Thermography and Air Barriers

Consulting and Training Excellence
Infrared Thermographys Use in Air Barrier Testing

Scott Wood
Scott Wood Associates, LLC www.buildingsciencethermography.com
Gig Harbor, Washington
Large Building Air Leakage Training School
Sept 2010
Why Thermography?
Infrared Thermography technology allows the observer to visualize air leakage.
Scott Wood Associates, LLC
Traditional smoke generators or
Infrared Thermography
Viewing Air leaks
Outline
What is Infrared - Electromagnetic Spectrum Infrared Cameras - Minimum Specifications Infrared Certifications/Training - Building Science Thermography What the cameras sees - Emission, Reflection, Transmission Building Science and Thermography - Heat, Air, Moisture
Outline
The building barriers - HAMM Heat: How is heat transfer - Radiation, Conduction, Convection Air: Air infiltration observation - Infrared thermography Why use of Infrared thermography - Infrared Thermography Testing Moisture: How to detect moisture - Infrared thermography and moisture meters Discussion
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Visible light
Gamma 0.1 1 X-ray UV IR-Infrared
Microwaves
Radiowaves
10 0.01m 0.1m 1m 10m 100m 1mm 10m
100mm 1m
10 m 100 m 1 km
Infrared Radiation
0.4
SW
MW
Thermal Infrared
LW
0.7 1 m
2 m
5 m
10 m
13 m
Visible Spectrum
Infrared Spectrum
Infrared Cameras
Resolution and Thermal Sensitivity

Detector Resolution Consider 380x240, Minimum 120x120 The higher the numbers the better the image clarity Detector Thermal Sensitivity Consider 50mK (0.05C), Minimum 100mK. The lower the number the more patterns the camera can detect.
380x240
640x480
Multiple Images
790x240
1040x240
Camera Considerations
Small, Light weight, Rugged Easy to operate Flexible Image Storage
many images JPEG verse Proprietary that requires special software
Training and Certification

Condition Monitoring or Predictive Maintenance: Level I, II or III Most US training organizations use ASNT-SNT-TC1A recommended practice guidelines that are set by the employers written practice. Employer Certified In Europe The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) provides application specific training and certification at the Level II (mechanical, electrical, civil). Third Party Certified

Both the US ASNT-SNT-TC-1A recommended practice guidelines and the BINDT Level II civil certifications fail to provide significant training in building sciences or building specific applications.
A Level I or II certification and knowledge and training in building science, building materials and testing procedures is a requirement to properly interpret building thermograms

Some say ASNT Level II for large building application BEST: A building application specific level I (and or II) based course with building sciences Especially the Certified Building Science Thermography course by ITC / BSI
Good discussion: IEA Energy Process Assessment Protocol Appendix G, Use of Thermography in Building Energy Assessment
The Infrared Camera converts Invisible Infrared radiation into Visible radiation
Different Radiation Sources

Emitted: radiation of the
objects being observed
Reflected: radiation reflected

off the surfaces
Transmitted: radiation
passing through a non-opaque object
The Camera sees all the infrared radiation from the material. Sometimes creating an image that is difficult to interpret
Emitted radiation
Transmitted radiation Reflected radiation
Reflection
Transmittance
The IR camera can see through some materials.
Emitted Energy
Emitted: The IR camera must see the radiation from the surface of the material to calculate a temperature. A higher temperature due to Remove Reflection
More accurate temperature Reflection
Heat
Air
Building Science
Heat, Air & Moisture Flow Through the Building
Moisture
Building Science
Is the study of:
heat flow air flow moisture flow
Building Science & IR

Building Science & IR: heat flow IR detects heat air flow IR detects convection moisture flow IR detects evaporation
Building Enclosures
The building enclosure has four functions. In order of importance, they are: 1. Rain control 2. Air control 3. Vapor control 4. Thermal control
Why should we be concerned?

Typical American spends 65% Inside
Comfort Zone
68-76F and 30-60%RH
US Building Energy Use
Energy Consumption
Buildings use 71% of the US electricity and consume 40% of the total energy consumed annually in the US. Our nations 81 million buildings consume more energy than any other sector of the U.S. economy, including transportation (29%) and industry Buildings produce nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions.
To have comfort and energy reduction, Protect the Building from Environmental Interactions
By blocking
Heat flow Air flow Moisture flow
HAMM
HAMM is the acronym used for the barriers or retarders needed to protect a building against the environment and energy loss.
H Heat or Thermal Barrier A Air Barrier ML Water Barrier (Liquid Moisture) MV Vapor Retarder (Gaseous Moisture)
Heat Heat
or Thermal Barrier
blocks heat transfer, keeping the heat in during cold days and out during hot days.
Air
Water
A Heat Retarder or
Thermal Barrier
Minimizes buildings exposure to degrading heat Provides for better comfort Reduces heat loss or gain, reducing energy consumption
A Heat Retarder or
Thermal Barrier
Must block three modes of heat transfer: Radiation Conduction Convection
Radiation
The sun feels hot!
Conduction
The sand feels hot when touched!
Convection
The wind feels hot!
Radiation
To block Radiation we shade the building surfaces or apply radiant barriers
Shading
Radiation
Radiant Barriers
Radiation
Conduction
To block Conduction we use low conducting materials.
Missing Insulation
Conduction
Metal Framing (Thermal Bridging)

Outside Looking In
Conduction
Metal Framing (Thermal Bridging)

Inside Looking Out
Conduction
Failed Double Pane Window
Conduction
Failed Double Pane Window
Windows
Convection
To block Convection we stop Fluid (Air) movement.
Convection
An air barrier system on a building blocks convective heat transfer by blocking air (fluid) movement through the building.
Convection: heat
Heat
Heat
movement due to fluid (air) movement
Air Air
Barrier
stops air flow through the building enclosure
Water
An Air Retarder (Barrier)

Isolates the indoor environment Reduces heat loss or gain (convection), reducing energy consumption Minimizes the amount of air transported moisture Improves indoor air quality Improves acoustical isolation Provides for better comfort Sustainable, durable buildings
Why use Thermography for Air Testing?

It is an excellent tool to locate air leaks. USACE Air Barrier Testing Protocol Requires it
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AIR LEAKAGE TEST PROTOCOL FOR MEASURING AIR LEAKAGE IN BUILDINGS
Test the completed building using Infrared Thermography testing. in accordance with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 6781:1983 and ASTM C106090(1997).
ASTM C1060
Standard Practice for Thermographic Inspection of Insulation Installations in Envelope Cavities of Frame Buildings Written in 1990 with reapproved in 2003
ASTM C1060
Describes proper qualitative thermal inspections of building walls
Minimum T-Minimum temperature difference (T) of 10C between interior and exterior surface 4 hours prior to survey No direct solar radiation Avoid wind for exterior surveys Mottled looking (not uniform) or variation in the temperature of the thermal patterns Framing should be visible
Insolation and shadowing

34.1 C 34 32
s c rews /s tud c ool
30
28
26
s c rews /s tud warmer Shadow line
24
22
20 19.1
Air Infiltration?
Air
75%
Heat Patterns
Thermal bridging (Conduction) Air Infiltration (Convection)
(Radiation)
Lost Energy/Comfort
Warm Air Infiltration
Lost Energy/Comfort
Cold Air Infiltration
Warm or Cold, depends on the air
Cold & Warm Air Infiltration
Interior Room Pressure Difference
Windows
Good windows contributes 1 to 5 cfm per window

Exterior Cladding
Windows
Joints
Heat
Air
Prevents water from reaching the interior of the building
Moisture
Moisture
Barrier bulk
Locating Moisture
Infrared thermography
Moisture Meter
Locating Moisture
Wet Wall Board
Locating Moisture
Wet Ceiling, Walls and Floor Scott Wood Associates, LLC
Locating Moisture
Hard to Spot Leak
Roof Moisture
Day 11:22am
Night 8:54pm
Day verse Night
Performance Testing
Failed Test
Water testing
Water testing
Water testing
Pre Water Test
Post Water Test
Water testing
Consulting and Training Excellence
Infrared Thermographys Use in Air Barrier Testing

Questions -Discussion
Scott Wood
Scott Wood Associates, LLC www.buildingsciencethermography.com
Large Building Air Leakage Training School
Sept 2010

Thermography and Air Barriers

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Thermography and Air Barriers

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Consulting and Training Excellence

Infrared Thermographys Use in Air Barrier Testing

Gig Harbor, Washington

Large Building Air Leakage Training School

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Traditional smoke generators or

Viewing Air leaks

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

10 0.01m 0.1m 1m 10m 100m 1mm 10m

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Resolution and Thermal Sensitivity

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Training and Certification

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Training and Certification

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Training and Certification

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Different Radiation Sources

Reflected: radiation reflected

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Transmitted radiation Reflected radiation

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

More accurate temperature Reflection

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Building Science & IR

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Why should we be concerned?

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

US Building Energy Use

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Gig Harbor, Washington

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Metal Framing (Thermal Bridging)

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Metal Framing (Thermal Bridging)

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Failed Double Pane Window

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

Failed Double Pane Window

Scott Wood Associates, LLC

To block Convection we stop Fluid (Air) movement.