MONITORING & METERING


TAKING THE DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH TO D


During commercial property decarbonisation projects, those tasked with evaluating and modifying energy management practices need accurate data about the condition of their premises. Chris Woods, account manager at IRT Surveys, part of the Mears Group, explains how integrating thermal imaging data with retrofit modelling enables facilities


managers, property developers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions on energy efficiency investments


A


side from reducing carbon footprints, commercial property retrofits are also expected


to ensure that finished buildings are energy- efficient and compliant. Before commencement, decision makers must have a clear understanding of the issues that affect their buildings’ energy efficiency and compliance demands, so that the most effective solutions can be implemented. In these circumstances, data plays a crucial role, providing detailed information for individual


fabric-first approach is adopted across a property portfolio, it provides stakeholders with the metrics that empower data-driven decision-making over portfolio-wide decarbonisation projects.


NON-INVASIVE AND NON-DISRUPTIVE In contrast to some other surveying methods, thermal imaging is neither invasive nor disruptive. A cost-effective operation that can be delivered quickly, there is no need for scaffolding, nor is


“Experienced survey teams, equipped with the latest thermal imaging technology, can provide high-resolution images using the infrared radiation that a property emits. These images


can highlight key energy-efficiency issues whose remediation would be vital to the success of the project”


properties and across wider portfolios. The value of this data is that it provides insights that enable stakeholders to make better decisions and understand the most effective pathway to decarbonisation. Crucially, this means that energy-efficiency solutions can be tailored to the requirements of individual buildings while helping professionals deliver cost-efficient projects.


THE VALUE OF THERMAL IMAGING While traditional survey methods can uncover some of the issues affecting a commercial building’s energy efficiency, others are more challenging to detect. The specialist equipment used during thermal imaging surveys offers commercial property owners, specifiers and facilities managers an efficient way to identify a broad spectrum of building defects that other surveying techniques often overlook. Experienced survey teams, equipped with the


latest thermal imaging technology, can produce high-resolution images using the infrared radiation that a property emits. These images can highlight key energy-efficiency issues whose remediation would be vital to the success of the project. Such issues include damp and waterproofing problems, porous brickwork and heat escaping from poorly insulated walls and roofs. With this data, stakeholders are provided with


detailed visual insights about the condition of the building fabric, its energy inefficiencies and its thermal performance. Furthermore, when this


8ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Winter 2025 www.essmag.co.uk


the fabric of the building damaged – for instance, brickwork isn’t removed to inspect insulation. This speeds up the survey process, ensures that operations don’t need to come to a halt while surveys are carried out, and that costly follow-up repairs are not required.


The versatility of thermal imaging also means it is suitable for a wide range of commercial properties, including office blocks, large retail stores, warehouses and industrial sites. Specialist vehicles, like MappIR, are equipped with thermal imaging, LiDAR and visual cameras, offering a low-cost way to capture data at scale and at pace across large commercial property estates. The use of thermal imaging


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