Thermal Imaging Cameras, or TICs, have become a common tool to help fire fighters in their mission to rescue and protect citizens. Often times, firefighters face situations where they are unable to see due to intense smoke and haze making it almost impossible to locate victims and the source of fires. The thermal imaging technology makes it possible for fire fighters to identify and locate trapped victims.  The cameras make it easier for them to safely navigate their way through and out of dangerous environments.  According to the National Fire Protection Association, TICs can reduce the time firefighters spend searching a building for victims from 15 minutes to as little as two minutes.  This time is very valuable to the survival of both the victims of fire related incidents and the firefighters.

A Thermal Imaging Camera (TIC) is merely a device that contains a sensor that reacts to infrared energy from surrounding objects and converts the “thermal signature” to a visible image.

The resulting image generated by a TIC allows a firefighter to:

• Navigate safely

• Locate trapped individuals and firefighters

• Rapidly locate fire source

• Effectively extinguish fire source.

How do thermal imaging cameras work?

Thermography is the infrared imaging science what renders us the ability to see clearly in conditions where sight is impaired by thick smoke, fog or haze.  Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to “see” and “measure” thermal energy emitted from an object.  Thermal, or infrared, energy is light that is not visible because its wavelength is too long to be detected by the human eye; it’s the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat.

Thermal Imaging Cameras works much like digital security cameras except they take a thermal picture. The camera sensors measure infrared radiation that is transformed to a visual representation that determines the amount of heat being produced.  The color ranges from blue to red depending on the amount of heat radiating from the object. The higher the object’s temperature, the greater the IR radiation emitted. In the case of firefighting, smoke, dust and debris obscure normal vision and prevent firefighters from being able to locate the source of blaze or even trapped victims.

Three factors to consider when comparing thermal imaging cameras:

• Resolution.  The resolution of the picture that is measured in pixels, and every pixel measures a reading. More pixels mean higher resolution and greater temperature measurement accuracy.
  

• Accuracy. Percentage of the reading value will determine the camera’s accuracy. Most cameras have accuracy’s between 2-5%.
• Temperature range. The range of extreme heat and cold that the camera can be exposed to and still perform properly. Consider what conditions the camera will be exposed?

Advantages of Thermal Cameras:

Thermal security cameras have distinct advantages over both human eye functions and low-light daytime cameras.  The difference between thermal imaging and the human eye is that thermal cameras don’t use visible-light to make a picture. Instead they use heat.  Thermal security cameras give you the power to see threats invisible to the naked eye, allowing you to see anything through haze, smoke, dust and even light fog. The biggest advantage of infrared imaging is its ability to see through total darkness. This has been of a tremendous help to fire fighters, border patrol and for aerial surveillance

Another advantage of Thermal security cameras is the ability to instantly detect the differences in heat surrounding everything.  This means which it the cameras are able to unmask potential intruders because their body temperature cannot be hidden from the thermal security cameras.  The thermal camera systems will always be able to detect and locate suspicious people and activities.

Other Uses of Thermal Imaging Cameras:

Over the years, the use of thermal cameras has expanded. Once only used for surveillance and security, the current technology has made these cameras serve many other useful purposes.  The thermal camera imaging system is now widely used by the government for surveillance of the border, aerial surveillance, port security and fire fighting.

The infrared technology, which distinguishes heat energy, can detect the minute temperature changes and this is generated as an image on a screen. The thermal imaging camera can easily identify hot or cold spots by measuring surface temperature variations.

This ability to monitor the slightest change in temperatures is being used to:

• Assess problems in electrical wiring by detecting changes in temperature along electrical circuits
• Rapidly identify areas of missed insulation
• Detect energy losses either due to air leaks or breaks in the walls
• Detect areas of moisture accumulation in the walls, roofs and ceiling
• Detect excessive heating in engines, mechanical devices

The Future of Surveillance and Security

In the last few years, the technology of cameras has become more sophisticated and are equipped with greater capabilities.  The latest in the line of elite cameras are the thermal imaging cameras.  Once a highly specialized and very expensive technology, now affordable thermal imagers are available to the general public for home and office security.  Today, the infrared technology is now being applied to other fields such as building, construction, electrical and home security.  This affordability has made it possible for all types of commercial industries to avoid potentially devastating disasters.  These savings outweigh the amount of money a business will invest for a thermal imaging camera.