United Infrared utilizes infrared imagers (cameras) from all major manufacturers, such as FLIR, Testo, Fluke, Palmer-Wahl, and Soltec.
According to Greg Stockton, president of United Infrared, Inc., the class covers roofing infrared, and its various applications. (See website, http://www.UnitedInfrared.com )
"RoofScanIR™
http://www.YouTube.com/
This United Infrared's class is being held in Charlotte, NC. Other classes scheduled or planned include DataCentIR (data center IR applications)
United Infrared is also a leader in the field of using infrared scans (thermal imaging technology) in the unlikely specialty of the equine industry ( http://www.equineir.com ).
Back to roofing thermography. United Infrared, Inc., is the largest network of certified and properly trained thermographers in the world, and has recently been entrusted by roofing giant, GAF Roofing Materials (the largest roofing materials manufacturer in North America), with performing roofing scans for re-roofing jobs in the United States and Canada.
The thermal image report can confirm that there will be no trapped moisture in the insulation underlying the new roof, which is helpful for the building owner, the contractor, and the roofing materials manufacturer.
Roof Maintenance in General
Waterproofing problems manifest themselves in two ways: leakage and entrained moisture contamination.
Leakage is pretty simple, although the leak inside the building rarely directly relates to the exact spot on the roof because the water flows down the slope of the roof to a spot that is not sealed and into the building at that point. Most leaks occur where the waterproofing termination is sealed or where there is a penetration of the roof.
Since most types of roofing systems absorb some amount of water, it is harder to find the exact spot of water contamination in the insulation because it may not leak into the building until the insulation has absorbed all the water it can hold.
There are three types of surveys that are used to find water in a roof. Nuclear gauges - which count neutrons, capacitance meters - which measure resistance, and infrared - which measures heat. Both nuclear gauges and capacitance meters are used to take spot readings on a 5’ X 5’, 10' X 10' or 20' X 20' grid on the roof.
These measurements are used to extrapolate where the water is from the readings obtained from the gauges. These surveys are very labor-intensive and therefore expensive. They are good for types of roofs that do not gain or lose much solar energy and therefore, do not lend themselves to infrared.
With the average lifespan of the typical commercial or industrial roof being seven years, regular inspections and a proper roof maintenance program are required if the owner wishes to properly maintain the roof. The lifespan can be increased by as much as 300%, resulting in significant savings for the roof owner.
Stockton further added: "Our biggest event of the year is our Thermal Imaging Conference (thermalimagingconference.com)
For a video look at the Thermal Imaging Conference, go to: http://youtu.be/
