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Infrared, Roof Assessments, Heat Loss, Electrical Inspections, Large Scale Water Loss Moisture Surveys
Acuity Engineers, Inc. is a consulting firm performing Infrared Scans for owners, tenants, buyers, investors, insurance companies and lending institutions. Images from an infrared camera indicate thermal anomalies (NOT water!) that enable Acuity to focus directly on potential problem areas. Acuity Infrared scans are typically “packaged” with the following Assessments: Moisture Surveys are conducted at both commercial and residential properties to aid in evaluating latent problem areas and potential causes of moisture as well as moisture levels. Repairing the point of ingress is not sufficient since water that remains in the cavities can cause further damage as the building materials and substrates begin to deteriorate resulting in potential mold growth and loss of structural integrity. Large Scale Water Losses can be delineated by the use of Infrared Scans. Specific areas that have been affected can be readily identified and addressed in order to speed up the drying effort as well as aid in remediation Building Assessments take into consideration conductive losses as well as convective losses due to pressure differentials. Air leakage is particularly severe in commercial buildings due to the nature of their construction and mechanical equipment; however, in residential structures, air leakage sites include plumbing, wiring, chimney chases, ductwork, overhangs and valences, as well as kneewalls and interior partition walls. When air leakage is controlled, insulation effectiveness increases and energy consumption is reduced. Roof Assessments aid in locating leaks as well as the extent of the ensuing wet and damaged insulation. Repairing the point of ingress is not sufficient as large quantities of water that remain within the roof assembly can cause further damage as the components begin to deteriorate resulting in the potential loss of structural integrity. If the insulation is nonabsorbent, the water may run for large distances prior to finding a point of ingress into the structure. A partial roof replacement, based on isolated damage
that has been identified with Infrared Scans, may save thousands of
dollars versus an unnecessary total roof replacement. The primary costs
associated with roof failures include:
Excessive energy consumption due to reduced insulating
value of wet insulation;
Losses due to water leakage into the building;
Damage to the roof membrane and the structural
roof components caused by trapped moisture within the roof assembly;
Loss of salvage value of the roof insulation at
the time of membrane replacement due to wetness and resultant deterioration.
Mechanical Assessments are conducted based upon a technique called 'thermal mapping' whereby a series of comparative thermal images of a mechanical system details changes in the system during operation, over time, or compared to similar machines. The process of rebuilding motors is also aided by thermography. Specifically, it may be used to inspect the stator core as it is subjected to a low voltage, high current loop test, which induces heating in any shorted iron. Refractory insulation assessments are essential because as the refractory erodes, the surface temperature increases whereby the metal shell of the structure may fail due to high temperatures. Preventive maintenance, tank levels, insulated piping, steam traps, heat exchangers, subsurface pipe and leak detection, and hydraulic systems are additional areas where thermography is an excellent tool to diagnose problems or verify information. Electrical Assessments
are performed to determine abnormal heating due to high resistance
or excessive current flow before failure and subsequent damage occurs.
Furthermore, measuring the temperature of a troubled component may
be useful in determining the cause and severity of the problem or
in managing a successful repair. In addition to preventive maintenance,
benefits of assessing electrical systems include:
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