Applications of Infrared Thermography

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-destructive, non-contact method of detecting, gathering and evaluating information about historic buildings. IRT investigation is based on the principle that heat flowing in a material is altered by the presence of anomalies. The changes in heat flow cause localized differences of the surface temperature. By mapping the surface temperature and understanding the heat flow, a map of inner anomalies in the material can be obtained. Four case studies are used to illustrate how, using IRT, information about a building’s materials, its condition, characteristics and state of decay can be gathered that may not be evident from visual examination.

Figure 1 West exterior wall of the Commandary Room, Masonic Temple, Muncie, Indiana (USA). Top: composite thermogram. Bottom: visual image. Emissivity 0.92, T 17°C, RH 39%, temperature range 18.5–20.6°C. The boundary indicated in the visual images indicates the extent of the thermogram.

Jonathan Spodek

Jonathan Spodek is an architect and Associate Professor in the College of Architecture and Planning at Ball State University (Indiana USA). His area of specialization is the non-destructive evaluation and testing of historic buildings. His work includes documentation and evaluation of locally important structures, national historic landmarks and world heritage sites.

Elisabetta Rosina

Elisabetta Rosina is a researcher at BEST Experimental Laboratory, Polytechnic of Milan (Italy), where she is responsible for the mobile laboratory unit. She is accomplished in the surveying and assessment of buildings, and in the design, planning and execution of non-destructive investigations for conservation of historic buildings.

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Donhead Publishing 2010