Thermal Imaging Surveys in Houses to Reduce Heat Loss.

Our thermal imaging surveys can provide extremely useful information about the thermal performance of your property.

We arrange thermal imaging survey on your home, or commercial buildings throughout England and Wales and we always strive to provide a fast and friendly cost-effective thermal inspection service.

A thermal camera survey can be undertaken to establish more than just heat loss, it can also be utilised for:

1. Energy efficiency – a heat loss thermal survey is essential as it identified where the biggest energy cost-savings can be made.
2. Damp walls and ceilings and floors – water ingress, sources of dampness, leaks in flat roofs or via chimneys.
3. Water leaks – leaks in under-floor heating systems or behind concealed pipework in walls, ceilings and floors.
4. Thermal bridging areas – missing or ineffective insulation at door and window reveals
5. Missing or damaged insulation – areas where poor workmanship leading to missing or damaged insulation causing cold spots.
6. Air infiltration – cold draughts into the building through the building envelope that can excess draughts leading to an unpleasant environment.
7. Air leakage paths – warm air escaping through the building envelope that wastes valuable energy.

At APT we understand that every customer has different reasons for commissioning a thermographic survey, whether it is for their home, or commercial building we have the technical expertise to help you. Here is another interesting article explaining 10 reasons for carrying out thermal imaging surveys.

Thermal imaging can identify insulation problems.

To reduce heating and/or air conditioning bills having continuous high spec insulation throughout the entire home is important.  One little area of insulation missing can cost you extra money on each monthly bill. We can look for temperature differentials or colour differentials with our high spec thermal imaging cameras to see if insulation is missing in your building envelope. Having this information, you can add /upgrade insulation to targeted areas.

Thermal Imaging Shows Water Leaks and Moisture Intrusion

Do you have a water leaks and/or stains on the ceiling?  Unfortanly the naked eye may be able to see the water stain, but the thermal image may give the technician insight into what is going on.  This is identified due to the evaporating water highlighting cooler temperatures rather than normal surface temperatures. If it shows up as blue or purple, there may be a leak.  Thermal imaging is one of the best non evasive inspections as it can be done without intruding on the homeowner’s daily activities or tearing apart areas that are not needed to be touched.

Thermal Imaging can highlight electrical issues.

Often, we cannot see the electrical issues in the home.  We don’t have a way to know if an electrical panel is functioning properly, or if it damaged and about to malfunction. Out thermal imaging camera can pick up these issues.  Surveying an electrical box will tell us the temperatures are within the correct parameters or it isn’t not working correctly.

What is the duration of the thermal imaging house survey?

We suggest you allow a minimum of 1 to 2 hours for our engineer to undertake the thermal survey. For large commercial buildings please allow up to 3 to 4 hours.

Do you need an Internal or External Thermal Inspection?

Elements such as wind and outside temperature can make an internal thermal inspection the better choice.  The internal thermal inspection is also is more likely to catch the flow of the air because of how it radiates off an object.  In addition, heat and air do not escape straight out of a home and often go through an inside wall and this might not be picked up from the outside.  We often use our high-powered blower door systems on depressurise in conjunction with thermal imaging to highlight air leakage paths through building envelopes.

When can we expect our thermal Imaging report.
We usually, supply the thermal survey report within 1 to 2 days. You will receive your thermal imaging report in PDF format, including copies of the images recorded, and our interpretation of what they are indicating. Most over companies take 1-2 weeks to supply the completed reports.

Why pick APT to undertake your thermal imaging survey?
Please note that our engineers are trained to level 3, which is the highest level you can achieve as a thermographic engineer. We also use large format thermal imaging cameras; this provides you with the absolute best chance of solving any potential issues by utilising thermographic technology.

Our thermal specification includes:

1. Level 3 thermographic certification
2. Level 3 qualified thermographers
3. Large format FLIR cameras with 45-degree lenses

We will discuss your project and fully understand your plans and concerns and provide you with the maximum value and reliability from your infrared thermal imaging survey.

The importance of using a  Level 3 trained thermographers cannot be overstated as they are trained to be write predictive maintenance and inspection practices and to develop test procedures and ascertain severity criteria. To try and help clients prepare for the thermal imaging survey to their building, we have written the following article: How we carry our thermal Surveys on commercial buildings.

To try and help facility managers with their electrical and mechanical surveys, we have written the following article: thermal imaging inspections for facilities management. Also, throughout the UK BREEAM projects are becoming more common place. BREEAM provides extra points to projects that have a BREEAM Thermal survey undertaken. As not many clients are aware of BREEAM thermal surveys, we have included more information in our ‘What is a BREEAM thermal Imaging Survey’ article. Also to try and help clients prepare for their survey please download our Thermal Imaging Checklist or check our our article a technical explanation of thermal imaging surveys

Please contact us for more information

If you would like to contact us for more information on our thermal imaging house surveys, please contact us on 01525 303905 or email us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk

Alternatively if you would like more information on how to prepare for your thermal imaging survey, please visit our website here or download our thermal imaging checklist  

Extra Costs Associated with Sound Test Failure

If you have a new and/or conversion residential project you are usually required to undertake Sound Testing, this demonstrates that the performance of the party wall and floor partitions meet the standards as stipulated in Building Regulations Approved Document E.

Unfortunately, many developers and builders often have to undertake expensive remedial treatments by underestimating the requirements of Building Regulations Document E which results in Sound Test failures

Preparing for Sound Testing

There are two key considerations when designing separating walls and floors to achieve the requirements of Approved Document E and avoid costly Sound Test failures.

1. Direct Sound Transmission – This is sound that travels directly through the separating wall and/or floor from one room to another.
2. Flanking Sound Transmission – This is sound that bypasses the separating wall and/or floor, via a weak junction element such as external wall, floor or ceiling detail. It is worth noting that sound flanking can lead to sound test failure even if you have a robust separating wall and/or floor specification.

Three Ways to Increase the performance of separating walls and floors

1. Mass – The greater the mass per unit area of the wall or floor, the less it will vibrate in response to sound waves thus less sound energy is radiated.
2. Absorbing Porous Materials – materials such as acoustic rock wool are used within cavities in separating wall and floor structures to reduce mid to high frequency sound energy.
3. Vibration Isolation – This is the reduction of structure-borne sound and vibration by the use of resilient materials such as acoustic membrane to separate materials and form independent structures. For instance the introduction of a floating floor would isolate the floor surface from the rest of the structure and reduce the vibration transfer of footfall noise.

How we can help you avoid sound test failures

During early design and construction process, we visit site to conduct a comprehensive acoustic design survey and review, we also take this opportunity to meet; where possible, the site/project manager, architects etc. The first stage of the acoustic design is to send through the design drawings – to include sections etc. We then review the design to check that the construction details proposed are capable of passing the sound tests. This usually takes place straight after planning has been approved as increased cost savings can be realised at the earliest stage, we will evaluate the construction methods and materials specified to ensure that they are capable of meeting the acoustic requirements of Approved document E. The typical areas we check are:

1. There are no flanking points, where isolated partitions are wrongly mechanically fixed together to caused noise bridging.
2. The walls and floors design are acoustically robust, to comply with Building Regulations Part E.
3. The acoustic treatments for Soil Pipes, Stair Cases Steel Beams etc. to ensure they are acoustically fit for purpose, as these are some of the areas that get usually missed.
4. Acoustic floor treatments are compatible with the proposed floor finishes i.e. Carpets, Laminates, Floor Tiles and under floor heating systems.

Also provide on-going design support service, so you will have direct contact with the allocated acoustician from the start of the process through to the successful completion of the project.

Avoiding Sound Test Failure
One of the most important services is the going site survey visits which allow our clients to feel confident about the outcome of testing at the end of the build.If you have a new project and you need help with your acoustic design and/or sound testing then please email us at: info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk or call us on 01525 303905. If you want more information on our full range of services please visit our website at: www.aptsoundtesting.co.uk