Why is IR Thermography so Effective? 
Increasing resistance within electrical components is caused by numerous factors including equipment fatigue, improper installation, loose connections, exposure to the elements, and normal wear resulting from prolonged use. Increased resistance produces increased heat. When combined, wear and heat are the number one cause for most electrical component failures. Infrared Thermography allows trained technicians to detect this heat with an IR camera before any damage is otherwise visible. The obvious advantage of this is the opportunity to correct the problem early before it causes destructive effects on personnel, equipment, or facilities.

​How does Infrared Thermography work?
High-resolution IR imaging radiometers detect infrared energy emitted from an object and convert it into an image which is displayed on a monitor. Infrared thermography is the premium form of non-contact, non-destructive testing (NdT) used to detect and record the thermal patterns and temperatures of electrical systems and their components.  
When locating a component with an unusual temperature, this temperature is recorded in a thermal image or thermogram. This thermogram, a control photograph, and all information pertaining to the problem are compiled into a report that is provided to the client in both hardcopy and digital formats.

What electrical equipment should be covered in an inspection?
When planning an IR Thermography System Survey, it is important to include all the electrical equipment in your facility. Following is a list of items you may want to include:

• Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)
  
• Air Circuit Breaker (ACB)
  
• Bus Duct (BUS)
  
• Capacitors (CAP)
  
• Circuit Breakers (CB)
  
• Control Cabinet (CC)
  
• Current Transformers (CT)
  
• Disconnect Switch (DISC)
  
• Distribution Panel (DP)
  
• Emergency Distribution Panel (EDP)
  
• Emergency Power Panel (EPP)
  
• Emergency Power Transformers (EXFMR)
  
• Environmental Control Unit (ECU)
  
• Fire Pump Panel (FPP)
  
• Generator (GEN)
  
• Incoming Lines (IL)
  
• Junction Boxes (JB)
  
• Lightning Arrestor (LA)
  
• Lighting Contactor (LC)
  
• Metering Cabinet (MET)
  
• Power Transformers (XFMR)
  

Why Choose Cincy IR
 Expertise and Customer Service. Jake at Cincy IR has been performing electrical Infrared Inspections for over 10 years, has seen hundreds of situations and pieces of equipment and has saved clients countless loss production hours by find and correcting the problem before it equipment is completed destroyed. We perform our infrared inspection prepare our reports in accordance to Infraspection Institute standards. And when you call Cincy IR you know you are talking to the person that is going to be performing your inspection, writing your report and answering all of your questions. 
​
Should electrical panels be opened for inspection?
Infrared Thermography imagers detect thermal patterns on the surface of an object, therefore they require a direct line of sight. If an IR Thermography Survey is performed over closed electrical panels and an anomaly is detected, it will be impossible to detect which component has the highest temperature and is causing the issue.  

How do I prepare for an Infrared Thermography Survey?
Here are some suggested steps to prepare for an IR Thermography Survey:

• Ensure qualified manpower is available
• Provide keys and access codes for all secured areas and locked equipment
•  The Routes, or the order in which the equipment is to be surveyed, and any changes in the electrical load during the survey should be considered and planned accordingly.
•  Installing infrared windows will save time and increase personnel safety. 

​

Why Should I Consider IR Thermography?

• Infrared Thermography is the superior form of non-destructive testing (NDT) for predictive maintenance (PdM) on electrical systems and components. IR Thermography helps:
  • Saves Time
  • Saves Money
  • Prevents Fires
  • Saves Lives
• The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) declares “a well-administered Electrical Preventative Maintenance program will reduce accidents, save lives, and minimize costly break downs and unplanned shutdowns of production equipment,” and recommends that “routine infrared inspections of energized electrical systems should be performed annually…more frequent infrared inspections, for example, quarterly or semi-annually, should be performed where warranted by loss experience, installation of new electrical equipment, or changes in environmental, operational, or load conditions.” - NFPA 70B 11.17.5
• NFPA recommendations are considered industry standard practices and can be sited by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and used against you in a court of law should damage from an electrical catastrophe ever occur.

• Many insurance companies are now requiring clients to have regular  Infrared Thermography inspections as part of their PdM (Predictive Maintenance) programs.

Serving the Greater Cincinnati Area
​
Call Cincinnati Infrared today at 513-446-5644 or send us a message through our 
​Contact Page.
Keeping your Power ON and your Workers Safe℠ 
​Think Your Electrical System is Hazard Free?