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Thermography is a non-contact inspection technique that detects and measures infrared energy emitted from the surface of an object.
Using specialised thermal imaging equipment, a trained thermographer can identify abnormal temperature patterns that may indicate developing electrical, mechanical or process-related issues.
Thermography is widely used as part of condition monitoring, predictive maintenance and preventative maintenance programs, allowing potential problems to be investigated before they develop into more serious equipment failures.
Thermal imaging uses an infrared camera to convert infrared energy emitted from an object into a visible thermal image, or thermogram.
Different temperatures are represented within the image, allowing a thermographer to compare components and identify unusual thermal patterns.
Thermal imaging is commonly used to inspect electrical systems, mechanical equipment, industrial processes, solar installations, buildings and other critical assets.
The terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference.
Thermal imaging generally refers to capturing an infrared image.
Thermography involves the science and methodology behind capturing, analysing and interpreting thermal data.
A thermal camera can produce an image, but correctly understanding what that image represents requires knowledge of infrared science, heat transfer, equipment operation, environmental influences and measurement limitations.
All objects above absolute zero emit infrared energy.
A thermal imaging camera detects this energy and converts it into an image representing the apparent surface temperatures of the object being inspected.
A trained thermographer analyses the resulting thermal patterns while considering factors such as load, emissivity, reflections, environmental conditions, equipment design and operating conditions.
This allows abnormal thermal behaviour to be identified and investigated.
Thermal imaging can identify abnormal thermal patterns associated with a wide range of conditions, including:
Thermography identifies thermal symptoms. Depending on the application, additional testing may be required to determine the underlying cause.
Modern professional thermal imaging equipment can provide highly useful temperature measurements when it is configured and used correctly.
Accuracy depends on factors including the thermal camera, target emissivity, reflected temperature, distance, viewing angle, environmental conditions and the competency of the person conducting the inspection.
This is one of the reasons professional thermographic surveys should be conducted and interpreted by appropriately trained and certified personnel. Total Asset Solutions personnel hold ISO 18436-7 Category 2 certification in both electrical and mechanical thermography, providing clients with confidence that inspections are undertaken to recognised industry standards.
Yes. Infrared thermography is a non-destructive and non-contact testing technique.
The thermal camera detects infrared energy naturally emitted from the surface of an asset without physically contacting or altering the equipment.
This makes thermography particularly useful for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance programs.
Thermal imaging itself is passive and non-contact. The infrared camera receives infrared energy emitted from the equipment; it does not emit harmful radiation into the asset.
Where inspections involve operating electrical or mechanical equipment, Total Asset Solutions has appropriate risk controls, safe work procedures and safety systems in place to ensure inspections are conducted safely and professionally by suitably trained and qualified personnel.
Before commencing an inspection, we establish the survey scope, nominated assets, site requirements and operating conditions.
Our thermographer then systematically inspects the nominated equipment using professional infrared thermal imaging equipment, recording thermal and visual images where required.
Potential anomalies are assessed and documented for further analysis.
Following the survey, Total Asset Solutions prepares a detailed thermographic inspection report outlining relevant findings and recommended actions.
The exact scope depends on your facility and requirements, but a thermographic survey may include:
We can tailor the inspection scope and reporting format to suit your site's maintenance and asset-management requirements.
Yes. For electrical and mechanical thermographic inspections, equipment and assets need to be operating under normal to maximum load conditions.
Thermal anomalies are most effectively identified when equipment is operating under its typical working load, as many developing faults become more apparent as load increases. Inspecting assets under these conditions provides a more accurate representation of their thermal performance during normal operation.
Where possible, Total Asset Solutions recommends scheduling thermographic surveys during periods of normal to maximum operational load to provide the most meaningful and reliable inspection results.
No. Generally, thermographic inspections are designed to minimise disruption and are often conducted while equipment is operating.
Some assets may require isolation or other access arrangements before they can be safely inspected. This depends on the equipment, site procedures and inspection requirements.
We work with your maintenance and electrical teams to plan the survey safely and minimise operational disruption.
The time required depends on the size and complexity of the site, the number of assets, accessibility, operating conditions and reporting requirements.
A small commercial inspection may take only a few hours, while a comprehensive industrial thermal survey may require several days.
Total Asset Solutions will establish the expected timeframe when preparing your quotation and inspection scope.
There is no single inspection frequency suitable for every facility.
Inspection intervals should consider:
Annual inspections are common for many electrical installations, while critical or high-risk assets may benefit from more frequent condition monitoring.
Yes.
We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to thermography.
Total Asset Solutions can develop a thermal survey around your equipment, operational requirements, maintenance strategy and budget.
This may range from a targeted inspection of specific critical assets through to a comprehensive facility-wide thermographic survey.
Yes.
Regular thermal surveys provide significantly more value when results can be compared over time.
We can help establish an ongoing thermographic inspection program incorporating asset registers, previous findings, repeat inspection schedules and thermal trending where appropriate.
This allows maintenance teams to monitor developing conditions rather than relying solely on a single snapshot in time.
Professional thermography involves much more than simply pointing a thermal camera at a piece of equipment and identifying a hot spot.
A thermographer must understand infrared theory, heat transfer, measurement techniques, emissivity, reflected energy, environmental influences, equipment operation and the limitations of thermal imaging. They must then be able to interpret the thermal data correctly and determine whether an observed temperature pattern warrants further investigation.
Australian thermography standards recognise the importance of personnel competency. AS ISO 18434.1:2014 provides general procedures for thermography, while AS ISO 18436.7:2014 addresses the qualification and assessment of personnel performing thermography.
Using appropriately certified personnel provides greater confidence that your thermographic inspection is being conducted, analysed and reported by someone who has demonstrated competency in the discipline.
Two important standards referenced in relation to professional thermographic inspections are:
AS ISO 18434.1:2014 – Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines – Thermography – General procedures.
AS ISO 18436.7:2014 – Condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines – Requirements for qualification and assessment of personnel – Thermography.
Importantly, AS ISO 18434.1 states that thermographers are to be qualified and assessed in accordance with ISO 18436-7.
For asset owners and facility managers, this makes the qualifications of the person conducting the thermographic survey an important consideration when selecting a service provider.
No.
Modern thermal cameras are extremely capable instruments, but the camera itself does not determine the cause or significance of a thermal anomaly.
A professional thermographer needs to understand how the equipment operates, how heat is generated and transferred, how environmental conditions affect measurements and how factors such as emissivity and reflected energy can influence the apparent temperatures displayed by the camera.
Correctly capturing the thermal data is only one part of the process. Interpreting what that data means is where the thermographer's training, certification and experience become particularly important.
No.
An electrical qualification and thermography certification are different competencies.
An electrician may have extensive knowledge and experience with electrical systems; however, an electrical licence itself is not thermography certification under ISO 18436-7. The standard establishes separate requirements for the qualification and assessment of thermography personnel.
Likewise, thermography certification does not replace the qualifications required to perform electrical work.
The two disciplines can work extremely effectively together. Total Asset Solutions can work alongside your onsite electrician or electrical contractor, combining their electrical expertise and safe access capabilities with our specialist thermographic inspection, analysis and reporting expertise.
ISO 18436-7 establishes requirements for the qualification and assessment of personnel who perform condition monitoring and diagnostics using thermography.
The standard establishes different certification categories reflecting different levels of competency, responsibility and technical capability.
This is important because not every level of thermography certification authorises the same scope of work.
The distinction is important when engaging someone to perform more than basic thermal data collection.
Under the certification framework described in AS ISO 18436.7, Category 1 personnel have competencies including applying specified measurement techniques, safely operating thermal imaging equipment, basic fault detection and severity assessment, basic image processing, maintaining results and trend information, verifying measurement system calibration and reporting areas of concern.
Category 2 personnel have an expanded level of competency that includes selecting appropriate thermographic techniques and understanding their limitations, applying thermography theory, interpreting survey results, performing advanced fault diagnosis, recommending field corrective actions and preparing detailed reports relating to equipment condition and identified faults.
For clients, this distinction becomes particularly important when the service required extends beyond capturing thermal images and involves analysis, diagnosis, reporting and maintenance recommendations.
By engaging Total Asset Solutions, clients benefit from Category 2 competency across both electrical and mechanical thermography, allowing thermal data to be interpreted within the broader context of asset condition, reliability and maintenance requirements.
Our ISO 18436-7 Category 2 Electrical and Mechanical Thermography certification allows Total Asset Solutions to provide a comprehensive thermographic service incorporating activities such as:
These capabilities align with the Category 2 competencies outlined in the certification framework referenced in our guidance document.
Before engaging any provider, we recommend confirming that the person who will actually conduct and interpret your thermographic inspection holds appropriate thermography certification for the required scope of work.
This is particularly important when a thermal scan forms part of an insurance requirement, preventative maintenance program, electrical risk-management program or formal condition monitoring strategy.
Do not assume that an electrical, mechanical or maintenance qualification automatically includes thermography certification. Thermography is a specialist discipline with its own qualification and competency requirements under ISO 18436-7.
Before appointing a thermography provider, consider asking:
For insurance-requested surveys, we also recommend confirming any specific thermographer qualification, inspection frequency and reporting requirements with your insurer or insurance broker before the inspection.
It can.
The source document notes that thermographic inspections may be requested by insurance underwriters and that some policies require inspections to be undertaken at specified intervals by appropriately qualified personnel.
Because requirements vary between insurers and individual policies, you should confirm the exact thermography certification, inspection scope, frequency and reporting requirements applicable to your organisation.
Where a certified thermographer is specified, Total Asset Solutions can provide evidence of our relevant thermography certification as part of the inspection process.
With Total Asset Solutions, thermography is not an add-on service performed simply because we own a thermal camera. It is a core technical capability of our business.
Our personnel hold ISO 18436-7 Category 2 certification across both electrical and mechanical thermography, providing the technical competency required to capture, analyse and interpret thermal data across a broad range of industrial assets.
Combined with extensive experience in non-destructive testing, condition monitoring, asset integrity and asset reliability, our approach is focused on providing clients with meaningful information—not simply thermal images.
Whether you require an electrical thermographic survey, mechanical inspection, insurance-requested inspection or an ongoing condition monitoring program, Total Asset Solutions provides the certification, technical knowledge and practical industry experience required to deliver a professional thermographic service.
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