What is an infrared electrical survey?

An infrared (thermographic) electrical survey uses a thermal imaging camera to detect abnormal heat in energized electrical equipment. Hot spots reveal problems such as loose or corroded connections, overloads, and load imbalances before they cause a failure.

Why are infrared electrical surveys important?

Excess heat is an early sign of a developing fault. Finding it lets you fix the problem during planned maintenance, avoiding unplanned outages, equipment damage, and electrical fires. It is a core predictive-maintenance technique.

How often should infrared electrical surveys be performed?

Critical electrical equipment is commonly surveyed at least once a year, with more frequent inspections for high-criticality or historically problematic assets. Insurers and maintenance standards such as NFPA 70B inform the interval.

What conditions are needed for a valid survey?

Equipment should be energized and ideally carrying a meaningful load (often at least about 40 percent) so thermal anomalies appear, and the work must be done by a qualified thermographer with safe access to the equipment.

Infrared Electrical Surveys: Thermographic Inspection Explained

An infrared electrical survey (also called a thermographic survey) uses a thermal imaging camera to spot abnormal heat in energized electrical equipment. Because excess heat is an early warning of a developing fault, these surveys catch problems - loose or corroded connections, overloaded circuits, and load imbalances - before they cause a failure or fire.

What it detects

Loose, corroded, or degraded connections generating resistance heat
Overloaded conductors, breakers, and equipment
Load imbalance across phases
Failing components in switchgear, panelboards, transformers, and motor control centers

Why it matters

Infrared surveys are a cornerstone of predictive and preventive maintenance: they turn an unplanned failure into a scheduled repair, improve safety, and reduce downtime. Maintenance standards such as NFPA 70B address infrared thermography as part of an electrical maintenance program.

Frequently asked questions

How often should surveys be performed?

At least annually for critical equipment is common, with tighter intervals for high-criticality or problem assets.

What conditions are needed?

Equipment energized and under meaningful load (often at least ~40%), inspected by a qualified thermographer with safe access.

About Bowvue - Bowvue helps facilities manage arc flash studies, infrared thermographic surveys, and electrical preventive maintenance in one platform.