ITC InfraMation - = October 2003

If you can't see the graphic version = of this=20 message please change your profile to receive text messages at=20 {{user("unsubaddr")}}
To view this message on the web go to http://www.itcnews= letter.com/2003/2003-10.htm

October=20 2003

Volume 4, Issue=20 10

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

IR in the News

InfraMation Conference Coming Up = Soon

Using IR to Diagnose Building = Conditions

Letters to the Editor

ITC=20 adds Building Sciences Course

Brainteaser of the Month

Last Month's Brainteaser

Past Issues

Upcoming Classes

About the ITC

See the=20 Conference Agenda

View the=20
Conference Video

Paper Titles = and=20 abstracts for 2003

Greetings=20 {{user("firstname")}},

Needless to say we = are very busy=20 making the final preparations for the InfraMation Thermographer's=20 Conference coming up in just 12 days. We have over 250 delegates=20 registered making this InfraMation the largest IR conference ever = held! If=20 you haven't registered yet, please do so soon to secure your=20 spot.

The month's=20 issue focuses on IR use in building science studies. These studies = go=20 beyond identifying insulation voids and air infiltration and = exfiltration.=20 Read all about them in Using IR to Diagnose Building Conditions and = check out=20 our new course in ITC=20 adds Building Sciences Course . Please note that there are = several=20 papers on these same topics at InfraMation this year as = well.

And=20 we have a honey of a Brainteaser for you at Brainteaser of the Month.

If you want to=20 save this newsletter for viewing off line in your computer, just = go to the=20 web page using=20 your browser and select File....Save As or save this email = page as html in=20 your email software.

See you in Las=20 Vegas,

Gary=20 Orlove,
Editor and = Publisher

IR in the=20 News [top]

A moldy but a goody By Art = Lawler
Athens Daily=20 Review, TX - Sep 29, 2003
... = This was=20 accomplished through the use of infrared thermography = technology,=20 which identified exactly where the roof problems were -- not = only on the=20 courthouse ...
NASA Seeks Ways to Inspect Shuttle = Wing Panels at=20 KSC
Space.com - Sep 27, = 2003
... The=20 techniques that show the most promise are ultrasound and=20 thermography, the latter of which employs infrared = imaging=20 devices to spot hidden flaws. ...
Farmers' hero: It's a moth-eating = bat,=20 man
Corpus = Christi Caller=20 Times, TX - Sep 27, 2003
... = Weather=20 satellites and thermal imaging cameras along with = other=20 sophisticated computer programs will be used to take pictures of = the=20 clouds of bats that fly ...
Controversial Anti-Terror Tools = Coming to=20 Airports
WTEV, FL - Sep 25, = 2003
...=20 country. The cameras would be equipped with thermal=20 imaging devices and software to identify certain types of = ships,=20 Bohnsack said. ...
New candid cameras to put the heat on = terrorists
Sydney Morning=20 Herald, Australia - Sep 17, = 2003
Terrorists=20 trying to sabotage the Sydney Harbour Bridge under cover of = darkness=20 could be foiled by new state-of-the-art thermal = imaging=20 cameras that can see in ...
Seeing=20 the invisible
Christian Science=20 Monitor - Aug 26, 2003
The Space = Infrared=20 Telescope Facility (SIRTF) is designed to see the invisible and = tell us=20 more about the universe. What it actually "sees" is infrared = radiation=20 that we can't detect with the human eye. This is just one way = scientists=20 are exploring the universe and what's on Earth using infrared = radiation.=20

InfraMation = Conference =20 - Less than Two Weeks Away! [top]

The InfraMation Thermographer's = Conference is less=20 than two weeks away! Make your reservation now to join us at the = largest=20 IR thermography conference ever held, we are expecting a record = breaking=20 = turnout.

Using IR to=20 Diagnose Building Conditions [top]

By Leonard A. = Phillips, Senior=20 Writer for Infrared Applications, FLIR Systems

Infrared (IR) thermographic = inspection is a=20 powerful and noninvasive means of monitoring and diagnosing the = condition=20 of buildings. IR cameras provide immediate documentation of = as-built or=20 post-restoration quality, post-casualty cause and origin data, = plumbing=20 and building envelope water leakage, post-flood and fire = water-damaged=20 material assessment, energy use inefficiency, and electrical=20 problems.

ADVANTAGES OF IR FOR=20 BUILDING DIAGNOSIS

Trace=20 hard-to-find moisture sources quickly and easily.
Inspect with=20 minimal building disassembly.
Minimize=20 disturbance of tenants.
Capture=20 thermographic images instantly.
Output=20 full-motion infrared video records in real-time
Create reports=20 of inspection results in seconds.
Select=20 agencies and trades for restorationand repair with speed and=20 assurance.
Protect=20 against frivolous complaints.
Provide the=20 basis for fair settlements.

Moisture and=20 Mold

Moisture in = building materials=20 can destroy structural integrity and nurture mold and insect = infestations.=20 IR cameras distinguish between wet and dry materials by exploiting = the=20 thermal characteristic of wet materials to store heat very well = and warm=20 up or cool down more slowly than dry materials. Grades of water = can vary=20 from clear to black-river water (see table).

The=20 thermogram (right) clearly shows a leaking bedroom ceiling = (visible,=20 left). The leak was assumed by the owner to originate in an = upstairs=20 marble-paneled bathroom in the $3 million home. The = estimated cost=20 to rip out and replace the marble to access the plumbing was = estimated at $80,000! Further IR investigation absolved the = bathroom=20 and traced the source of the leak to a clogged weep hole = under the=20 threshold of a door leading to an upstairs = porch.

GRADES = OF=20 WATER

Clear=20
Gray-contains=20 bacteria and other microbial growth
Black-river=20 water, flooding, herbicide content, microbial content=20

For the first=20 72 hours, Clear grade water loss remains "Clear", but after = that, it can=20 become "Gray" with growth of bacteria and fungus. If untreated = for=20 several more days, it can downgrade to black water
Moisture must=20 be evaluated on a daily basis, and no less than every 2 days = until dry.=20 Last IR thermograph must show NO thermal anomalies.
Wet drywall=20 has been found to be about 6=BAF cooler than dry drywall due to=20 evaporative cooling.

Mold in=20 particular is a growing concern for lenders, developers, producers = of=20 building materials, and building owners and investors because of = the=20 growing number of filings of health-related tort claims. In a = nutshell,=20 all mold is bad; some mold is worse (see table). Certain molds can = cause a=20 variety of adverse human health effects. Mold requires moisture to = grow.=20 It stops growing when dry, but health issues remain. The actual = presence=20 and identification of specific types of mold requires further=20 investigation beyond thermography, including visual inspection and = laboratory cultures.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF=20 MOLD AND THEIR ASSOCIATED MOISTURE REGIMES

Black mold,=20 Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) is a toxic fungus that occurs = widely in=20 North America, but is uncommon in homes. It can cause pulmonary=20 hemorrhage (PH). It requires water-soaked cellulose (wood, = paper, and=20 cotton products) to grow -- typically from flooding, serious = plumbing=20 problems, or roof leaks -- and takes about two weeks to start=20 amplifying. While wet it looks black and slimy perhaps with = white edges;=20 when dry it looks less shiny.
Penicillium=20 grows in damp, but not wet conditions. Some species produce = toxins and=20 may render food inedible or even dangerous. It is a good = practice to=20 discard foods showing the development of any mold. On the other = hand=20 some species of Penicillium are beneficial to humans. Cheeses = such as=20 Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, Stilton, etc. are ripened with = species of=20 Penicillium and are quite safe to eat. The drug penicillin is = produced=20 by Penicillium chrysogenum, a commonly occurring mold in most=20 homes.
Aspergillus=20 refers to a group of mold fungi which are found world-wide and = are=20 especially known for decaying fruit and vegetables. They are = very common=20 in the autumn and winter in the Northern hemisphere. Only a few = of these=20 molds can cause illness in humans and animals, and fortunately = most=20 healthy people are naturally immune to its effects. The most = problematic=20 varieties are Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, = Aspergillus=20 terreus, and Aspergillus flavus. The mold can cause allergic = reactions=20 in the bronchia and lungs, grow in the lungs and sinuses, and = become=20 invasive in immunosupressed people. However, most healthy people = do not=20 develop disease caused by Aspergillus.

The first step=20 in mold remediation is to quickly and accurately locate and remove = all=20 sources of moisture. IR cameras can instantly image entire rooms, = inspect=20 places that can=92t be physically reached with moisture meters, = reveal wet=20 conditions behind surfaces such as enameled walls and wallpaper = that don=92t=20 readily water stain, track leaks to their source, monitor the = drying=20 process, and confirm when a structure is dry.

Post-disaster =93Cause and Origin=94 = investigations

To = a building=20 owner or an insurance company involved in a property damage = settlement,=20 clear images of normally invisible diagnostic evidence can be = invaluable=20 for planning the restoration effort and rationalizing settlements. = After=20 fires, IR cameras can quickly locate remnant hot spots, providing=20 potentially valuable data for insurance companies=92 Cause and = Origin=20 investigations =97 and assure that a fire is truly extinguished. = For=20 catastrophic storm water intrusion and plumbing failures, IR = thermography=20 can trace the influx of moisture to find the ultimate source of = the=20 incursion with little or no physical disassembly of the premises = and=20 minimal disturbance of inhabitants. =

This=20 thermogram dramatically reveals the general manager of a = garment=20 dying facility leaning toward a 32 gallon drum demonstrating = a=20 dramatic level of heat being generated by the exothermic = reaction of=20 sodium hydrosulfite and water. The property manager = immediately=20 summoned an industrial hygienist, who summoned the=20 = authorities.

During=20 remediation and restoration, IR thermography can evaluate the = progress of=20 the drying process per accepted standards. The availability of=20 authoritative thermographic records can reduce or even eliminate = the need=20 for insurance representatives to make personal on-site = inspections, and=20 the thermographic record of the remediated property can protect = against=20 future frivolous claims.

Energy=20 efficiency

IR = thermography is a well-accepted method of imaging and evaluating = the state=20 of electrical wiring, the thermal efficiency of building = insulation,=20 doors, windows and other penetrations, and the efficiency and = condition of=20 heating and cooling systems. Temperature anomalies revealing = problems are=20 rendered visible, enabling needed repairs to be made with=20 confidence.

Cameras and=20 software for building inspections

IR = cameras=20 used for building inspections should provide both still and = full-motion=20 video thermographic images. Especially in flood and post-fire = situations,=20 infrared video is a real timesaver, as walk-through inspections in = inhospitable environments can be done quickly and the results = thoroughly=20 and conveniently analyzed later. To handle video, the IR camera = must have=20 fast (60 Hz is good) scanning speed and standard video output.=20 Interchangeable lenses are highly desirable to accommodate all the = working=20 distances and target sizes you will encounter. Wide-angle is great = for=20 fast scanning and close-up situations; longer-focus may be = necessary to=20 accommodate small spot size targets at greater distances. =

The=20 thermogram of this vinyl-sided 3-floor apartment house = clearly shows=20 the path of a serious leak from a washing machine on the = third=20 floor, which is completely hidden within the wall. The = thermographer=20 used FLIR=92s Image Builder software to automatically = "stitch" the=20 three individual thermographs into one fully radiometric=20 collage.

Software is=20 key to generate reports quickly. Images in standard file formats = such as=20 .jpg and .gif can be inserted into Microsoft=AE Word. But = dedicated software=20 timesavers can shorten the report-generation process. Image = mosaicing or=20 stitching software uniquely knit multiple thermographic images = together to=20 create a single composite image that can facilitate diagnosis and=20 repair.

ITC adds Building Sciences = Course [top]

By Ron Lucier, = ITC Course=20 Moderator

When I first became involved in infrared thermography = (early 1980=92s)=20 the primary applications were in analyzing buildings for heat = loss. =20 The primary force pushing the buildings applications were the = after=20 effects of the energy crisis in the 1970=92s. I actually = grew up in a=20 house in Massachusetts that did not have insulated walls (it was = built in=20 1690). As infrared thermography matured in the succeeding = years more=20 focus was being placed on Condition Based maintenance (CBM) = applications=20 than buildings here in the USA. Europe continued to refine = its=20 building sciences techniques as well as embracing the CBM=20 applications. Over the past year or so we have noted that it = was=20 time to discover building sciences thermography again for the = first=20 time!

One of the driving issues here was the = sudden=20 interest in locating wet building materials that may lead to mold=20 growth. In Central Massachusetts there were over two dozen = schools=20 that did not open on time due to, in some cases, mold growing on = the=20 teacher=92s desk (or was that an old baloney sandwich?) Mold = is a=20 major contributor to the =93Sick Building Syndrome=94 and is the = reason for=20 many Workmen=92s Compensation cases (and lots of = litigation).

Rather than read what has already been = written we=20 have collaborated with several industry leading experts in water = damage,=20 construction defects and mold. Bill Weber and Scott Wood of Four = Star=20 Restoration and Cleaning in Fremont along with Mike Eggman of = Certified=20 Restoration Consultants have contributed a tremendous amount of = technical=20 information, images and case studies utilizing FLIR infrared = cameras in=20 their field. The result of this effort was the first = Building=20 Sciences Thermography course that was held in August in Fremont, = CA. =20 Based on the course reviews and unsolicited calls to FLIR Sales=20 management, we have a winner!

Mike Eggman, a trial = qualified Expert=20 Witness, explains different building construction methods to = the=20 class.

The course isn=92t what you might = think it would=20 be. When we polled some students they reluctant to sit in a = class=20 for 3 =BD days listening to other peoples successes (applications = based=20 training). Our students demanded an in depth approach into = the =93Why=94=20 and =93What=94 as opposed to the =93How=94.

The course reviews basic infrared = theory and heat=20 transfer processes encountered in buildings on day 1. The = rest of=20 the course is devoted to construction methods (residential and=20 commercial), parts of buildings, construction defects, = landscaping, water=20 damage and the sources of water in a building, mold growth and = associated=20 testing and remediation efforts. Case studies are presented = in each=20 section tying the details presented to reality.

All of our students passed a very = rigorous 50=20 question test. Many have prepared their field assignments = and sent=20 them in for grading. As I am on the road (again!) as I write = this, I=20 have a big task in reviewing them when I get back.

We have scheduled numerous Buildings = Courses next=20 year and plan on keeping the team intact to bring a new approach = to an=20 (m)old application! Hope to see you in one of our classes=20 soon!

Our winner for last = month's=20 Brainteaser is Bill West from the Rimkus Consulting Group in = Houston,=20 Texas. Bill not only guessed this was the inside of a rotary kiln = showing=20 the main burner pipe, he even told me the direction of rotation = (clockwise=20 based on the position of the product bed)! Good sleuthing=20 Bill!

Thanks to Gerry Doucet of Weldwood of Canada for the = thermograms.=20 Here is Gerry's explanation of the images:

Bill = and Gerry=20 each receive our special low emissivity traveling coffee mug for = their=20 guess and contribution=20 respectively.

Upcoming Classes =20 [top]

Click the links = below to see our=20 latest course calendars (in local language).

Americas - Level I

Americas - Level II

Americas - Application, Level III, = R&D

Eurasia

Deutschland

France

Italia

United = Kingdom

About=20 the Infrared Training Center =20 [top]

The Infrared Training Center offers training and = certification in=20 all aspects of infrared thermography use. Our world-class training = facilities are located near Boston, Massachusetts, USA and = Stockholm,=20 Sweden and have the world's most extensive hands on laboratories = for=20 infrared applications. Please join us in exploring the fascinating = world=20 of the infrared!

Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are = welcomed=20 and encouraged. If you have an interesting application or case = study to=20 share, we encourage you to submit it for publication. Published = articles earn credit towards = recertification.

Please e-mail Gary = Orlove or=20 send regular mail to the Americas office.

Visit our website:

ITC Americas, BOSTON

16 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862, = USA

Tel: +1-978-901-8405
Toll free:=20 = +1-866-TRAINIR
&= nbsp; =20 (866-872-4647)
Fax: +1.978.901-8832
E-mail: mailto:info_us@infraredtraining.com

ITC Eurasia, SWEDEN

Rinkebyv=E4gen 19
SE-182 11 Danderyd, = Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26 = 01
E-mail:=20 mailto:itc@flir.se

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL = PURPOSES ONLY.=20 INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT = WARRANTY=20 OF ANY KIND. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy = and the=20 use of this document. The Infrared Training Center newsletter may = be=20 copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All = text=20 and images must be copied without modification and all pages must = be=20 included; 2. All copies must contain the Infrared Training Center=20 copyright notice and any other notices provided therein;
3. = This=20 document may not be distributed for profit

=A92003 Infrared Training Center - All rights=20 reserved