Adding infrared thermography (IR) testing into your electrical preventive maintenance plan is a great way to prevent unexpected and costly equipment failure.
Below, we define infrared scanning and provide an overview of the top five ways this “superman” technology gives you the power to save your business thousands of dollars while ensuring smooth operations and employee safety.
What Is Infrared Thermography Testing?
Infrared thermography (IR) scanning technology allows electrical maintenance teams to capture visual images of heat signatures caused by faulty or overloaded electrical components and equipment. These tests identify electrical elements that appear normal to the naked eye but are actually at risk of failing, allowing you to repair minor issues before they become catastrophic.
Poor or loose electrical connections, overloaded conductors and circuits, defective breakers, damaged switches, and faulty fuses can all be detected using IR scanning.
Infrared scanning is a non-contact and nondestructive (NDT) test, meaning it can be done during open hours when machinery runs at full capacity. The technician performing the test will take both infrared and regular images of the equipment. The infrared images pinpoint where the repair is needed and the level of urgency, while the regular images allow the technician to understand the necessary repairs.
Preventive maintenance keeps businesses running. Download our checklist to track your electrical maintenance and identify areas in need of repair.
5 Ways Infrared Thermography Testing Can Save Your Business Money
- Reduces repair and maintenance costs — Infrared scanning allows you to identify and fix small repairs before they become big problems. The costs associated with this type of preventive maintenance is far less than the costs associated with replacing machinery lost to a catastrophic failure.
- Reduces unplanned downtime — Early detection of faulty components allows you to fix minor repairs without disrupting daily operations. Equipment damage or malfunction will force you to shut down production and could cost you thousands of dollars in lost time. Identifying and scheduling repairs reduces the risk of unplanned downtime.
- Increases the life of your electrical systems and components — Similar to the way regular oil changes help to maintain a car’s engine, the more you maintain your electrical machinery by proactively identifying and repairing small issues, the longer it will last. Regular maintenance gives you the best possible return on your investment.
- Improves system performance and reliability — You can have confidence knowing your machinery is running at full capacity and performing its best with minimal safety or production risk to your employees. For example, performing a routine infrared scan can significantly reduce the likelihood of an electrical fire or dangerous system malfunction.
- Improves building insurability — Infrared testing can detect any issues in your building that could lead to structural damage or affect the operations of a company. Insurance companies often require infrared testing to set their premiums. Therefore, detecting and fixing any needed repairs regularly with routine IR scanning can help lower your premium and limit insurance claims.
Click here to learn why adding infrared scanning to your electrical preventive maintenance program goes above and beyond just saving money. It’s a necessity when it comes to keeping your employees safe.
Lemberg’s Infrared Thermography Testing Services
At Lemberg, we are happy to offer trusted infrared thermography testing services to Milwaukee-area businesses. With 95 years of experience in electrical construction and preventive maintenance, you can rest easy knowing you are in the hands of Wisconsin’s largest and most reliable electrical construction contractors.
Our trusted thermographers are certified to use state-of-the-art infrared testing for all areas of your business. From manufacturing equipment to electrical panels and circuit breakers, we offer fast, clean, and safe infrared testing where we scan every critical angle. After the test is complete, we transmit and analyze the thermal images, providing you with a detailed report that includes all repair recommendations.
Looking for trusted electricians to perform infrared scanning for your building or electrical equipment? Contact our Energy Technology teams at (262) 781-1500 or request a quote today!