1 Built environment specialists Thermal Imaging for BREEAM Colin Pearson BREEAM AP BSRIA Head of Building Performance Level 3 Thermographer Chairman of UK Thermography Association
1
Built environment specialists
Thermal Imaging for
BREEAM
Colin Pearson
BREEAM AP
BSRIA Head of Building Performance
Level 3 Thermographer
Chairman of UK Thermography Association
2
Built environment specialists
BREEAM Requirement
Construction and handover
One credit
14. The main contractor accounts for a thermographic survey within the project budget and
programme of works.
15. Once construction is complete a thermographic survey of the building fabric is undertaken in
accordance with the appropriate standard and by a professional holding a valid Level 2 certificate
in thermography (as defined by the UKTA website http://www.ukta.org)
16. The survey confirms:
a. Continuity of insulation in accordance with the construction drawings
b. Avoidance of excessive thermal bridging
c. Avoidance of air leakage paths through the fabric (except through intentional openings)
17. Any defects identified via the post construction inspections are rectified
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Built environment specialists
Thermographic survey of building fabric
Survey type
– Standards
– Conditions
– Inside
– Outside
– Qualitative
– Quantitative
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Built environment specialists
Appropriate Standards
BS EN 13187:1999
– Thermal performance of buildings. Qualitative
detection of thermal irregularities in building
envelopes. Infrared method
– Same as ISO 6781
– Currently being updated in 7 parts – Part 1: General Procedures
– Part 2: Equipment Requirements
– Part 3: Qualifications of Equipment Operators, Data Analysts and Report Writers
– Part 4: Categorization of Application
– Part 5: Conducting Thermographic Inspections and Reporting of Results - Residential
– Part 6: Conducting Thermographic Inspections and Reporting of Results – Commercial
– Part 7: Conducting Thermographic Inspections and Reporting of Results – Institutional
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Built environment specialists
Conditions for surveys
Temperature difference >10K
Heating or cooling in operation
Temperature not changing
Wind speed <5m/s
No solar radiation
No rain mist of fog
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Built environment specialists
Level 2 certificate
ISO 18436 Part 7 (2008)
– Requirements for qualification and assessment of
personnel -- Part 7: Thermography
Sets out syllabus, training hours, experience
for training and certification of
thermographers
– Level 1: qualified to work under supervision
– Level 2: qualified to conduct and report on surveys
– Level 3: qualified to develop procedures and train
Other Level 2 qualifications are available
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Built environment specialists
Continuity of insulation
Is the intended
insulation present?
Is it well fitted?
How big are the
gaps?
Is this acceptable?
Should limits be
set?
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Built environment specialists
Thermal Bridging
Is the insulation continuous as required by
Building Regulations and are there bridges?
Requires judgement
Can use Thermal
Index, TI
Acceptable limits can
be set
Possible future
regulations
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Built environment specialists
Typical wall
U Value 0.35 – TI 0.95 19.1
18.4
15.8
3.9
2.8
0.2
0.00 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Distance, mm
Te
mp
era
ture
, °C
Block Brick
Insu
latio
n
Ca
vity
Air
Air
Pla
ste
r
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Built environment specialists
16.3
14.5
- 11.2
6.4
1.5
+ 0.00 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Distance, mm
Te
mp
era
ture
, °C
Block
Brick
Mis
sin
g In
su
latio
n
Air
Air
Pla
ste
r
Mortar joint, missing insulation U value 1.41, TI 0.82
Mortar
Dewpoint of
20°C air at
80% rh
= 16.5°C
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Built environment specialists
Air leakage
Wind driven
Buoyancy driven
Pressurisation test
Into building
Into structure
Useful diagnostic
tool for airtightness
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Built environment specialists
Faults rectified
Requires thermal
imaging before…
and after rectification…
And re-evaluation of the
complete building
14.4°C
21.4°C
16
18
20AR01
14.5°C
22.0°C
16
18
20
22
AR01
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Built environment specialists
Find a thermographer
Go to UKTA
website
Click on map
Find thermographer
by location
Check their
qualifications and
quality of their work