The thermal imaging survey for quality inspection of construction and installation works

When performing thermal imaging surveys, the company has gained some experience in using a thermal imager to inspect the quality of construction and installation work. This experience concerns the quality of installation of:

  • Reinforced-plastic windows and doors;
  • Thermal insulation / insulation of enclosing structures;
  • "Warm" floors / floor heating systems;
  • Other elements of buildings and structures made using modern technologies.

Analyzing the accumulated experience, we came to the following conclusions:

  • Very often, builders, consciously or unconsciously, violate the technology of work. We have identified cases of lack of insulation in the structures of the vapor-insulating layer, incorrect regulation of hinges and hinges when installing windows and doors, and other deviations from the generally accepted methods of work and ignoring the requirements of building codes, requirements of suppliers, recommendations of designers;
  • The use of cheap insulation, seals, profiles for windows and doors does not lead to the expected effect and requires additional costs for the investor to eliminate defects.

These data are confirmed by both thermal zone surveys and operational experience.

Poor-quality sealing or lack of sealing of the window opening. Compared with a normally performed seal, the heat flow and, consequently, the infiltration heat loss increase by 34 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 0.4 n. m3 for an area of poor-quality seal of 0.02 m2 (2 cm wide and 100 cm long).

Poor-quality sealing or lack of sealing of the window opening. In comparison with a normally performed seal, the heat flow and, consequently, the infiltration heat loss increase by 48 W/m2, which is 0.05 m2 for an area of poor-quality seal (5 cm wide and 100 cm long) is equivalent to additional natural gas consumption of 1.5 n m3

Poor-quality sealing or lack of sealing of the window opening. Compared with a normally performed seal, the heat flow and, consequently, the infiltration heat loss increase by 44 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 4.0 n. m3 for an area of poor-quality seals of 0.15 m2 (1.5 cm wide and 1000 cm long).

Given that these defects were found in one room, only 4 n.m3 of natural gas is spent on heating this room.

Poor-quality thermal insulation of the outer wall. In comparison with the normally performed insulation, the heat flow and, accordingly, the infiltration heat losses increase by 26 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 63.0 n. m3 for an area of poorly performed insulation of 4.0 m2.

The lack of a vapor barrier in the bathroom caused the outside wall to become wet. In comparison with the section of the wall where the wall is not yet moistened, the heat flow and, accordingly, the infiltration heat losses increase by 136 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 83.0 n.m3 for an area of poorly executed insulation of 2.0 m2. In addition, the wall continues to moisturize, i.e. gas spents will increase.

Defects in the thermal insulation of the gable of the attic floor. In comparison with the normally performed insulation, the heat flow and, accordingly, the infiltration heat losses increase by 20 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 247.0 n. m3 for an area of poorly performed gable insulation of 20.0 m2

Defects in thermal insulation of the gable of the attic floor: in comparison with the normally performed insulation, the heat flow and, accordingly, the infiltration heat losses increase by 37 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 45.0 n. m3 for an area of poorly performed gable insulation of 2.0 m2.

Defects in the thermal insulation of the outer wall. In comparison with the normally performed insulation, the heat flow and, accordingly, the infiltration heat losses increase by 9 W/m2, which is equivalent to an additional natural gas consumption of 985.0 n. m3 for the area of the external walls of the performed insulation of 180.0 m2.