Thermal imaging surveys of electrical installations
A heat camera shows problems in your distribution boards and connections before they fail: loose terminations, overloaded circuits, failing breakers. It's done while you work, with no shutdown.
No shutdown needed · Written report with thermal images · Carried out by a certified thermographer
What a thermal survey finds
Electrical faults usually get hot before they fail. A loose connection, an overloaded cable or a breaker on its way out runs warmer than it should, often for months. A thermal imaging camera shows that heat clearly, so it can be fixed in a planned visit instead of turning into a fire risk or a failure mid-shift.
Because the survey is done with the installation under normal load, it finds problems that an EICR carried out with circuits isolated can miss. That's why the two go well together.
Has your insurer asked for one? Many commercial policies now list a periodic thermal survey as a condition. Our certified thermographer carries out the survey and you get a written report you can pass straight to your insurer.
Typical findings
- Loose or corroded terminations in boards, isolators and busbars.
- Overloaded circuits and cables running hotter than their rating allows.
- Uneven loading across the three phases, which wastes capacity and stresses equipment.
- Failing breakers, fuses and contactors that are still working, for now.
- Hot spots in motors, drives and plant where these are included in the survey.
What you get
A written report listing every finding with a thermal image and a normal photograph, the temperature measured, how urgent it is and what we recommend. Anything critical is flagged to you on the day, not left for the report.
Items that need work are quoted separately. We can re-scan after repairs to show the problem has gone.
How it works
-
Agree the scope
Which boards, isolators and plant to include, and when your premises is under its normal working load.
Free, by phone or on site -
Survey under load
Covers off, camera on, every board scanned while you keep working.
Usually a few hours -
Report
Findings ranked by urgency, with images, readings and recommendations.
Same working day -
Fix & re-scan
Repairs quoted first. After repairs, a re-scan confirms the fault is gone.
By arrangement
What it costs
All prices are plus VAT and include the written report, sent the same working day.
Excellent value and service — highly recommended.
Rob S. — Google review
Thermal imaging questions, answered
Do we need to switch anything off?
No, the opposite. A thermal survey only works with the installation under normal load, so we do it while you're working. We only need safe access to open the boards.
Is thermal imaging the same as an EICR?
No. An EICR tests the installation against the wiring regulations, and much of it is done with circuits isolated. A thermal survey looks at how it behaves under real load and finds heat problems that dead testing can miss. The two work best together.
What sort of faults does it find?
Loose or corroded terminations, overloaded cables and breakers, uneven loading across the three phases, failing components and overheating contacts. These are the faults that cause fires and unplanned shutdowns.
Does our insurer require it?
Increasingly, yes. Many of our commercial customers' insurers ask for a periodic thermal survey of the electrical installation, and it's often listed as a condition in the policy schedule. Check yours. If it's there, our written report gives your insurer what they need to see.
How often should it be done?
Once a year suits most businesses, usually at the busiest time of year when loads are highest. Adding it to a maintenance plan means it's never forgotten.
Related services
Where we do this: Edinburgh · East Lothian · Midlothian
Book a thermal survey
Tell us the premises and roughly how many boards there are. If your insurer has asked for a survey, tell us what they need to see.
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Prefer to talk it through? Call 01620 843 804.