| Infra red thermography is by no means a new | | | | most cathedral ceilings or even across a large room. |
| technology, however its use in the pest management | | | | A camera of lesser specifications will need to be |
| industry is quite new. Essentially thermal imaging can | | | | closer to find the object and in some cases, so close, |
| be used to detect variances in infra red radiation being | | | | that it is prohibitive. Check what the mrad rating is, for |
| emitted from the top 1/1000 of an inch of any surface | | | | the camera that is to be used on your job. |
| that the camera is pointed at. This means that the | | | | 2. Poor or nonexistent training. |
| workings of termites (mudding) and large groupings of | | | | There are very few training courses available for |
| termites (nests etc) can show up as a variance on the | | | | thermal imaging and even fewer courses are available |
| screen of a thermal camera. | | | | on thermal imaging in the pest management industry. |
| In Sydney, Australia, thermal imaging has had varied | | | | The available courses are quite expensive and it |
| results in the termite management industry due to two | | | | appears that many of the technicians using thermal |
| main factors that I will discuss. Whilst these do appear | | | | cameras in the pest management industry have done |
| to be changing somewhat, purchasers of thermal | | | | no training at all. The ISO standard 20807 sets out a |
| termite inspections should be very wary. | | | | minimum criterion for technicians to be qualified under. |
| 1. Poor choice of thermal camera by the | | | | Check with your thermal imaging technician that he has |
| technician. | | | | certification to the standard. |
| Not all thermal imaging equipment is created equal. | | | | To avoid the risk of being ripped off by a shady |
| There are many different thermal cameras on the | | | | operator make sure that you do all of the research |
| market today that are precision scientific instruments. | | | | that you can and ask the above questions. If the |
| As with any tool, in any trade, it is important that the | | | | answers that you are given are inconsistent with the |
| correct tool is chosen for each job. When carrying out | | | | requirements of the ISO standard then find another |
| a thermal inspection for termites the camera can be | | | | thermal imaging company. |
| required to resolve a very small object. Sometimes as | | | | An expert thermal imaging company in Sydney is |
| small as four mm square or even less. Therefore a | | | | Termicam is an internationally franchised thermal |
| thermal camera must be chosen that can resolve that | | | | imaging company with franchisees in most states. |
| size object at a reasonable distance from it. As a | | | | Make sure that you use a properly qualified pest |
| guide the ISO standard 20807 refers to a camera that | | | | management professional in conjunction with your |
| has a rating of 1.5mrad or less because a camera of | | | | thermal inspector. In the end it is the training in |
| this specification or better will resolve a 4mm object at | | | | conjunction with the correct tool that will end in the |
| a distance of up to 2.3 metres. This means that an | | | | best results. |
| inspection can be undertaken from ground level, of | | | | |