ROOF SUCCESS
PROBLEM: A persistent leak in a 28,000
sq. ft. built up roof stimulated a commercial building owner
to find the cause.
SOLUTION: Thanks to the infrared roof inspection, the
building owner escaped having to do a complete tear off and
new roof installation, which would have cost from $90-$120,000.
In comparison the cost of the actual repair was just $5,400.
InfraRed Roof Inspection saves $100,000.
RESULT: InfraRed Roof Inspection saves $100,000.
HOTEL/WATER
SUCCESS
PROBLEM: A waterpipe broke on the
third floor of a hotel sending water throughout the third floor
and the two floors below. A water division was called to perform
emergency services on the water-damaged structure.
SOLUTION: A quick IR camera survey of the three floors
was performed allowing for a quick determination of the affected
areas to evaluate swift and efficient placement of drying equipment.
The lobby was accessed to be a problem area and the threat of
ladders blocking the entry would have been unsatisfactory. Within
minutes moisture was located in the lobby's ceiling using thermal
imaging.
RESULT: Because the specific areas of the ceiling could
be determined so quickly and precisely, we were able to place
drying equipment only in the areas needed to safely dry the
areas involved.
CNA Uses InfraRed in
Building Inspections
CNA Saves its Clients Over $10 Million In
12 Months of IR Surveys
"CNA Infrared Testing Initiative FIRST YEAR
(MAR 2005 THRU FEB 2006) RESULTS Infrared thermography officially
began at CNA in March 2005 with the purchase of 8 FLIR Model
P65 cameras and the training of 25 CNA risk control reps. The
program was enhanced in November of 2005 with the addition of
7 more FLIR Model P65 cameras and training of 25 more risk control
reps. FLIR (ITC) trained 50 CNA risk control reps to Level 2
status between March 2005 and March 2006. Infrared testing is
currently offered to CNA accounts, both Property and Boiler
and Machinery insured, with Total Insured Value (TIV) of $10
million or more. In the first 12 months of the program, CNA
thermographers showed the following results 726 Infrared (IR)
surveys completed. Total TIV surveyed during the first 12 months
was over $20 Billion. Renewal rate was 93% for the first year.
The IR surveys done by CNA continue to be a positive factor
in the insurance renewal decision. Found a total of 7013 faults
(deficiencies) broken down as 256 Critical - 862 Serious - 3877
Intermediate - 2018 Minor based on temperature differentials.
Based on the deficiencies found, we estimate the
electrical repair cost savings for our clients. Electrical repair
cost savings are calculated at $500 for Minor and Intermediate
faults and $3000 for Serious and Critical faults. These numbers
include damage to the electrical equipment itself, peripheral
damage more common with serious and critical faults, cost of
replacement parts, downtime to repair the electrical equipment,
and the cost of the electrician repairing the equipment.
The first full year of IR results averaged
out to $8680 electrical repair costs saved per report. Additionally,
the value of a typical IR survey is about $1000 even with 0
faults found because we don't charge our clients extra for the
costs of doing the IR survey. Therefore, the average cost savings
per survey in the first year was $9680. Total estimated savings
for the first year were $7,027,500 in electrical repair costs
and survey value. To better reflect the true value of an IR
survey to our clients, we are going to capture and report several
new metrics in 2006. We project the total savings per IR survey
to be $20K or more with new metrics for reduced electrical fire
risk, energy savings, and key equipment downtime (BI) avoided.
High-Tech Remedy for Hurricane Destruction
Infrared Imaging Used to Detect Potential
Sources of Mold
The variety of damage inflicted on homeowners and businesses
by the devastating series of hurricanes in 2004, estimated at
as much as $10 billion from Ivan alone in Florida, Alabama and
Mississippi, includes one usually less visible, but nonetheless
highly insidious and costly form - mold.
Mold is the inevitable result of unhealthy spores in building
walls and ceilings and furnishings if moisture within them is
not detected and removed quickly enough - usually within 96
hours or less.
Which is why, as in 2004, many restoration contractors in the
area are turning to their hand held infrared (IR) cameras, which
can scan an entire room in minutes for moisture and thus potential
mold and provide a digital image of its source and location,
to expedite its removal.
"I would guess that our affiliates were called into Florida,
Alabama and Mississippi on over 500 hurricane-related jobs last
year," says Charlie Cressy, President and founder of WaterOut,
a patented and nationwide drying process. Exactly how much was
saved for their clients by their use of IR is of course impossible
to determine, but clearly its use enabled them to move back
into their homes or resume normal business operations more quickly."
"In one case in Florida it took our affiliate about four
hours to scan a 30-story condo complex for indications of moisture
with the camera. It would have taken five to ten times that
long without the camera."
