Infrared Thermal Imaging Electrical Inspections

Annual infrared scans of panels, disconnects and switchgear under load, with a report that ranks findings by temperature rise and gives your insurer what it asks for.

A loose or corroded connection gets hot before it fails. An infrared camera sees that heat through a live panel without touching anything, which is why insurers and NFPA 70B both expect commercial buildings to scan their distribution equipment regularly. No Shorts Electric performs infrared inspections for buildings across Nassau and western Suffolk, as part of a maintenance plan or on their own.

How the inspection works

The scan is done with the building under normal load, because a connection only shows a problem when current is flowing through it.
Panel covers are removed by a licensed electrician so the camera sees the conductors, not the cover.
Every panel, disconnect, switchgear section and transfer switch is imaged, and every anomaly is photographed in both infrared and visible light.
Findings are classified by temperature rise above similar components, from monitor at the next visit to repair now.
The report is delivered within days and is formatted for your insurer’s loss-control program.

What it finds

Loose lugs and terminations, failing breakers, overloaded circuits and phases, undersized conductors, failing contactors and motor connections. Most findings are inexpensive to fix at the time they are found and expensive after they fail.

Reference: NFPA 70B; insurer loss-control programs

Questions managers ask

Does the power have to be on?

Yes. The scan is only useful under load, ideally at least 40 percent of normal, so we schedule it for a normal operating day.

How often should we scan?

Annually for most buildings. Equipment that is older, heavily loaded or in a dusty or damp environment benefits from more frequent scans.

Will our insurer accept the report?

The report follows the format insurers use for thermography findings, with images, temperature data and recommendations. Tell us if your carrier has a specific form.

Who this is for

Facility managersA single point of contact for the electrical side of your building: NFPA 70B maintenance programs, infrared scans, switchgear and panel service, emergency lighting tests and the documentation that goes with them.Warehouses and industrialThree-phase service, machine and dock circuits, high-bay LED retrofits with PSEG rebates, lighting controls and troubleshooting for warehouses, auto shops and light industrial buildings in Nassau and Suffolk.Medical offices and healthcareStandby power and transfer switch testing, dedicated equipment circuits, emergency lighting records and work scheduled around patient hours for practices and care facilities in Nassau and Suffolk.

Read before you decide

Infrared Electrical Inspection: What to Expect and What the Report ShowsWhy an infrared scan has to be done under load, what the camera sees, how findings are graded by temperature rise, how insurers use the report, and how often a commercial building should scan.