Electrical Thermal Imaging Survey
What Is an Electrical Thermal Imaging Survey?
An Electrical Thermal Imaging Survey is a non-invasive, non-destructive inspection method that uses infrared (IR) technology to detect potential electrical issues before they become costly or dangerous.
By capturing temperature variations across electrical components, thermal imaging can quickly highlight hidden faults — without interrupting your operations. This makes it one of the most efficient, safe, and cost-effective diagnostic tools for electrical maintenance.
Because it identifies problems before equipment fails, thermal imaging helps reduce repair costs, extend the lifespan of assets, and even uncover opportunities for energy savings.
What’s Involved in an Electrical Thermal Imaging Survey?
Thermal imaging is widely used across industries to inspect electrical systems of all sizes — from small control panels to large high-voltage installations. By spotting faults early, it prevents breakdowns, equipment replacements, and even potential fire risks.
During an electrical thermal imaging survey, our engineers use high-resolution infrared cameras to examine components such as:
- Busbar systems
- Distribution and fuse boards
- High-voltage systems
- Transformers
- Control panels
- Battery and UPS systems
- Switchgear and switchboards
This process is part of predictive maintenance, allowing facilities to stay ahead of faults and maintain high safety and efficiency standards.
Our inspections follow strict protocols to ensure that any issues flagged are genuine faults requiring investigation — not simply loaded circuits generating temporary heat.
Common Issues Detected by Thermal Imaging
Thermographic inspections can reveal a wide range of potential failures, including:
- Poor Connections: Early detection of loose or overloaded electrical connections.
- Electrical Leakage: Identification of current leaks before they cause harm or damage.
- Insulator Defects: Ensuring insulation integrity to prevent dangerous arcing or short circuits.
- Internal Fuse Damage: Spotting overheating fuses that could lead to failure.
- Oxidation on High-Voltage Switches: Detecting resistance at connectors before it escalates into a major issue.
What Our Electrical Inspections Include
Our electrical thermal imaging surveys are thorough and data-driven. Each inspection involves:
- Safe removal of all accessible panels (in line with Permit to Work requirements).
- Individual trend pages for every inspected item — including thermograms, digital images, ambient and measured temperatures, and ΔT (temperature differential).
- Automatic comparison with previous inspections, showing up to four thermograms per item for accurate condition monitoring.
- Graphical trend analysis of temperature data for easy review.
Detailed Thermal Imaging Fault Reports
Our detailed reports don’t just show where faults exist — they also assess severity and impact using precise calculations.
Each report includes:
- Load-corrected temperature estimates (100% operational load).
- Severity grading based on BS7671 standards.
- Maximum safe operating currents to maintain safe temperature levels.
- Instant digital report generation, sent directly to the client upon completion.
Why Use a Level 3 Thermography Engineer?
Using a Level 3 Certified Thermographer ensures your inspection meets the highest professional and safety standards. Our Level 3 engineers are trained to develop predictive maintenance programs, write inspection procedures, and interpret severity criteria with precision.
To help clients prepare, we’ve published supporting guides:
- [How We Carry Out Thermal Surveys on Commercial Buildings]
- [Thermal Imaging Inspections for Facilities Management]
- [What Is a BREEAM Thermal Imaging Survey?] — great for projects seeking BREEAM certification points.
- [Thermal Imaging Checklist] — to help you get ready for your survey.
Professional Thermal Imaging Surveys in London & the South East
At APT Thermography, we use the latest high-resolution thermal imaging cameras to deliver accurate, reliable inspections across London and the South East.
From small commercial sites to large power stations, our experience covers it all — helping clients quickly diagnose and resolve faults through clear, actionable reporting.
We’re proud to provide a proactive, end-to-end service that keeps your building’s electrical systems safe, efficient, and compliant.
📞 Get in Touch
For more information or to book an Electrical Thermal Imaging Survey, contact us today:
📧 info@aptthermography.net
📞 01525 303905 or 07775 623464