Your insurer, your maintenance team, and your board all read the same electrical thermography survey report. It needs to stand up to scrutiny from every angle. Before you book your next survey, here are seven things worth demanding from any provider you consider.
Key Takeaways
- Ask for proof of ITC or PCN Category 2/3 certification before booking, not after.
- Demand a sample report showing load-corrected temperatures and standardised fault grading.
- Same-day, on-site reporting should be achievable — ask why if a provider quotes several days.
- Confirm the provider works with your existing camera equipment or explain any compatibility limits upfront.
1. Thermographer Certification Level
Does the team hold ITC or PCN Category 2 or 3 qualifications? Higher certification means more accurate diagnostics and findings that hold up under scrutiny. Ask for certificate numbers and verify them — don’t accept a verbal assurance.
2. Report Structure and Insurer Acceptance
Can the report be submitted directly to your insurer with severity grades, load-corrected temperatures, and clear remedial actions? Ask to see a sample before you commit, not after the survey is booked.
3. On-Site Reporting Capability
Can you receive a finished report before the surveyor leaves your site? Same-day delivery matters when Critical faults need immediate attention. Ti Thermal Imaging builds reports live during the inspection using its TICOR™ platform, applying Automatic BS7671-Compliant Load Correction as it goes.
4. Standardised Fault Grading
Does the provider use a repeatable severity system — Minor, Important, Serious, Critical — that stays consistent across engineers and sites? If two surveyors would grade the same fault differently, the report’s credibility is compromised.
5. Camera and Equipment Specification
Is the provider using calibrated, high-resolution radiometric cameras with sufficient thermal sensitivity for detecting hot spots? Ask what equipment they use and whether it’s calibrated to a recognised standard.
6. UK Coverage and Sector Experience
Can the provider reach your sites, and do they have documented experience in your sector? A provider with data centre or industrial experience will tailor the inspection scope differently than one used to general office surveys.
7. Trending and Condition Monitoring Support
Can findings be compared across inspection cycles so your maintenance team can track deterioration over time? Ti Thermal Imaging’s WEBCOR™ platform gives you a cloud-based record of every inspection, tracking ΔT and severity changes asset by asset.
Why This List Matters
A provider that can answer all seven points with verifiable evidence — not just a website claim — is the one worth booking. Ti Thermal Imaging delivers ITC Level 3 certified, FLIR-Approved inspections with same-day TICOR™ reporting and WEBCOR™ trending, aligned to ISO 18436-7 and BS7671. Request a survey quote to see the difference.
FAQs
What certification should a UK thermal imaging surveyor hold?
Look for ITC or PCN Category 2 as a minimum for report sign-off. Category 3 thermographers can design inspection programmes and carry out advanced diagnostics.
How often should electrical thermography surveys be carried out?
Most UK insurers and compliance frameworks expect annual electrical thermography surveys for commercial and industrial properties. High-risk environments such as data centres may require six-monthly inspections.
What is the difference between a thermographic survey and an EICR?
An EICR tests the safety and condition of wiring and fixed electrical installations. A thermographic survey detects overheating components under live, loaded conditions. The two are complementary.
Do insurers accept thermographic survey reports as compliance evidence?
Many UK insurers accept well-structured thermographic reports as evidence of electrical risk management, provided the report includes asset identification, load conditions, severity grading, and remedial actions.