Thermal cameras ?

[James H. Bushart]

Today...at lunch with another home inspector...we discussed IR technology and concluded that the greatest financial benefit goes to those who sell the training.

It is only logical that those who sell the training would promote the use of the camera, heavily. In fact, marketing the use of camera itself would naturally come hand in hand with marketing their courses to teach it. If no one bought the cameras...no one would buy the training.

Personally, I have no problem with inspectors who want to add to their offerings (and fees) an additional service.

The laughable part, as demonstrated by the recent video on this subject, is that this technology is essential to a quality home inspection. This is where the understandable marketing hyperbole becomes false and misleading BS.

IR technology will never replace the inspector's need for his most essential tool....his flashlight. If only someone could create some expensive training classes to show inspectors how to use it...we would never hear about IR cameras, IMO.

[Nick Gromicko]

There is some truth to that, but by the same token, if inspectors couldn't use the tool to make money, we'd probably never hear about them either.

Is a tool useful only if no one is making any money with it?

I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that an IR camera is a replacement for a flashligh but don't flashlight companies make money?

[Raymond N. Newman]

Originally Posted by gromicko

I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that an IR camera is a replacement for a flashligh but don't flashlight companies make money?

Who is giving training on flashlights ?

Nick, do you know the member numbers by country and there progression/ decrease over the last 2 years. Just curious.

[David A. Andersen]

Actually there is training for flashlights!

But can you imagine the hell I'd get trying to sell that?!

IR Cams and training do go hand-in-hand, that is the most important part!
Now your going to ***** about having to be trained?

For all you's opposed, just let it lay.
But then our being here screws up your comfort zone, no?

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by gromicko

IR cameras are part of the growing green movement: www.nachi.org/green.htm

Catch up.

No!! Understand spin when you see it. A good tool in the right hands and places but a bit of a stretch, Nick!!

In case you didn't catch the thread in June, a quote on IR from Joe Farsetta:

It's not that I dont agree that IR is good technology, because I do. I have a problem with whiz-kids and new toys. If everyone would take a deep breath and step back a bit, they should research more about this technology and its origins........

My point is that this trend in the HI industry is artificial and is being pushed by those tho manufacture the equipment or train in the art. Prior to this "trend" in our industry, few IR cameras were sold as compared to what has happened in the last 3-12 months.

I also believe that training in the use of this equipment should be included in subject-specific modules dealing with the HI industry specifically. The practical application of the equipment and technology should include mis-perceptions and limitations, as with any other piece of equipment we choose to use.

Far too often, inspectors get sucked into the next best thing, forgetting that our senses, training, experience, and intelligence are the very best tools we already bring to the inspection.

[David A. Andersen]

Go back to thread #1 in the IR section, we covered that long ago!

Again, it's not the camera but the inspectors ability to use it.

The camera is useless if you don't know the subject matter being scanned! etc......

[John McKenna]

Click - See What Thermal Imaging Can Reveal

THERMAL IMAGING NEWS:

U.S. Department Of Energy Now Recommends
That A Thermographic Scan Be Done Before
Purchasing A House, Even On New Homes

Realtors Pushing Infrared & Energy Inspection

Chigago Sun-Times: Newest Technology
For Home Inspections Is Thermal Imaging


Watch TV Report

The Facts Are Hard To Deny...

[Kenneth Lott]

Thermal cameras ?8/21/08 6:25 PMYour a jerk and always will be! Mario Was that really you Mario, that gave me this Red?

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

You know it wasn't me Ken, here is a green to make up for it!

[Joe Farsetta]

Heres the quote from this thread...

Here we go with those wives tales about increased liability!

It's no wives tail my friend. Please read your E&O policy and speak with the underwriters regarding exceeding the SOP. There is a good reason for the carriers to be leery. In the proper hands, and when used in the proper context, the technology is great. Often, its not what we are seeing.

My friend Mario and I were speaking about PROCESS last week; specific to usng this technology on roof inspections. I was green with envy at the $$ I was told could be made. What impressed me even more was the descriptiopn of the PROCESS. It was thorough... right down to having someone present to help ensure he didnt walk off the roof. Mario has obviously taken the time and made the investment to take this technology and adapt HIS BUSINESS MODEL to capitalize on his training, equipment, and experience. He aint an instant wunderkind. I admire that.

I'll tell you about liability, it's when you walk away from the house and say everything is nifty thrifty fine and dandy and then a few weeks/months the client has issues and contacts their lawyer. Everybody thinks a home inspector can see all, know all and do all and will sue you accordingly.

This is true, but let's not dismiss the bozos out there who are advertising things like "See through walls" or other such nonsense. The science of thermography has certain parameters which must be met in order to see anything. Even then, a smart inspector will use more conventional inspection tools and techniques to help confirm what the camers "sees". What is more perturbing, and what WILL get you in a lawsuit is inconsistency in the process by which the instruments are used. Technology wont save you. Process will.

The only time you increase your liability is when you buy a $5000 camera and go out and use it without any earthly idea of what the heck you're doing. Report something unnecessary and cause the client a loss. Then your not only liable but negligent.

Yes, yes, and... yes.

[Nick Gromicko]

Joe writes:

Even then, a smart inspector will use more conventional inspection tools and techniques to help confirm what the camers "sees".

Right on. http://www.nachi.tv/episode47 hammers that point home.

[Joe Farsetta]

Kudos to Big Ben for bringing that to light (no pun intended).

Good, useful video.

Ben uses the camera as a... tool!

Part of his toolkit. Imagine that.

His orientation and assessment of the BUILDING lead him to pay extra attention to areas he WOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO ANYWAY AS A COMPETENT INSPECTOR.

Nice job, Ben.

And WOW, he didnt even scan the area on the beam, below the sliding door, where he saw water marks. His probe didnt pick up much, but he had his suspicions...

I guess he was an INSPECTOR first and a thermographer second. How refreshing!

[Nick Gromicko]

Jim is right in that it is, to an extent, glorified. It is a glorified flashlight.

A flashlight and an IR camera both allow one to see things one normally couldn't with the naked eye.

[Claude Lawrenson]

So will we now have a new category of inspector called Superman with thermal vision rather than X-ray vision? Hmmm....is that now Inframan?

Claude - still using my natural born senses including the development of common sense!

[Claude Lawrenson]

"Thermography enables us to see and measure heat. All materials on earth emit heat energy, in the infrared portion of the spectrum. Unfortunately, the unaided human eye cannot see in the infrared. However, infrared cameras can not only see, but also record infrared images and measure the temperatures of objects and areas of objects quite accurately."