Infrared Testing

More and more building owners today are using infrared thermography testing services on their roofs to help them pinpoint areas of saturation. Infrared thermography is an invaluable tool in the roofing industry because of the accuracy of information that can be accumulated. This information is vital for the building owner to accurately assess his current roofing conditions and future budget considerations.

Infrared thermography detects saturated insulation within a roof assembly by measuring heat loss. The presence of saturated insulation means that moisture is penetrating the roof system in that area. Moisture detection is valuable in that it identifies the precise area of saturation that needs replacing. In doing so, an owner is made aware of the damage that can be inflicted by one seemingly minor leak if left undetected.

It's nearly impossible to accurately determine the amount of existing wet insulation by taking random core cuts on the roof in question. By having an infrared moisture survey performed, the amount of wet insulation that should be replaced can be located and verified by core samples.

The infrared camera technician doesn't see saturated insulation, but rather temperature differentials. The technician must be skilled in distinguishing the appearance of wet insulation from a variety of other conditions, which also show up as "hot" areas. An infrared survey that has not been verified by a skilled technician has little use as a roof management tool.

Benchmark consultants have the expertise to effectively perform infrared testing. For more information on our testing services, call (319) 393-9100.