Fluke Debuts IR Camera for Building Diagnostics

[hausdok]

EVERETT, Wash. - Press Release

Fluke Corporation, the global leader in handheld electronic test and measurement technology, today announced the Fluke TiR1 and TiR Thermal Imagers, designed as an affordable and complete solution optimized for building envelope, restoration and remediation, inspection and roofing applications.

Both models incorporate IR Fusion®, a patent-pending technology that integrates infrared and visual (visible light) images in full screen or picture-in-picture views for enhanced problem detection and analysis. IR-Fusion helps users recognize image details and better identify problem areas by quickly scrolling through the different viewing modes. As the only thermal imagers available today in this format and price range that incorporate this capability in both the camera and in the software, Fluke thermal imaging products can be an affordable and easy solution for helping users quickly identify potential problem areas and begin analysis in the field.

The TR1 and TiR are designed to make the use of thermal imaging affordable and effective for day-to-day use by building diagnostic professionals, restoration and remediation specialists and roofing professionals. The thermal imagers feature the ability to record and save voice comments with every image taken (TiR1 only), a three-button menu designed for intuitive operation and navigation with the push of a thumb, and on-screen emissivity correction (TiR1 only).

The rugged Fluke TiR1 and TiR Thermal Imagers are tested to withstand a drop of 6.5 feet (2 meters), and are IP54 rated to withstand water and dust. With a widescreen, full color LCD display, optimized thermal sensitivity, and a temperature measurement range of -20 °C to +100 °C, the thermal imagers are suitable for most building diagnostics applications, allowing users to operate from a safe distance and still see small temperature differences.

Fluke SmartViewâ„¢ software (with free software upgrades for the life of the product) is included with each thermal imager. A modular suite of tools for viewing, annotating, editing and analyzing infrared images, SmartView software fully supports Fluke IR Fusion technology, enabling users to edit images in five viewing modes and generate customizable, professional-looking reports in a few steps.

The imagers include a 2 GB SD memory card that will store at least 3,000 basic infrared images (.bmp file format) or 1,200 fully radiometric (.is2 IR Fusion file format) infrared and linked visual images, each with 60 seconds of voice annotation (TiR1 only), as well as an SD card reader (USB) for downloading images into a computer. Each thermal imager comes with a rugged hard carry case and a soft transport bag, an adjustable hand strap for right- or left-handed use, rechargeable internal battery and AC power supply/battery charger (including mains adapters).

Use the Fluke TiR1 and TiR Thermal Imagers for applications including:

• Roofing Surveys: Detect wet areas in roofing systems quickly and efficiently. Find wet portions of the roofing structure and repair or replace before the entire roof is damaged.
• Energy Audits: Perform infrared energy audits for residential and commercial applications. Increase the thermal efficiency of a home or building by scanning for thermal heat loss, air infiltration or exfiltration, or air delivery problems.
• Moisture/Restoration: Accurately detect moisture issues located behind exterior and interior walls, in ceilings or under carpet-covered floors.
• Mold Remediation: Control mold by finding unknown sources of moisture that would otherwise go undetected.

Fluke IR Fusion Technology

IR-Fusion technology (patent pending) facilitates real time pixel-for-pixel merging of infrared and visible light images together on a single display. Providing five viewing modes – each designed to add greater clarity, accuracy and a valuable frame of reference to infrared images – IR-Fusion is the only technology to allow users to manipulate images right on the camera’s display and is designed specifically to allow users to find problems not commonly detected with similar infrared imaging cameras.

IR-Fusion captures infrared and visible light images and simultaneously displays the images fused together, adding a new dimension of detail that saves time and money and best conveys infrared information of each specific application and environment. Viewing modes include:

• Full Infrared – high-resolution standard infrared images.
• Full Visible Light (this mode available only in the software of the Fluke TiR1 and TiR models) – a visual (visible light) image like you would get with a digital camera.
• Picture-in-Picture – an IR image portal surrounded by a visual (visible light) frame for reference.
• Auto (Automatic) Blending (this mode available on the Fluke TiR1 and in the software of the Fluke TiR) – combines infrared and visual (visible light) images blended together at user-adjustable levels for the greatest image clarity.
• IR/Visible Alarm (this mode available only in the software of the Fluke TiR1 and TiR models) – displays only the portions of the image that fall above, below or between a user-specified temperature range as IR, leaving the remainder of the image as full visual (visible light).

IR-Fusion makes it easier to identify details and potential problems by managing and analyzing images with complete control over both the infrared and visible light spectrums. The ability to fuse images on-camera and optimize images in real-time, combined with an exclusive on-screen, laser pointing indicator, improves primary target identification, enhances issue locating efficiency and offers a tremendous advantage in reporting clarity.

Pricing and Availability

Part of a growing line of Fluke test tools designed specifically for building diagnostics, HVAC/R and indoor air quality (IAQ) professionals, the Fluke TiR1 and TiR Thermal Imagers are available immediately for a suggested US list price of $6,995 for the TiR1 and $4,495 for the TiR. For more information on the Fluke TiR1 and Fluke TiR or the full range of Fluke thermal imaging products, visit www.fluke.com/thermography or contact Fluke Corporation, P.O. Box 9090, Everett, WA USA 98206-9090, call 800-760-4523 or email fluke-info@fluke.com.

Fluke Corporation

Fluke Corporation is the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools. Fluke customers are technicians, engineers, electricians and metrologists who install, troubleshoot, and manage industrial electrical and electronic equipment; and calibration processes for quality control.

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[hausdok]

Hi All,

For those who are interested, one of our sponsors, Home Inspector Essentials, is currently selling the TIR for $4299.99.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[Mark P]

I've started looking for a camera and am surprised that fluke camer's have not changed in price in the past 2.5 years.

[kurt]

And they won't stop.............

[Tom Raymond]

Mark, play with a couple of cameras and make sure you can live with the limitations at that <$5K price point. Those are low res units, don't have a ton of features, and come with pretty basic (read useless) report software.

I'm not sure that we need to go berserk and spend $20k on a camera, but I for one would hate to spend that kind of coin on a tool that didn't meet my expectations.

[David Meiland]

Manufacturer's list and street price are definitely two different things. Fluke lists the Ti32 at $8995 but it can be had for $7500-8000, possibly lower, depending on where you go. I think most or all of Fluke's cameras, even the cheapest, come with SmartView software, which is definitely pretty basic. Dunno about Flir, I believe you have to buy software.

[Mark P]

Thanks Tom,

I'm just starting to do some homework on camera's. In the past I have played with the Flir B50 and liked it and am leaning toward this one; it runs around $6k. The Fluke TiR1 is a around $7k. Both have pretty good resolution. Here are some side by side comparisons of camera's. http://www.globaltestsupply.com/thermal ... 2godAVoiZg

I'm slow in making this sort of decision and will do a lot of research before I make a decision.

[Tom Raymond]

We have a Flir Bcam at the day job. It works pretty well for what we use it for. I'm just fussy I guess, for that kind of money I expect higher res and more features than the camera built into my cell phone.

The most interesting project we did with it involved a concrete floor with radiant tubing in it and a client that wanted a wall built acrossed it. We fired the boiler, scanned for the heat signature of the tubing, marked the locations safe to drill, put up the wall and anchored it with tapcons. No accidents, no leaks, and a happy client.

[hausdok]

Had another situation today where it would have been nice to have an IR camera.

I'd inspected a foreclosure for a guy a couple of years ago. The cover shot is below. The deal went through without a hitch. At the time of the inspection, I'd pointed out to him that the tiles at the tub surround at the edge of a bathtub were loose and he needed to bring in a grout/tile guy and get them taken care of. Apparently, he hadn't because they'd been planning to replace the tub with one of those large two-person showers.

Now, two years later, he finally gets around to starting the project and he yanks the tub, only to find some mold and rot in the sub-flooring next to the tub and a whole lot of carpenter ants in the wall behind the tub under the windows (Yeah, I know, windows in shower are a dumb idea. I'd told him and I've always been of the same mind.). Anyhoo, he starts demolishing the tub surround to see where the carpenter ants are nesting and finds them in the OSB sheathing up under the windows. In the photo, the tub is in the left 2/3 of that bumpout over the porch and the toilet in that bath is in the right 1/3.

Click to Enlarge

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He called me and asked me to come out to take a look and help him figure out what was going on. I got there and he thought that the tiled inside window ledges had been leaking into the wall. I pointed out to him that the water stains started a foot higher between the two windows above the level of where the bituthene has been adhered to the bottom of the rough openings. From there, the stains and rot go downward and outward under both windows. It was obvious that water was coming through the wall between those two windows and into the wall sheathing above that point. We went outside. The only thing covering the gap between the two windows is a 1 by 10 (Look between the left and center window of that dumb-looking bumpout) and the typical two-foot-deep overhang is not there. In this case, it's only about a foot.

I asked whether they get rain from that side in that neighborhood. He told me that the wind and rain funnel right down through the middle of the neighborhood and hit the front of the house so hard that he'd had to remove the screens. He even pointed out a dent in one of the windows where a limb or something had hit it.

My theory; wind-driven rain is draining behind that trim and finding it's way in around the building paper behind that 1 by 10 (You can bet money that around here they didn't use the bituthene at the sides and simply lapped paper over the flanges at the sides and head and then caulked the joint.

I think there's a 10 year structural warranty in effect for new homes here. The builder has a huge project going on at the other end of that community. I told him to press the builder to fix this despite the fact that the home is six years old. I doubt that the builder wants anyone in that community talking about how they'd screwed the pooch on something like this.

Me, I've just stacked up one more reason why an IR camera would have come in handy. Today it was raining and windy. I probably could have seen the intrusion taking place; two years ago I might have seen it and been able to warn him about it.

I just got some literature from Fluke last week. I'll be calling them in the a.m.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[kurt]

Lots of hauling the equipment around, and right about the time I'm beginning to think it's minimally useful, and I'm a moron, I have an epiphany moment. I figure something out that couldn't have been figured otherwise without extreme luck and several hours.

But you can't figure out much of nothing unless there's been a rain. I'd think out there you'd have more rain than I do.

What do you want to know about the Fluke line? I'm developing fairly hard lines and opinions about their stuff. Mine is about as thoughtfully a designed, engineered, and manufactured piece of equipment as I've ever owned. I can't seem to find anything that I don't like about it.

Being a HI discussion, folks will disagree, but resolution is important. Really important. Did I mention resolution?

The SD card slot. You want it.

Don't worry about software stuff; it's entirely adequate if you want to use it in all the ways it's intended to be used, but I bet you don't. I just save Jpegs and integrate them into my report like any other pic.

[David Meiland]

Mike, you could probably arrange a loaner camera for a week or two by calling the Fluke thermography sales department in Everett. Coincidentally, there is very good training coming up shortly in Olympia.

It sounds to me like Kurt is endorsing a 320x240 camera, and I agree.

[hausdok]

Hi David,

Thanks for the tip. I actually got a telephone message from the Fluke people the same day I requested their free guide to thermal imaging. I just never got back to them. Today's the day I'm going to check it out.

What training in Olympia are you referring to?

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[kurt]

I wouldn't recommend a loaner.

Where it really boils down, right now with currently available product, is a B cam or similar (they do work) which you'll want to trade out of in about 8 months, or a TiR32, which is all the camera any building diagnostician is ever going to need.

Make up your mind. It takes a long time to figure them out, so get a camera you want to hold on to if you get one.

Warga says the same thing.