What is thermography?
It is a technique that makes infrared radiation visible. It allows, by means of a camera or another device such as a drone equipped with an infrared camera, to determine the condition of an object by examining its surface (e.g. roof, building facade)
The job of a thermographer :
This trade is designated as an occupation under the Canadian National Request for Quotation. This technological trade is often not well known by the public and is often practiced by several uncertified individuals related to the building industry. The thermographer can be a building inspector, a building engineer, a damage insurance inspector as well as a drone pilot with an infrared camera. Thermography is often a profession combined with
another profession related to building inspection.
The thermographer uses a thermal camera (infrared camera) to practice his profession.
This camera is often rented or purchased by the thermographer or the company hiring the thermographer. Unfortunately, as in any profession, there are “CHARLATANTS” (impostors who exploit public credulity). These false professionals not certified in thermography who sell or offer their services to various clients who are not familiar with the field of thermal building inspection.
Example # 1: The use of low resolution and/or low sensitivity thermal imaging cameras is one of the most obvious signs of an uncertified thermographer. That is, the thermographer is using the wrong camera to do his job.
Example # 2: the use of a drone equipped with a thermal camera to do a daytime roof inspection.
The customer who does not know the field of thermographic inspection is sold a fraudulent and inadequate thermal inspection service.
Example # 3: The quality of the thermography report. The report written by the thermographer is a thermal color analysis report (the differences in color between the warmest and coldest temperatures of the inspected areas are meaningless). As with any thermal technology analysis, there are protocols to follow depending on what the client is looking for (heat loss, water infiltration etc..).
The interpretation of the thermal image in the report does not make sense or is simply wrong. One should not always believe what one sees in a thermography report because the following classic expression means everything: “salt can easily be seen as sugar, both are white but taste very different”.
An uncertified thermographer looks at colors and says things, but often the wrong things.
The 3 levels of certification in thermography :
Level # 1: (Apprentice level): is the apprentice level. Level # 1 is required to do residential building inspection essentially. The level 1 course is 30 to 40 hours depending on the certification entities.
Level # 2: (professional level): is the level required to do commercial and industrial inspection. The level 2 course is also 30 to 40 hours depending on the certification entity. The level 2 can be obtained only 1 year after having obtained the level 1 and having obtained field experience.
Level # 3: (expert level): is the highest level of certification. The level 3 thermographer writes thermal inspection protocols and can also act as an expert witness in court in their respective field of thermal inspection. Level 3 is also the level where the thermographer is authorized to provide thermography training, as well as become a thermography MENTOR for new thermographers.
Important note: All certified thermographers have a certificate of competency or proof of thermographic certification level. In addition, the thermographer, as in any other profession, must seek continuing education or training to keep his or her knowledge and skills current, as thermography is an evolving and constantly changing field of technology. As the level 3 thermographer and thermography trainer Mr. Jacques Wagner says so well, a thermographer should not sell another service other than thermography.
