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Infrared thermographic roof scanning for Orlando commercial buildings — wet insulation detection, leak source investigation, and post-storm condition assessment during optimal Central Florida weather windows.
Capability
Pre-survey conditions: We assess the prior day's weather — minimum 4 hours of full sun to charge the roof surface, no rain in the preceding 12 hours, wind speed below 15 mph during the survey window. In Central Florida, we track the National Weather Service forecast for the Orlando metro starting 3-4 days before the scheduled survey and confirm go/no-go on the morning of the survey. If conditions are not adequate, we reschedule — an infrared survey run in marginal conditions produces unreliable data.
Camera and methodology: We use a calibrated infrared camera with thermal sensitivity adequate to distinguish 0.5°C differentials at the roof surface temperature range typical of a Central Florida post-sunset period (typically 85-100°F surface temperature in summer, 65-80°F in winter). The camera is mounted on a mast or used handheld depending on roof access. We image the full roof area in overlapping passes to ensure complete coverage, and we georeference the images to the zone diagram so each anomaly has a documented location.
Core confirmation: Following the infrared scan, we mark and pull cores at the anomaly locations — typically the 3-5 warmest spots plus any additional locations that appear anomalous relative to the surrounding field. The cores tell us whether the thermal signature corresponds to wet insulation, a prior repair, a buried detail, or another condition. We document both the infrared image and the core result for each location in the report.
Post-storm infrared scanning has a specific application for Orlando buildings after significant weather events. When Hurricane Ian's remnant bands moved through Orange County in late September 2022, the storm left significant rainfall across the metro — and many roofs that had minor pre-existing deficiencies experienced accelerated moisture infiltration under the sustained rainfall and wind load. In the weeks after Ian, the dry-season pattern returned quickly, creating good infrared survey windows in October and November.
Buildings that ran post-Ian infrared surveys in that October-November window were able to document new moisture infiltration — separate from the visual storm damage — that supported insurance claims and warranty claims. Buildings that did not run post-storm surveys had a harder time distinguishing new event-related damage from pre-existing conditions when claims were presented months later. The post-storm infrared survey, run within 60 days of the event during a good weather window, is now part of our standard post-storm protocol for buildings on our maintenance programs.
The Florida hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 officially. In practice, the most damaging systems — Charley, Irma, Ian — have all moved through Central Florida in the August-October window, after which the weather pattern typically transitions to a drier, cooler pattern with good infrared survey conditions. Planning for a November post-season survey as standard practice gives us the first good opportunity to assess event-related moisture after the season closes.
Infrared thermography is a moisture detection tool, not a general roof condition assessment. It does not detect membrane deterioration that has not yet produced moisture infiltration, it does not assess fastener pullout strength or FBC wind-uplift compliance, it does not evaluate drain conditions, and it does not identify flashings that are mechanically compromised but not yet leaking. The infrared survey is always paired with a visual inspection and used as a complementary tool — not as a substitute for the full condition assessment.
Buildings with reflective membranes (white TPO, white PVC) present a scanning challenge because the high reflectivity of the membrane surface can reduce the thermal differential that makes wet insulation detectable. We adjust our scan timing and methodology on highly reflective membranes, and we are conservative about the confidence level on infrared findings on these surfaces — more cores, lower threshold for confirmation.
March through May and November through January are the most reliable windows for infrared surveys in the Central Florida area. These months combine adequate solar loading with clear evening skies and low wind speeds. June through October produces good solar loading but the afternoon convective storm pattern interrupts the clear-evening requirement frequently. We schedule infrared surveys in these windows and use nuclear gauge scanning when the rainy season creates an urgent need outside the optimal window.
In good survey conditions, infrared thermography identifies wet insulation zones with an accuracy that is generally within the 10-15% of roof area range for saturation extent. It is a mapping tool, not a precise measurement. We confirm all findings with cores and provide a confidence range rather than a precise percentage in our reports. The nuclear gauge survey provides more precise mapping for large-area saturation assessment; infrared is better at identifying discrete leak pathways and localized moisture patterns.
Sometimes. Infrared will identify where moisture is in the insulation, which is often downstream of the actual membrane breach — water travels horizontally in insulation before it reaches the interior. Identifying the location of the wet insulation narrows the search for the membrane breach, which we then confirm by physical examination of the membrane at and upslope of the wet zone. Active leaks where the source is unknown are a good use case for combining infrared with a physical inspection.
We assess aerial drone infrared surveys on a case-by-case basis. For large, simple roof planes without significant equipment, drone infrared can cover area efficiently. For roofs with dense HVAC equipment, skylights, or complex geometry, the ground-level handheld survey gives us better angle control and closer proximity to the surface. We use whichever method produces better data for the specific building.
We will assess the survey window, run the scan during optimal conditions, confirm findings with core pulls, and deliver a written report with a moisture map keyed to your zone diagram.
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