IR InformIR Blog Enhancements

I have added a few enhancements blog readers should appreciate.

A search box has been added so you can easily search the blog for the content you are looking for.

 

The blog can now be easily translated into one of 54 different languages, everything from Afrikaans to Yiddish. Just use the drop down menu on the right and choose your language!

 

An easy “follow by email” tool has been added which makes it easier than ever to get new blog content sent to your email box automatically and right away.

Enjoy!

Infrared Eye for Detecting Leaks

By John P. Monroe, RA
Level III Thermographer, Certification # 49004

Infrared thermography is becoming an increasingly common diagnostic tool for engineers, architects, and building investigators. Used effectively, it can help locate defects in the design and construction of buildings and building systems, saving clients time and money. Below is an example of how I used infrared thermography to help solve a water infiltration problem.

One of my frequent assignments at RAND Engineering & Architecture, PC is conducting leakage evaluations. I was recently assigned a leakage investigation at a college dormitory building in New York City. The building is 15 stories high with a centrally located three-car elevator system. The elevator bulkhead on top of the main roof houses electrical equipment in the front section and mechanical equipment and the elevator cars in the back.

Each dormitory suite has a kitchen and bathroom, and the bathrooms adjoin the rear wall of the elevator shaft, as depicted in the plan to the right.

Infrared Training Center Introduces Mobile Training Unit

The ITC Mobile Training Unit (MTU) is traveling around the US giving thermography professionals an opportunity to learn about thermal imaging from the experts. This customized RV carries a full complement of FLIR's thermal imagers and Extech Test Equipment, and has application examples along the walls for demonstrating and training thermographers on condition monitoring and building applications.

Look for it coming to a location near you.

Updated - Introduction to Indoor Electrical Surveys using IR Thermography Course

Description
This online introductory course is designed to give you a straight forward explanation of how Infrared technology fits in the indoor electrical inspection industry. This course earns 1 ITC Certification Renewal Credit. This course is FREE.






This course has been updated (March 31, 2012) with:

• Improved Graphics
• Improved Audio
• Notes with every screen
• Search function
• Direct access to any slide in the presentation
• FAQ, Glossary, and Player Operation Help

Students' Course Rating: 4.3/5
Objectives

• An overview of a Indoor electrical survey goal and process
• An outline of industry guidelines and standards
• A demonstration of images and analysis
• A summary of reporting capabilities
• A briefing on additional accessory tools

Click to go to the Course Home Page

T6xx Series Basics Online Training Course

Description This course covers basic operation for all FLIR T6xx Series cameras. This includes the T620 and T640 models. This course is FREE for all students.
We will discuss the controls of the camera as well as the user interface, and show you how to operate your camera.
Who should take this course: This course is intended for users of FLIR T6xx Series infrared cameras.
Prerequisites: No prior knowledge of thermography is required.
Availability: This course is an on-demand self paced web based training course available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can begin as soon as you enroll.
Click Here for the Course Home Page
This course teaches you how to use the features of the T6xx Series cameras, but doesn't teach you thermography; when to use the features, how to make measurements, and how to interpret the thermal patterns on the screen.
We highly recommend you take a thermography course after finishing this basics course. We offer the On-Demand Thermography Basics class here, or Level I Certification,  or Building Investigations Certification available at http://www.infraredtraining.com/ .

Infrared Training Center (ITC) becomes Authorized Provider of IACET Continuing Education Units

Prestigious Authorization Demonstrates Commitment to High Quality Lifelong Learning

Nashua, NH – The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded the Infrared Training Center the prestigious Authorized Provider status. IACET Authorized Providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). The recognition period extends for five years and includes all programs offered or created during that time.

“The Infrared Training Center is proud of the educational programs we offer. Thousands of students attend ITC classes and participate in ITC conferences each year, learning about the latest developments in thermography and gaining new skills, “ stated Gary Orlove, ITC Curriculum Manager. “We are pleased that we have now joined a select group of organizations that offer IACET Continuing Education Units, which are nationally and internationally recognized as representing the highest standards of continuing education and continuous learning. This will be a great benefit to our students, who can now receive national recognition for their participation in ITC online and face-to-face learning events.”

“We are pleased to welcome the Infrared Training Center as our newest Authorized Provider organization,” stated Francenia Johnson, President of IACET and Supervisor of Operations and Measurements at Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division (MLGW) in Memphis, TN. Johnson added, “ITC joins nearly 650 organizations around the globe that have had their programs vetted by third-party experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met.”

In order to achieve Authorized Provider status, the Infrared Training Center completed a rigorous application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor, and successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard addressing the design, development, administration and evaluation of its programs. The Infrared Training Center has pledged its continued compliance with the Standard and is now authorized to use the IACET name and Authorized Provider logo on promotional course material. In addition, the Infrared Training Center is now linked to the IACET web site and is recognized as offering the highest quality continuing education and training programs.

About ITC: ITC is the world's largest infrared training organization, with more expert instructors than any other and hundreds of thermography courses throughout the year to fit your application, location, and schedule. The Infrared Training Center is also the originator and premier sponsor of InfraMation, the annual conference where infrared camera users, industry leaders, and exhibitors come together to network and share case studies, success stories, techniques, and technology. Learn more at http://www1.infraredtraining.com/ and http://inframation.org/ .

About IACET: The International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) is a non-profit association dedicated to quality continuing education and training programs. IACET is the only standard-setting organization approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for continuing education and training. The ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard is the core of thousands of educational programs worldwide. For more information, please visit www.iacet.org  or call 703-506-3275.

FLIR Thermal Vision Research & Science Symposium - Baltimore

WHO SHOULD COME AND WHY:
Whether you're an engineer, a student, a technician, or a Ph.D., this is your opportunity to meet and learn from other scientists and engineers on the cutting edge of research thermography. 

• Learn about advanced uses of thermal imaging in research and scientific applications
• Learn from many of the world’s leading authorities in research thermography
• Get tips and tricks for getting the most out of any research thermography program

DATE: Monday, April 23, 2012

TIME: 7:00am-5:00pm

LOCATION: Hilton Baltimore, Key Ballroom
401 West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

PRICING: $395.00/attendee
Inclusive of: Free license for FLIR ExaminIR Pro (a $7950 value!), Breakfast, Lunch, and Breaks

All attendees are invited to join the SPIE welcome reception at the Maryland Science Center Monday evening from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

More Information

InfraMation 2012 – Call for Abstracts

Call for Papers

The InfraMation 2012 Call for Papers is open until April 2, 2012. FLIR Systems and the Infrared Training Center (ITC) are accepting 150-250 word abstracts of presentations to be delivered to an InfraMation audience consisting of more than 500 condition monitoring engineers, maintenance technicians, building inspectors, restoration contractors, and test and measurement buyers. Submit your abstract through this simple online form.

Important Dates

• Presentation Abstracts Due: April 2, 2012
• Authors Learn of Acceptance by: May 18, 2012
• Complete Manuscripts and InfraMation Registration Due: July 20, 2012
• Complete PowerPoint Presentations due: August 17, 2012
• InfraMation 2012 Kicks Off: November 6, 2012

Benefits & Requirements
Why should you present at InfraMation 2012?

• Conference registration fee discount
• Qualify for full refund on already discounted conference registration fee
• Identify yourself as an infrared expert in your field
• Future validation for clients and customers
• Expand your professional and business referral network
• Represent your organization on a big stage
• Publish your paper on a searchable CD that every InfraMation attendee receives

InfraMation is the largest infrared camera user conference in the world. As thermal imaging becomes more mainstream, early adopters such as yourself will be sought out for your expertise, and InfraMation is the place to get recognized!

The only “hard” requirements are that your paper be non-commercial in nature (for sponsorship or exhibition opportunities, click here) and submitted in English. Abstract approval is based on clarity, appropriateness and technical merit of work.

About Emissivity Tables

Emissivity tables may or may not contain real useful information concerning the actual emissivities of the objects you wish to measure.

There can be many variations within and among different emissivity tables. Here are some factors of concern:

• Total Normal (broadband, perpendicular) emissivity - This is the emissivity over a very wide waveband. It may or may not be close to the actual emissivity with respect to your infrared camera.
• Midwave emissivity - Some tables are listed as shortwave (now called midwave) or at a specific narrow short waveband. Even if the emissivity is specified to be within the same spectral waveband as your infrared camera, it still may not be as accurate as you suspect. This is due to differences in camera detector responses.
• Longwave emissivity - Longwave tables can also be somewhat unreliable for the same reasons described for the shortwave. Older cameras used different detectors that had different responses within the long wave band.
• Narrow waveband - A narrow band can be just as unreliable as a wide band. Some materials can have significant changes in emissivity over small wavebands.
• Temperature - Some tables take into account the temperature of the object when the emissivity was measured. If you consider the previously mentioned variables, this does not necessarily make the tables any more reliable.
• Conditional (rough, smooth, corroded, rusty) - Conditional parameters seem to offer useful information concerning emissivities, but it is sometimes quite difficult to ascertain the condition of a metal surface by looking at it. If you use an emissivity table to determine the emissivity of copper, you may find values ranging from 0.05 to 0.86, depending on the surface. Copper that appears to be very tarnished can still have an extremely low emissivity.

So, what is one to do regarding emissivity tables? First, realize their limitations. They can offer a ball park estimate. If you really would like to use emissivity tables, the best thing to do is to create your own based on measurements taken with your camera.

Click this link for instructions on how to measure emissivity.

Accuracy Specification of FLIR Cameras

How accurately can the camera measure an absolute temperature?

Most FLIR Thermography cameras have a specified accuracy of  ±2 ºC (±3.6 ºF) or ±2% (whichever is greater) of reading for a blackbody target (emissivity ~ 1).

For example, for objects that are 100 °C or lower, the temperature reading off a blackbody can be 98°C to 102°C and be within specification. Similarly for objects above 100°C, say 200 °C, the reading could vary between 196°C and 204°C.

Some science cameras such as the SC660 are specified ±1°C or ±1% of reading.

This means that any camera, at any environment condition (within specification), at any time will give a reading within the accuracy specification.

However, a particular camera, at the same environment condition, will have a statistical repeatability of measurement that is much better than this. Typically close to the NETD value. This is also applicable when you compare adjacent pixels, provided your target(s) are optically resolved. This means that much higher accuracies can be achieved by comparing values with a known reference source in the image scene.