The importance of thermal imaging on Commercial Buildings

The importance of thermal imaging on Commercial Buildings.
Thermal imaging inspections are the best way to assess continuity of insulation once the building fabric is complete on commercial buildings. It is also a very effective method of locating air leakage paths in a completed building.

This article discusses the legal requirements in Building Regulations and also the availability of BREEAM credits for thermal imaging, as well as England & Wales Building Regulations and supporting guidance, specifically Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Power).

At the time of writing this publication, it was not known what form these would take. Building Regulations for England and Wales require that reasonable provision shall be made for the conservation of fuel and power in buildings by trying to limit heat gains and losses through thermal elements and other parts of the building fabric. This requirement is supported by guidance in four Approved Documents:

• • • • Approved Document L1A – New Dwellings
      • Approved Document L1B – Work in Existing Dwellings
      • Approved Document L2A – New Non-Dwellings
      • Approved Document L2B – Work in Existing Non-Dwellings

The above approved documents highlight the importance of thermal imaging for investigating the thermal performance of the building envelope. The four Approved Documents also provide the following guidance: “The building fabric should be constructed so that there are no reasonably avoidable thermal bridges in the insulation layers caused by gaps within the various elements, at the joints between elements, and at the edges of elements such as those around window and door openings”.

All our APT’s thermographic engineers hold a minimum of Level 2 certification. We use the latest Flir high resolution thermal imaging cameras for all our surveys. Thermal imaging is the only practical way of checking that thermal insulation hidden in the structure meets the requirements for continuity of insulation.

More details for both our thermal imaging and air tightness testing services can be found on our website at www.aptsoundtesting.co.uk.

Please visit us at for our thermal imaging guide and checklist and here for our air tightness testing guide and checklist.

If you would like more information on our Themographic Building Inspection service, please contact us at info@aptsoundtesting.co.uk or call us on: 01525 303905