# Infrared thermography (IRT)

> Infrared thermography (IRT) uses a thermal camera to image surface temperature differences that reveal electrical hot spots, refractory or insulation loss, blocked flow, moisture and subsurface delaminations.

- Source: https://amps.global/glossary/infrared-thermography/
- Type: Glossary
- Published: 2026-09-05
- Tags: NDT, thermography, condition monitoring

## Key facts

- Passive IRT observes the object at its operating temperature; active IRT heats or cools it and watches the response
- Non-contact and fast; results depend on emissivity, ambient conditions and camera resolution
- Common on switchboards, refractory linings, insulated piping, roofs and composite panels
- Personnel schemes: ISO 18436-7 and ASNT Level I to III in IR/thermal testing

Also known as: IRT, thermographic inspection, thermal imaging, IR inspection.

## How it works

Every surface emits infrared radiation in proportion to its temperature and emissivity. A thermal camera converts that radiation into a false-colour image, and a qualified thermographer interprets patterns against expected behaviour, corrects for emissivity and reflections, and reports temperature differences with photos side by side.

## Where it is used

Predictive maintenance of electrical and mechanical plant, refractory and insulation surveys during operation, moisture in building envelopes, and active thermography of composites in aerospace.

## IRT in AMPS

Thermography surveys repeat on a schedule per asset. AMPS keeps personnel and equipment certificates on dedicated personnel and equipment pages, and its flag system warns one month before a certificate, calibration document or scheduled inspection falls due, so managers always know what is missing or expiring. All AMPS data is available to Power BI, which is how customers compare job or shutdown performance, costs and time allocation.

## Related pages

- [Inspection interval](https://amps.global/glossary/inspection-interval/)
- [Asset register](https://amps.global/glossary/asset-register/)
- [Asset management software](https://amps.global/solutions/asset-management-software/)

## Sources

- [Thermography on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermography)
- [ASNT - American Society for Nondestructive Testing](https://www.asnt.org/)