Facilities such as Hilton, Marriott, IHC, industrial plants, Public and Private Educational Departments and others use infrared thermography scanning to identify potential electrical problems that could lead to devastating electrical fires. Pacific Corp, a regional electric utility, and Kennecott, a large industrial mining operation, both have the advanced equipment and conduct routine inspections on their facilities and equipment. After the MGM Grand fire in the 80's in Las Vegas, with technology advances using radiometric imaging, many insurance underwriters began requiring annual infrared inspections of electrical systems.

Equipment used to conduct infrared scanning varies from low cost ($200-$300) infrared thermometers to advanced radiometric imaging cameras ($40,000-$65,000).

Advanced infrared radiometric cameras measure the infrared radiation emitted from a target surface and then convert this radiation into a two-dimensional image related to temperature distribution, presenting over 76,000 separate temperature measurements of the target surface. With fully radiometric systems, data is stored digitally for later analysis and trending. Shown below is an example of a thermogram showing an acute overheating situation.

A large amount of problems show uncharacteristic thermal signatures, before actual breakdown. By detecting these areas with an infrared camera, you can prevent most unscheduled equipment shutdowns and identify potential electrical problems leading to higher utility bills and devastating electrical fires.

Independent Infrared Thermography Scanning of school buildings, commercial, and industrial facilities could help to identify problems with electrical systems that would not be seen during any visual inspections.

In 2002 Hal Smith began an infrared thermography scanning service business, C&I Inspections, llc. Using a state of the art 320x240 FPA Infrared System, Hal offers independent infrared thermography scanning services to public, commercial and industrial facilities. With his broad background and experience servicing hotels, hospitals, various industrial processes, mining, and utilities such as power generation and water treatment operations he is comfortable in assisting maintenance personnel and electricians at these facilities perform infrared maintenance surveys and providing professional reports of the findings.

Independent infrared thermography scanning and reporting could be an effective solution to quickly conduct inspections of the State's public school facilities. In a July 24, 2005 Salt Lake Tribune article School safety check spotty, Nate Carlisle and Jessica Ravits point out that “conflicts of interest may arise whenever people draw paycheck from the schools they inspect.” They also reported that the State Fire Marshal plans to inspect every Utah school, within three years.

Infrared inspection scanning could be completed in about one or two days per school with the assistance of each school's maintenance department. Results from infrared thermography scanning can then be used to better ascertain the electrical conditions in the schools during the visual inspections that are planed during the next three years.

Data collected from an infrared thermography scan will document conditions at the time of the inspection. Issues identified can be repaired with follow-up and routine scanning helping to verify that problems are repaired.

Hal invites local public school building managers and others who want to investigate the benefits of an infrared thermography inspections program to call for an estimate to begin saving time, money, and most importantly improving the safety of school facilities.