Thermal imaging camera in construction: leaks, insulation, moisture

Applications in 30 seconds

• Leaks: heating/water pipes, flat roofs, underfloor heating – temperature anomalies show the course.
• Insulation / thermal bridges: gaps, connection details, window reveals – make energy losses visible.
• Moisture & mould risk: identify cold zones/areas close to the dew point; confirm with a moisture measurement.
• QA in fit-out: before/after comparisons, acceptance inspections, warranty documentation.

Preparation & conditions

• Temperature difference: aim for an inside/outside ΔT of at least 10 K (better 15–20 K) for the building envelope.
• Weather: wind below 3 Bft, no direct sunlight; for roofs allow enough time to cool down.
• Emissivity (ε): set it to suit the material (e.g. plaster/paint high, metal low). Cover shiny surfaces with matt tape or chalk.
• Reflections: actively avoid reflections (windows/metal); vary the camera position.
• Calibration / NUC: let the camera stabilise thermally; trigger the non-uniformity correction (NUC) if available.

Note: for qualitative building thermography, DIN EN 13187 and ISO 6781, among others, are used as references in practice.

Step by step: 5 workflows

1) Leak detection (heating/water pipe)

1. Briefly increase heat generation (heating circuit/hot water), clear the surfaces.
2. Hold the camera perpendicular to the surface; use isotherms/alarms to mark hotspots.
3. Document the course of the pipe; take cross-bearings for concealed areas.
4. Secure the location with a visible marking (photo pair: IR + daylight).

2) Checking underfloor heating

1. Hydraulics active; raise the flow temperature slightly.
2. Scan the loops and check for even distribution; cold strips indicate air/blockage.
3. Save screenshots with scale/notes for the documentation.

3) Insulation & thermal bridges

1. Plan the ΔT and take the images quickly (before sunrise or in the evening).
2. Problem zones: roller shutter boxes, reveals, parapets, balcony connections.
3. Mark hot/cold spots with arrows & comments; compare inside/outside.

4) Suspected moisture / condensation zones

1. Identify cold areas; always cross-check with a moisture meter.
2. Note the room climate (RH/°C); explain proximity to the dew point.
3. If confirmed: assign the cause (thermal bridge/ventilation/leak).

5) Flat roof screening

1. Measure late in the evening after a sunny day (use the thermal inertia of moisture).
2. Mark suspicious areas as polygons; plan probing/moisture measurement.

Typical mistakes & how to avoid them

• Wrong emissivity: leads to misinterpretation → use a material list/ε table.
• Reflections taken for a "hotspot": change the angle, test for reflections (motion parallax).
• ΔT too small: unremarkable results → adjust the measuring time/heating load.
• Single image without context: always save IR+RGB and notes (room, orientation).
• Ignoring thermal inertia: consider the time course (heating up/cooling down).

Set recommendations & accessories

More accessories: Tripods & poles · Warranty 2+1 years

Documentation & report

• IR + RGB pair: for every thermal image, save a photo in the visible spectrum from the same perspective.
• Measurement notes: date/time, weather/ΔT, room/orientation, emissivity, distance, camera settings.
• Markings: label arrows/polygons/isotherms (e.g. "suspected moisture").
• Plausibility check: if moisture is suspected, always cross-check with a moisture measurement.
• Before/after: document measures, simplify acceptance, secure warranty claims.

FAQ