Visualizing Electrical Faults Before They Fail
Infrared Thermography (IRT) is a vital non-contact NDT method for diagnosing electrical systems under load. Loose connections, overloaded circuits, and component fatigue generate resistive heating that is invisible to the naked eye yet poses major safety and reliability risks.
Using high-resolution thermal cameras, BQCIS thermographers scan live electrical infrastructure—switchgear, busbars, MCCs, and transformers—to locate thermal anomalies ("hot spots") indicating potential defects or imbalance.
Certified BQCIS IRT Level II/III specialists perform quantitative thermal analysis following NETA and ISO 18436 standards, ranking severity, recommending interventions, and supporting predictive maintenance strategies to enhance operational uptime.
Key IRT Electrical Inspection Activities
Key Benefits of IRT for Electrical Systems
Prevent Unplanned Outages
Detects high-resistance faults early to avoid equipment failure and costly production interruptions.
Enhance Fire Safety
Locates overheating conductors and contacts before they escalate into ignition or arc-flash conditions.
Non-Contact Inspection
Performs evaluations safely from outside enclosures without interrupting energized systems.
Optimize Predictive Maintenance
Supports data-driven maintenance prioritization using repeatable thermal trend analysis.
Success Story
Infrared Scan Identifies Failing Circuit Breaker
A manufacturing plant needed to evaluate its main distribution switchgear for hidden thermal faults during peak load.
BQCIS performed a full infrared survey under operating conditions, correlating image temperatures with current readings to isolate abnormal hotspots.
A key circuit breaker showed a 40 °C rise above adjacent units—evidence of internal contact degradation. Planned replacement prevented arc-flash risk and downtime.