Infrared Thermography

Infrared thermography captures thermal radiation emitted by surfaces to create detailed temperature maps. Subsurface defects — moisture, delamination, voids, insulation gaps — create measurable temperature differentials that our thermal cameras detect from a distance.

This technique is particularly valuable for building envelope assessment, roof moisture surveys, and detecting hidden moisture ingress in concrete and masonry structures. Unlike invasive testing, thermography covers large areas rapidly without any contact or damage to the structure.

SiteOps deploys high-resolution thermal cameras (640×512 pixel uncooled microbolometer, <0.05°C sensitivity) with qualified thermographers who understand structural science. Our reports include annotated thermal images, defect mapping, severity classification, and remediation recommendations.

For facade investigations, thermography is performed under appropriate thermal conditions — typically during solar heating or nocturnal cooling phases when thermal contrasts are maximised. Combined with drone deployment, IRT can survey all four facades of a high-rise building in a single day.

Every survey records ambient temperature, surface emissivity, wind, and solar load so that thermal anomalies are interpreted against real conditions rather than appearance alone. SiteOps thermographers separate genuine subsurface defects from benign thermal patterns such as shading lines, reflected sky, and thermal mass lag, which is where untrained thermal imaging produces false positives. Each reported anomaly is classified by likely cause (moisture, delamination, debonding, thermal bridge, or air leakage) and by severity, with reference imagery alongside a matched optical photograph.

Thermography is most powerful as part of a combined programme. On a facade investigation SiteOps overlays thermal anomaly maps with drone optical imagery and, where required, confirms moisture-flagged zones with targeted moisture meter readings or core sampling. On a flat-roof moisture survey, thermal scanning after sunset isolates wet insulation that retains heat, allowing remediation to be confined to the failed bays rather than re-roofing the whole area. This targeted approach typically cuts both investigation and repair cost.