Seeing-Eye Technology

Property and casualty insurers continue to use the services of risk control to protect their policyholders’ properties and business operations, and tools such as infrared thermography have gained traction, supporting the development of long-term risk management strategies.

Positive results from infrared thermography used in the farm insurance sector over the past 10 years have helped insurers recognize the benefits of expanding its use into various applications in commercial insurance.

Traditionally, the high cost of infrared technology has deterred commercial insurers from wanting to incorporate it into their risk control program. Today, with improved technology leading to a decrease in the purchase cost, insurers are now positioned to incorporate thermography into their risk management program as a predictive maintenance tool to support and protect their clients.

HOW DOES AN INFRARED CAMERA WORK?

An infrared camera measures the amount of radiation emitted by the target surface. It converts this radiation into a two-dimensional thermographic image related to the temperature distribution at the surface. Three main commercial applications benefit from the use of thermography:

• electrical systems;

•mechanical systems; and

• moisture detection.

The first two applications above support the identification of hazards linked to electrical and mechanical systems, which are the backbone of any commercial or industrial operation. The third application allows for moisture detection, which helps to avoid a host of issues and costly repairs.

Electrical systems

Insurance industry statistics report that 25% to 30% of all large fire losses are caused by electrical faults.

Hot spots generated by loose electrical connections, unbalanced loads, overloading of electrical circuits, deteriorated electrical insulation and other potential problems associated with energized components can lead to increased maintenance costs, equipment failure, unscheduled service, injury and fire.

Infrared technology provides the insured with a nondestructive test method to detect electrical concerns, often in the early stages, leading to less costly fixes for the client and reduction in loss potential.

Mechanical systems

Motor failures during operation can lead to expensive repair costs and downtime. The infrared camera helps detect motor bearing defects, motor shaft misalignment and other motor-related problems before breakdown actually occurs. Early detection often leads to minor repairs to correct the issue, which can be scheduled during operational downtimes, minimizing interruption within the operation.

Moisture detection

Roof material that absorbs water has a different surface temperature than a section of dry roof material due to the thermal properties of water. Since water retains heat longer than most roofing materials, new applications such as roof and building envelope infrared inspections can be used in the commercial industry to detect roof leaks without taking any of the roofing material apart.

Research by energy departments has identified that 95% of the roof material in flat roof leaks does not need to be replaced. This supports the notion that using infrared technology can generate cost savings in pre-and post-claims inspections.

In addition to entering a building through the roof, moisture can enter a building through the building envelope, building foundation, windows, doors and exterior siding. This can ruin insulation, cause corrosion and lead to structural collapse. Prior to infrared inspections, the only way to identify and locate hidden water issues was through destructive investigations that relied on tearing out walls, ceilings and roofs.

Mould

The presence of moisture also leads to mould growth. Mould has raised a number of health concerns over the last number of years, resulting in extensive cleanups and costly claim payouts for insurance companies. Through the use of infrared technology, early moisture detection can help reduce or prevent this growing problem.

ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS

Infrared technology can also be used to detect heat and cold air loss due to missing, damaged and/or wet insulation. Insulation defects might arise from vermin and rodent problems, plumbing or roof leaks. In some areas, insulation may not be installed. Infrared inspection helps property owners narrow in on problem areas through a non-destructive analysis.

Thermographic inspections can serve as a key component to a risk control program. They can also prove valuable to the claims process, by providing fast, reliable and accurate building diagnosis. The infrared camera can be used in post-catastrophe fire and flood investigations; they can also be used to identify and resolve chronic leak, moisture and mould problems.

It’s difficult to argue the proven effectiveness of infrared inspections as a pre- dictive maintenance tool when assessing a wide range of commercial electrical and mechanical systems, as well as commercial structures. The technology quickly, accurately and safely locates problems prior to failure, minimizing long-term repair costs, down time and potential losses. Incorporating this tool into an insurer’s risk management program is a proactive approach in the protection of the insured’s property and bottom line.