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Thermal Imaging (Case Four)

Case Four: Missing Piping Insulation

Buidling Type: 200+ Room Hotel located in Pittsburgh

Equipment Type: Hot water heat.

Complaint: No complaint was made. There was a comment after this discovery that the hall way was always hot year round.

Complaint Type: Energy, Comfort.

Effects: Overheating of adjacent space. Wasted energy.

Cause: This is another instance where an energy audit and building assessment were being performed and having the camera available during a walk-through. I noticed a heat anomaly in a hall way. This seemed out of place, so further investigation was warranted. See image Pair 1 and image pair 2. Thermal imaging indicated that the newly installed (5 years ago) hot water piping had never been insulated. The heat from the piping was radiating to the tile below and subsequently heating the room.

Image Pair 1

Digital Image of ceiling with tiles in place.

Digital image of ceiling

Thermal image of ceiling with tiles in place.

Image Pair 2

Digital image with tile removed.

Thermal Image with tile removed.

Solutions: Piping insulation was replaced, room comfort returned, and boiler runtime reduced.

Who Am I?

I started my HVAC career working for a plumbing and heating contractor in my home town full time and part time during college. Later, working for Trane as a building automation technician, I learned the value of life time client relationships.  I feel it is important to incorporate a team environment in every project. This includes the contractors, designers, and owners working towards a common goal of creating lasting, energy efficient, and comfortable buildings.  I believe that any building can operate more efficiently, and we should push them as far as possible.  With my experience in building automation, contracting, thermal imaging, and commissioning, I am here to do that.

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