Assessing the severity of workmanship defects using thermography and 2-D and 3-D heat transfer models

Abstract

The effectiveness of insulation in reducing heat loss depends to an important extent on the quality of its installation. For new buildings, it is advantageous if the performance of insulation can be checked before construction work is complete. This enables problems to be rectified before the building is occupied. The research presented in this paper is investigating how thermal imaging techniques (thermography) can be used during the construction of new domestic buildings to assess construction quality and the energy efficiency of the building fabric. Thermal imaging surveys are usually conducted post-construction and so this approach to testing constitutes a novel area of practice. Further insights into the results of a thermal imaging survey can be gained from computational models of heat transfer through the building envelope. The particular focus of the paper is how these virtual models and thermography can be used in a complementary way to diagnose and assess the severity of insulation defects in construction work. This idea is explored through three case studies, which illustrate some practical considerations for the application of thermography during the construction process. The research topic will be of interest to built environment professionals, thermographers and researchers interested in methods of investigating the thermal performance of new housing.