaluating electrical risks, and we assess your equipment based on its type and function. For example, motors and transformers will naturally generate more heat and require different assessments than other types of equipment.
Getting your results
Our thermographers create a detailed report of our findings after your infrared scan is complete. The report may include elements like:
- Areas inspected
- Ambient conditions
- Electrical equipment descriptions
- Issues identified
- Probable cause of issues
- Recommended repairs
We go over the results with you, and answer any questions you might have about our findings. One of the most important parts of the report is the recommendations, where our thermographers make suggestions regarding corrective measures for any issues we’ve identified.
When to get an infrared electrical system scan
Infrared electrical system scanning should be part of your building’s routine maintenance. How often you need to get a scan depends on factors like the purpose and use of the building and the age of the electrical equipment, to name a few.
Talk to our team at Building Envelope Allies to get a better idea of just how frequently you need a commercial infrared inspection. Some of the most common reasons that commercial building owners and managers request infrared scans are:
- Building safety
- Preventive maintenance
- Insurance coverage
Getting infrared scans gives you insight to the health of your building’s electrical systems, effectively identifying issues so you can mitigate them before they pose a serious risk to health and safety.
Is it time to schedule your next commercial infrared electrical scan? Request a quote from Building Envelope Allies now.