Short answer: a Level 1 thermographer can capture images and follow a set procedure. A Level 2 can plan and run a survey, correct for emissivity, reflections and load, and write the report. A Level 3 writes procedures, oversees programmes and makes the final call on grading. For insurer-grade electrical surveys, ask for Level 2 or above.
Where the levels come from
Thermographers are certified against ISO 18436-7 through bodies such as the ITC (Infrared Training Center) and the BINDT (PCN scheme). The ITC and PCN call them Levels; the ISO standard calls them Categories I, II and III. The steps are the same. Each one needs more training hours, field experience and an exam. The certificate belongs to the person, and it has to be renewed, so it is worth asking to see a current one.
What each level can do
- Level 1: captures thermal images to an agreed procedure and spots obvious anomalies. Good for routine data collection under supervision.
- Level 2: sets the camera up correctly for the job, accounts for emissivity, reflected temperature, distance and load, analyses the readings and writes the report with severity grades and recommended actions.
- Level 3: designs the inspection programme, writes procedures, interprets the standards, settles difficult calls on grading and checks the work of others.
Why the level shows up in the report
Electrical thermography looks simple: point the camera, find the hot spot. The hard part is knowing which hot spots are real.
- Bare copper and shiny metal reflect heat from elsewhere and can read high or low.
- Panel heaters and some components run warm by design.
- A connection at 20% load can look fine and be a problem at 80%.
- Grading a finding means comparing it with similar components and with ambient, and recording where the reading was taken.
A Level 2 or Level 3 thermographer is trained to handle all of that. The result is fewer false alarms, fewer missed faults, and findings your electricians and insurers can act on without arguing over the numbers.
Five questions to ask a survey provider
- Who will be on site, and what level are they certified to? Ask for the certificate number and issuing body.
- Who analyses the images and signs off the report?
- Which standard do you grade findings to? We use the ANSI/NETA MTS temperature-difference criteria.
- Do you record load at the time of each finding?
- Do you also carry out repairs? An independent surveyor has no stake in the outcome.
Person versus company
Individual certification shows what one thermographer can do. Company-level certification shows the business has procedures, reporting and quality checks that hold up across every survey, not just the ones done by its most experienced person. Ti’s thermographers are ITC Level 3 and Ti is a Level 3 certified company, so the same standard applies on every job.
What that looks like on a real job
On a London data centre build, our thermographers imaged the busbar runs section by section during commissioning load testing. 16 sections ran above 80°C under test load, and the hottest point, at a tap-off unit, measured 103.5°C. Each finding went into the report with its exact location and matching thermal and visual images, so the installer could investigate before handover. More on busbar thermography at commissioning.
We survey switchgear, busbar, UPS and PDUs in live sites: see our data centre electrical thermography, switchgear thermography, annual PPM surveys and the 7 electrical risks that cause downtime.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Level 1 thermographer enough for an insurer survey?
Usually not on their own. Insurers want graded findings with recommended actions, and that analysis is Level 2 work. Check what your insurer’s survey specification asks for.
Does the certificate expire?
Yes. Certification has to be renewed, so ask for a current certificate rather than one from years ago.
Is a thermographer the same as an electrician?
No. The thermographer finds and reports the heat. A qualified electrician isolates the circuit, finds the cause and carries out the repair.
Talk to us: +44 20 3885 7464 · sales@thermalimaging.co.uk · send us your site details
About the author: Rachael Browning is General Manager of Ti Thermal Imaging, which carries out electrical thermography surveys across the UK and UAE for data centres, FM portfolios and industrial sites. Ti’s work has featured on BBC News and ITV.