Newsletter Archive – April 2019


Volume 8 Issue 4 – April 2019

Director’s Message

Situational awareness is a concept that has been practiced by pilots and military personnel for several years. Situational awareness is a discipline that requires a person to be constantly aware of his/her surroundings and to constantly anticipate what might happen next. By constantly being aware of what might happen, one is better able to plan an appropriate response before an event occurs thereby avoiding surprises.

With the hazardous environments in which thermographers frequently work, practicing situational awareness make sense. Thermographers can apply the discipline of situational awareness by observing the following:
  • Always be aware of your immediate surroundings and the hazards contained therein
  • Recognize how the actions of others might affect your situation
  • Be aware of weather or environmental conditions that could present a hazard
  • Have an emergency response plan for any situation that could occur
  • Know where emergency equipment and communication devices are located
  • Identify both primary and secondary evacuation routes for use in case of an emergency

Practicing situational awareness means that you plan for what could go wrong instead of what is likely to go wrong and have preplanned responses for any eventuality. Taking some time to practice situational awareness can vastly improve your personal safety by helping to eliminate surprises and the confusion that goes along with them.

Spring is the Time for IR Inspections of Roofs

With the onset of warmer weather, the harshness of winter is but a fading memory for most. Left undetected, the damage caused by winter’s fury is a reality that can lead to premature roof failure. Fortunately, an infrared inspection of your roof can detect evidence of problems before they get out of hand.

Performed under the proper conditions with the right equipment, an infrared inspection can detect evidence of latent moisture within the roofing system often before leaks become evident in the building.
The best candidates for infrared inspection are flat or low slope roofs where the insulation is located between the roof deck and the membrane, and the insulation is in direct contact with the underside of the membrane. Applicable constructions are roofs with either smooth or gravel-surfaced, built-up or single-ply membranes. If gravel is present, it should be less than ½” in diameter and less than 1″ thick.

For smooth-surfaced roofs, a short wave (2-5.6 µ) imager will provide more accurate results especially if the roof is painted with a reflective coating. All infrared data should be verified by a qualified roofing professional via core sampling or invasive moisture meter readings.

Infraspection Online Store

The Infraspection Online Store is a vital resource for practicing thermographers. In addition to official Infraspection apparel, we offer training manuals, reference books and CDs, software, and thermal images. Infraspection Institute Certified Infrared Thermographers® also qualify for free downloads from the store.

Electronic documents such as standards, proposal templates, and the ASNT-Compliant Written Practice are available for immediate download upon transaction approval.
For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. Our secure servers ensure the safety and privacy of your transaction. As always, we do not sell or share our customer lists with other companies.

Call for Papers for IR/INFO 2020

Infraspection Institute are pleased to announce that our annual Advanced Training Conference, Technical Symposium and Technology Expo, IR/INFO 2020, will be held January 19 – 22, 2020 in San Antonio, Texas. Now in its 31st year, IR/INFO features four days of networking, learning, and fun in a relaxed, yet professional, family atmosphere.
We are presently seeking papers and presenters for IR/INFO 2020. Invited topics include, but are not limited to: safety, emerging applications, building sciences, related NDT, case histories, as well as tips and tricks.

Presentations are typically 20-25 minutes with 5 minutes for questions and answers with the audience. All papers and presentations will be published in the IR/INFO Conference Proceedings. The deadline for abstract submissions is July 31.