What We Scan
A commercial thermal survey can include:
- Switchgear, panels, and disconnects
- Transformers and busway
- Motor control centers
- Rooftop unit and equipment connections
- Generator and transfer switch connections
- Distribution panels serving tenant spaces
Predictive Maintenance
Heat is an early warning sign. By scanning regularly, facility managers can schedule repairs during planned downtime instead of reacting to failures. Insurers often encourage periodic thermography for commercial properties.
After the scan, we provide findings with images and prioritized recommendations. Each finding is ranked by severity: what needs immediate attention, what should be scheduled, and what is normal operation. That turns a pile of thermal images into a work order list your maintenance team can actually use.
How a Survey Runs
Scanning happens under load during normal operations, so there's nothing to shut down and no production lost. A typical survey covers the main service equipment and distribution panels in a single visit, with larger or multi-building facilities split across sessions.
Findings that warrant a closer look are verified with electrical testing before anyone opens a cabinet — thermal images show temperature, not causes, and confirming the source keeps repairs targeted and short.
A Program, Not a One-Off
The value of thermography compounds with history: comparing this year's images to last year's shows which connections are stable and which are trending toward failure. We track baseline images for recurring clients so each annual survey builds on the last.
Call (202) 521-4835 to set up a one-time scan or a recurring thermography program.
Common Findings We Report
After years of scanning commercial equipment, the findings follow patterns: loose connections at lugs that were never torqued after installation, overloaded conductors where loads were added without a study, failed or failing capacitors on motor circuits, and protection devices that no longer operate as rated.
Most findings are graded minor and scheduled for the next planned maintenance window. A smaller number are urgent — a connection running hot enough to damage equipment, for instance — and those we call about the same day, because the difference between a scheduled repair and an emergency is usually days.
The report also lists what was normal, which matters: a survey that documents healthy equipment is the baseline that makes next year’s anomalies meaningful.
Thermography also covers more than panels. We scan busways, disconnects, motor control centers, and the connections on large equipment — anywhere a bad joint dissipates heat before it fails outright. In facilities that can’t afford a surprise shutdown, we schedule scans alongside other preventive work so the roof-access and lockout logistics are handled once. Ask us to quote a single scan or an annual program; the annual option usually costs less per visit and catches drift between years that a one-time scan never would.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the scan require shutting down equipment?
No. Thermography is performed while equipment is energized and under load.
How often should we scan?
Many facilities scan annually. Critical systems may benefit from more frequent surveys.
Will we get a report?
Yes. We provide thermal images and recommendations for any issues found.
Can you perform the repairs you identify?
Yes. As a licensed electrical contractor we can correct the findings, often during scheduled downtime.
Do you scan occupied office buildings?
Yes. Scanning is quiet, non-contact, and done from panel exteriors, so tenants notice little more than an open door.