One of the more frequent assignments we get at Rand is figuring out how to stop leaks in buildings. Once water enters through the roof or facade, it can travel far and wide, making it difficult to find the source and determine the extent of deterioration. To better arm us in that never-ending battle, we've put together what you might call a "special ops" team and equipped it with a very effective weapon: an infrared camera.
A dozen of our engineers, architects, and project associates recently completed a professional training course in infrared technology. As Certified Level I Thermographers, they are qualified to perform building diagnostics in three areas (depending on their certification): buildings and roofs, electrical systems, and mechanical systems.
Rand's Infrared Team shows its true colors.
A non-destructive method of testing, infrared thermography detects thermal differences in objects and displays them in images taken with an infrared camera. Water retains heat longer than solids do, so by analyzing the different colors in the infrared images and comparing them with visually observed conditions, a thermographer can pinpoint areas in a building where water is likely to have penetrated. Thermographic images can also indicate areas of heat loss caused by insufficient insulation, such as around piping or windows.
Infrared technology gives a view of building conditions beyond what can be seen in a visual-only survey. Using a thermographic map of a roof or a facade to root out the source of leaks, the engineer or architect can have investigative probes conducted with much more accuracy than through just trial-and-error. As a result, fewer probes are needed to locate areas of water infiltration and assess the underlying damage, saving clients time and money.
While Rand has been using infrared thermography for a while, we're excited to now have an in-house team trained specifically for that purpose. Leading the infrared team is Level III Thermographer and Rand Senior Architect, John P. Monroe, RA. (He's the heavily purple presence on the far right in the photo above.)
For an example of how Rand uses infrared thermography to detect leaks, please see our previous blog post on the topic. If your building is suffering from water infiltration, contact us at 212-675-8844 or info@nullrandpc.com for help. Our special ops team—in all its glorious thermographic colors—is ready for action.
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