BREEAM does not make a thermographic survey compulsory, but BREEAM UK New Construction gives credit for testing the finished building fabric under its commissioning and handover issue, and a thermographic survey is part of that evidence. It must be carried out, or checked and signed off, by an appropriately qualified building thermographer.
What the survey is there to show
Once the cladding, windows and linings are on, you can no longer see whether the insulation is continuous. A thermographic survey images the completed envelope so the design team, the contractor and the assessor can see where heat is escaping: gaps in insulation, thermal bridging at junctions and air leakage paths around openings. It sits alongside the airtightness test. The airtightness test gives one number for the whole building; the thermal survey shows where the problems are.
Who can carry it out
BREEAM’s own knowledge base says the survey and report need an appropriately qualified professional, and lists UKTA-recognised building thermography qualifications such as PCN (Civil) Level 2 and the ABBE Level 4 Building Thermographer qualification. Someone else can capture the images, but a qualified professional must quality-check and sign the report. Check this before you book. A camera-owning contractor without a building thermography qualification will not give your assessor what they need.
Ti’s building surveys are carried out and signed off by certified thermographers, and Ti Thermal Imaging is a Level 3 certified company.
The conditions that make or break the survey
Building thermography only works when heat is flowing through the fabric. Before we confirm a date we check:
- Temperature difference: we plan for at least a 10 °C difference between inside and outside, with the inside warmer. In practice that means the heating is on, and most surveys are done in the colder months or overnight.
- Weather: no direct sun on the elevations beforehand, dry surfaces and low wind.
- Build stage: the envelope is complete, with windows, doors and cladding in. Internal areas may need surveying as well as external elevations.
Most failed survey dates come from booking too late in the programme, when the weather or the heating is not ready. Book as soon as you know your practical completion date.
What the report gives your assessor
- A cover page summarising how many issues were found
- A list of open issues, each with its location on the building
- An inventory of every area inspected and its status
- A thermal and visual image of each anomaly, with the survey conditions recorded: inside and outside temperatures, weather and time
The report records what was measured and where. Finding the cause of an anomaly, and fixing it, is for the contractor. If remedial work is done, we can come back and re-survey the same areas so the closed-out issues are on record for the assessor.
Standards your assessor may ask about
BREEAM’s guidance names ISO 6781 and EN 13187 as suitable test methods for thermographic surveys of buildings. Your assessor will confirm what applies to the scheme version your project is registered under.
Frequently asked questions
Can a BREEAM thermographic survey be done in summer?
It is harder, because the difference between inside and outside is usually too small during the day. Night surveys, or raising the heating beforehand, can sometimes work. We will tell you honestly if the conditions on your date won’t give a valid result.
Is an airtightness test the same thing?
No. The airtightness test measures overall leakage. The thermographic survey shows where heat is escaping and where insulation is missing or bridged. BREEAM projects usually need both.
Who gets the report?
You do. Most clients pass it straight to their BREEAM assessor as evidence.
Talk to us
See our building and BREEAM surveys and our press coverage, including BBC News and ITN.
Talk to us: +44 20 3885 7464 · sales@thermalimaging.co.uk · contact page
About the author: Rachael Browning, General Manager, Ti Thermal Imaging.