Level 1 Certification

[David P. Valley]

I'm just curious....

For those who have already participated in both, the Building Science infrared training and the Level 1 infrared training, do you really think Level 1 infrared training has it's benefits in the home inspection field.

I'm thinking of taking the Level 1 course but I was told by many students at the BS course that Level one was not really necessary for home inspectors.

I realize the Level 1 course will get deeper into the logistics of the camera technology, but I simply need your opinions as to how Level one Certification will assist me in home inspections as I already feel confident in properly reading the IR images.

[David A. Andersen]

If you want to learn the 20% that was not covered in the BS Course, take it.

A poll was taken in my BS course from those that have taken both courses, all said most of Level 1 was covered.

If I still lived in MA, I would take both (if I had the money) seeing Flir is only a few miles from my home in Concord.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by dandersen

If you want to learn the 20% that was not covered in the BS Course, take it.

A poll was taken in my BS course from those that have taken both courses, all said most of Level 1 was covered.

If I still lived in MA, I would take both (if I had the money) seeing Flir is only a few miles from my home in Concord.

David,

Thanks. Yea, when I participated in the BS course, my travel time was only twenty minutes from my home. I like the fact that Flir is so close to home.

So you're saying that the Level 1 covers 80% of the information that they had already given us in the BS course?

How can that be?

The BS course gave me half the information I already knew....the other half was vital camera information.

[David A. Andersen]

That (80%) is what everyone else came up with...

I don't know. I have heard John M and others uses those numbers as well.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by dandersen

That (80%) is what everyone else came up with...

I don't know. I have heard John M and others uses those numbers as well.

Hmmmm, I think I'll hang here for a while and see everyone else's' comments.....

Thanks Dave.

[cbottger]

My level one course was taught by Bob Rogers the Senior Level three instructor. My class had all Line Electricians except me as the only HI thus the class was primary directed at the camera perhaps less than 5% on building structure. That was what I was looking for, learn to use the tool.

DV I smell where you are going with this, probably the same as me I want to expand the IR into a stand alone business separate from my HI even though I will continue to use the B-Cam for my HI'S. I am already considering my Level 2 training and a much higher resolution camera to go along with it.

Was on the Web the other day and saw a Camera that takes both IR and digital for SideX Sides Don't remember what site I was on but it was not FLIR

[rcooke]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Hmmmm, I think I'll hang here for a while and see everyone else's' comments.....

Thanks Dave.

Think of court .
What training do you have ( show certificates )
Why did you not do level one ?
No idea if this is good or not just playing devils advocate .
... Cookie

[John McKenna]

The BS course covers 80% of what is in level 1 and then covers the
art of using the IR camera doing inspections. This is not a slander
against level 1... am just telling you what other thermographers have
told me and what I experienced.

[cbottger]

Originally Posted by jmckenna1

The BS course covers 80% of what is in level 1 and then covers the
art of using the IR camera doing inspections. This is not a slander
against level 1... am just telling you what other thermographers have
told me and what I experienced.

No slander on my part was not interested in BS got what I paid for Level 1

If all one is interested in is HI's, BS is the way to go just not for me. I would still rate my class as 95% camera and 5% BS those OTHER Thermographers you refere to were not in my class apparently

[John McKenna]

Originally Posted by cbottger

No slander on my part was not interested in BS got what I paid for Level 1

If all one is interested in is HI's, BS is the way to go just not for me. I would still rate my class as 95% camera and 5% BS those OTHER Thermographers you refere to were not in my class apparently

You are correct. The Building Science course (BS) is for home inspectors.

Level 1 is indeed 95% camera, but not geared so much for the HI, but
for other applications. It is fine, for it's intended purpose.

Building Science covers 80% of the Level 1 info within the first day and half and
then covers the tricks of the trade for applying it in the real world of building
science, for the last couple days of the course.

[David A. Andersen]

If all one is interested in is HI's, BS is the way to go just not for me.

I don't know about that. You are saying that your expanding into other areas outside of home inspection, but to these areas have to do with buildings? If so, the building science course has an extensive amount of case study on the effects of the atmosphere on the structure, methods of testing buildings and what to look for and where and how heat transmits through a structure.

If you intend to ride your horse down the powerlines and evaluate transmission line connections with your infrared, or if you're going into the medical fields (human or veterinarian) then you may need a lot more level 1, 2 and 3. If you're going into the manufacturing setting where you know parameters of the equipment you are evaluating and you need to concern yourself more with actual temperatures versus apparent temperature so that you can determine the point of failure set by the manufacturer. The age-old question is "how hot is too hot". If these are the areas you're getting into than you need to learn how to accurately determine actual temperatures from your thermal scans.

When it comes between the two selections of level 1 and building science, even the building science is over the top for the application that home inspectors will be using a camera for (I sincerely doubt any home inspector is going to soak down the house with a spray-rack ). If your capital resources are low or stretched, I would recommend the building science course first. If you plan to take multiple levels, taking level 1 and then the building science course may be appropriate.

As posted, it appears there were very few home inspectors in our classes. Many of the people there will not use what they learned in building science because their jobs dictate other needs. It's important to analyze what you're going to use the technology for and take the correct course so you can apply what you learn. Corporations that send their employees to these classes are not so concerned about application and cost-effective education, just that their employees get educated and certified. My class had several home inspectors, several facility maintenance personnel, construction trade teachers, a couple of guys that should be or were level 3 employees. My point is that every class you take is going to be somewhat modified due to the participants in the class. I think that ITC made the building science course (and will make other courses in the future) for specialized area use of infrared beyond level 1. If your class shows up where everyone is level 1, a lot more building science will be covered. They can't be teaching building science without you knowing level 1 stuff first. If the class still doesn't understand level 1, the majority of the class time will be spent on level 1. I think we could have gone much deeper into building science if we had the time. I personally feel that the building science course is way too short and that at least five days is needed to cover material, however it is difficult for working students to devote an entire workweek. I am hoping that a more advanced level building science course will be developed in the future.

I could see where we skipped over a lot of important issues because there was no reason to go there when our goal was building science. If there was an option to turn off the temperature scales on the cameras, I think they would have made us do that. A lot time was spent telling us not the use the " apparent temperature" readings of the camera and why. We would probably all be a lot better off in home inspection if we never knew what the temperatures were we were looking at because it would force us to follow up and further evaluate with other appropriate test equipment to verify what we see.

I am sure that it would be well worth my time to take level 1 to cover the things left out in the building science course. Other than David Valley, who lives just down the street from ITC most of us just don't have that luxury.

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by cbottger

Was on the Web the other day and saw a Camera that takes both IR and digital for SideX Sides Don't remember what site I was on but it was not FLIR

Flir has that type of camera..It's at... http://www.goinfrared.com/cameras/B-...hermacam-b400/


Very pricy....

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by rcooke

Think of court .
What training do you have ( show certificates )
Why did you not do level one ?
No idea if this is good or not just playing devils advocate .
... Cookie

I know, I was thinking of liabilities quite a few times already.

I'm seriously thinking of taking Level 1 very soon.

It doesn't cost me anything for travel.

[David P. Valley]

I did some research and I think I'm going to sign up for January....

The Level I Infrared Thermography Training Course is geared to the new infrared camera user and focuses on its use for a variety of condition monitoring/predictive maintenance applications. Attendees completing all training course requirements and an thermography field assignment will receive a Level I Infrared Thermography Certification.

Infrared Course Benefits

Introduction to thermal imaging and measurement systems for predictive maintenance applications. No experience in thermography is necessary!


Collect quality data, accurate temperature readings, and account for measurement effects such as distance and emissivity using infrared cameras.


Interpret thermograms and make informed decisions using heat transfer concepts to analyze thermal images, and see the latest in infrared inspection report generation and database software.


Avoid costly mistakes - learn to distinguish between hot spots and reflections, direct vs. indirect readings and qualitative vs. quantitative thermography.


Challenge yourself with field applications labs that closely simulate real-world infrared applications.

Introduction
Infrared Thermography Applications Overview
Basic Camera Setup and Operation
Thermal Science Fundamentals
Heat Transfer
Fundamentals of Infrared Science
Thermal Measurement
Electrical Applications
Thermography Safety
Mechanical Applications
Building Applications
Review
Final Exam

[cbottger]

David there is a level 2 class in Tenn and one in TX soon that is not a bad travel for me as I drove to Denver for the Level 1. If I can swing a higher end camera I am going for it. I will have to research Flirs double shot camera have not been on their Web site in a while. Been extremely busy.