The problem faced by most property owners is that moisture behind walls, over ceilings, and under floors is often impossible to detect until the problem is excessive and visible to the naked eye. Since the investigation and removal of infestations of not yet visible mold in structures is often difficult, technology is now being used to eliminate the guess work.
 

Technology has provided a tool that can be used by investigators, remediators, and consultants to detect and help eliminate mold infestations. The technological tool is called Infrared Thermography (IT). IT is a technique that produces an image of invisible (to the human eye) infrared light emitted by objects due to the heat, or lack thereof, in the object called its "thermal condition." These sophisticated cameras can actually measure the temperatures of any object or surface in the image and produce color images that make interpretation of thermal patterns easier.
Thermal or infrared energy is light that is not visible to humans because its wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye. Thermal or infrared energy (IR) is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat. Even very cold objects, like ice cubes, emit infrared. The higher the object's temperature, the greater the IR radiation emitted. Infrared allows people to see what their eyes normally cannot see.
IT cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation. The IT camera can provide precise noncontact temperature measurement capabilities. The existence of moisture—a substance cooler than normal construction materials—can be used to detect conditions that promote mold growth. Mold related problems can be detected before the mold is visible to the eye or detectable by the nose. IT cameras are extremely cost-effective, valuable diagnostic tools in construction related problems of water intrusion and mold growth.
But finding a problem with an infrared camera is not a solution. It is the start of an investigation that will help the property owner or developer stop a problem before it becomes serious. An infrared camera image alone, without accurate temperature measurements, says very little about the condition of a structure or its susceptibility to mold growth. An infrared image without measurement can be misleading because it may visually suggest a problem that does not exist.
Infrared cameras that incorporate temperature measurement allow professionals to make well-informed judgments about the operating condition of a structure. Temperature measurements can be compared with historical operating temperatures, or with infrared readings of similar structures at the same time, to determine if a significant temperature rise will compromise the structural integrity or encourage mold growth.
Used properly, a thermal imaging camera can provide valuable information during moisture assessments, remediation oversight, roof inspections and water damage investigations.

When suspect areas are found they can be visually documented using the IR camera. Images, like those obtained from an IR Camera, are easier for a layperson or nontechnical person to understand. Findings from the IR camera can be explained to the property owner or the insurer’s personnel combined with the verification obtained by using data-logging moisture detection equipment with time stamp and/or destructive testing.

Infrared technology is especially useful for inspecting flat roofing systems and synthetic stucco systems, which rarely give any visual clues as to their condition or the location of leaks and moisture retention. Litigation involving synthetic stucco, or exterior insulating finish systems (EIFS), is rampant nationwide. EIFS exterior cladding is blamed by many property owners for retaining moisture behind. The property owners claim that EIFS, because it retains water behind it, promotes mold growth and rotting within exterior wall cavities.

 

  


IR technology is being supplemented with a living tool: dogs trained to sniff out the existence of mold. For example, Lab Results LLC, brought the first certified , Oreo, to the Northeast and provides a network of independent certified mold dog handlers ready to take on big jobs when needed. While a mold-detection canine can quickly find mold inside a home or commercial building, infrared thermal imaging has the edge on the exterior and in detailing—with imagery, the location, and extent of mold infestation.
Properly used under the right conditions, infrared thermography can serve as an early warning system for flat roofs that tend to retain water long before they actively leak. The technology also can detect temperature variations that an infrared thermographer would use to find moisture accumulation, condensation, infiltration, and leakage in wall systems and windows, all of which can provide an environment conducive to mold growth.
The combined use of Mold Dogs™ and infrared thermal imaging during EIFS inspections can be one of the most effective nondestructive and non-invasive method of surveying a property for potential mold and moisture problems. The combination can tell a property owner or potential buyer whether there may be a serious hidden problem, before any cutting or sampling is done.
Typical current inspection methods involve much guesswork and the random cutting of core samples or pieces of walls—both inside and out—to analyze for mold and moisture. A combined Mold Dog™ and infrared thermal imaging inspection can protect a potential buyer from acquiring a lemon property or from incurring repair and remediation costs far beyond a building's value.
     
or Email: info@k-9md.com
k-9md
We will not be involved in the remediation of any mold and mildew problems, since this would be a CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
We will work closely with your remediation company and provide clearance testing.