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In any industry, optimizing uptime is essential for increasing productivityand competitiveness. How? Secure the reliability of key production assetsand prevent failures through predictive maintenance (PdM). Typical PdMprograms advocate periodic inspections of critical assets and trendingthose measurement results to spot imminent breakdowns.

How to document thermal findings:

Creating successful

reports

For more information on Thermal Imagersgo to www.fluke.com/thermography

Application Note

Applications forThermal Imagers

Since increases in temperatureare associated with nearly allmechanical and electrical failures,thermal imaging has broadapplication in PdM programs.A thermal imager uses infraredtechnology to capture two-dimensional images that revealthe surface temperature profilesof objects.

Capturing a thermal imageusing the latest handheld instru-ments takes very little time. Butwhat does one do with thermalimages after capturing them?

At a minimum, the technicianoperating a thermal imagershould store collected images forcomparative reference during thenext inspection. He or she shouldalso note key temperature pointswithin the target and trackthose.

However, when an imagereveals a situation that mayrequire repairs, a report shouldbe created describing what theimage shows and possibly sug-gesting a remedy. The report canthen be circulated to personnelresponsible for equipment relia-bility, who can investigate theproblem further.

The following discussiondescribes how to set up a ther-mal imaging process that leadsto truly useful reports.

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Preparing for reportingroute planning

First, key operations, mainte-nance and safety personnelidentify which equipment quali-fies as critical. A critical asset isone that, if it fails, creates asafety or health hazard, endan-gers property or adversely affectsproductivity or the product. Then,those units are grouped togetherinto one or several inspectionroutes, using the software thataccompanies the thermal imager.A route description includes thelocation of each stop and theimages to be collected there. Thisinformation is then loaded intothe thermal imager, to guide theimage collector (technician) onthe route.

Preparing for reportingreminder notes

Supervisors should also use theirthermal software to create route-specific reminder notes. Typically,these reminder notes include: Safety First information:

general safety guidelines, aswell as specific dosand dontsfor each stop.

Specific instructions on whereto stand and what to view ateach stop, to ensure consis-tency from trip to trip

How to information aboutusing the thermal imager,especially for beginningthermographers

Information about specialconditions at specific stops,such as high backgroundheat, the possibility of heat-dissipating winds, etc.

What does all of this have todo with reporting? In any PdMprogram, it is essential to trackand compare equipment condi-tion from one thermal reading to

the next. Readings as well asreports must present reliableimages for comparison. Remindernotes help bring consistency toimage collecting, and consistencyin collecting images is the key toaccurate effective reporting.

Preparing for reportingimage collection

During route set up, the mainte-nance manager also needs totake initial thermal and digitalimages for each stop on the

route. The thermal images serveboth as baseline images for com-parison and as examples of whatto capture at each stop. When,an inspection route is wellthought out and reminder notesare followed, the chances aregood that a technician will securegood, usable thermal images.Corresponding digital photos alsomake it easier to interpret thethermal images.

What to report?

When a technician has completedthe thermal inspection route, heor she returns to the mainte-nance department and loads thecollected images into the com-puter used to create the route.The thermal analysis and report-ing software makes the transferpossible and helps maintenancepersonnel organize the resultsinto reports. Reports are createdto communicate findings andproduce action, such as a repair

order or further monitoring. Whattypically gets reported, then, areanomaliesmotors or bearingsrunning hotter than othersorequipment temperatures trending

toward an alarm situation.

Reporting options

Using the analysis and reportingsoftware, technicians canenhance the images for betterviewing in the report, describethe image analysis, annotate spotmeasurements at specific loca-tions in images, and incorporateany comments entered duringthe route.

Typically, a report includesboth thermal and digital images.

It also includes the date, timeand equipment designation and,possibly, a problem number anda work order number. It mightalso include diagnostic com-ments, if the reporter is compe-tent to make such judgments.(For a detailed listing of what areport might include, see Para-graph 7, Report, of the latestedition of ASTM Standard E1934, Standard Guide for Exam-ining Electrical and MechanicalEquipment with Infrared Ther-

mography.) Reports created withthe software accompanying Flukehandheld imagers may be savedas Microsoft Word documentsand PDFs. This capability allowsa reporter to either print out hardcopies or attach them to e-mailsfor distribution to the appropriatepersonnel for action.

2 Fluke Corporation Thermal Applications: Creating successful reports

Fluke CorporationPO Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206

Fluke Europe B.V.PO Box 1186, 5602 BDEindhoven, The Netherlands

For more information call:In the U.S.A. (800) 443-5853 orFax (425) 446-5116In Europe/M-East/Africa (31 40) 2 675 200 orFax (31 40) 2 675 222In Canada (800) 36-FLUKE orFax (905) 890-6866From other countries +1 (425) 446-5500 orFax +1 (425) 446-5116Web access: http://www.fluke.com

2005 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved.Printed in U.S.A. 8/2005 2524502 A-EN-N Rev A

Fluke. Keeping your worldup and running.

An imaging tip:

Many thermographers find their reports get lost in the great shuffleof papers that seems to accompany maintenance programs in mostplants. One trick is to print a hi-lighter yellow boarder on thereport. Youll be amazed at how quickly it gets action! Another is tocreate a bulletin board where thermal image color print outs andreports can be posted. This helps communicate the importance ofpredictive maintenance as well as the value of thermal imaging.