I have been a home inspector for a few years and am considering adding thermal imaging to my business for added income. The problem is I have no idea where to start. I have been all over the internet trying to see what my first step should be. Some questions I have are:
Is another license required?
Does Texas require a state specific license?
Is an energy audit and a RESNET/HERS rating inspection different?
Is there a standardized report for these inspections?
If anyone can shed some light on this, it would be much appreciated. I have a good FLIR camera, I just need to figure out how to make some $$$ with it!
No license required anywhere in the US what you do in IR depends on the type of camera you have I would say there is more of a standardized process to follow than a standardized reporting system and yes there are different levels of energy type audits. Everyone’s opinion of a good camera is different what is your opinion.
There is nothing wrong with a FLIR B50. It is a great camera for building diagnostics. You just have to remember that limitation. You will be able to also handle residential electrical.
I am not a big fan of starting in the middle when it comes to cameras. I think in the long run you do yourself a lot of justice by starting off with a little less camera and spending the extra money on training. Then in the future buy one of the big boys once you understand the industry. I know others will argue that fact here, but those “others” have a few years experience under their belt in the industry and most of them started with lower end cameras. What I mean by lower end is 160x120 minimum with no higher than 100mk thermal sensitivity (now a days it is actually hard to buy one this high). Your B50 is 140x140, which is basically the same as 160x120.
IR is a very profitable industry, providing you do not allocate yourself to residential only. Most that “struggle” in the industry have a build it and they will come mentality. That type of business model rarely works, unless you have a completely niche product or service that is a big break through. IE - Google in 1998.
If you do not mind doing a lot of client (potential or current) education, then even the highest levels of infrared training costs will pay off in a short amount of time. We do jobs now a days that will buy you just about any camera you want…on just one job.
Ok sounds great…sounds like training would be the next step then. Where is the best place to go for theat? I live in a rural area in west texas, are there any good online courses available?
John- most of the fires have gone out now…just need to keep praying for rain over here…i think it’s been close to 10 months since we’ve had any.
The only ASTM certified IR course that is offered online is via Infraspection Institute. http://www.infraspection.com/ give Perry a call over there. They are all really nice down to earth people over there.
Any of you guys can also take their Successiries series 101 and 102 course for free via webinar.
It is suppose to rain here in Arizona for the next few days, maybe it will come your way next.
Jason Kaylor - JJ AC Tool Supply
Arizona Infrared Services
877-207-1244
Some of the training out there is a little camera-centric. Remember, camera operation is not nearly as important as interpretation, and for that, you can’t just understand what your pointing… you have to understand what your pointing at.
Even if it means trashing other people that know more about the subject. I am assuming Nick’s little add on in parentheses was directed to Jim Seffrin and Infraspection Institute because JJ and some others recommended their course.
It is sad how many bridges are built and then later burned by this organization and Nick.
? huh? Every link in my post was to a free, online in-house InterNACHI article, video or course. Those aren’t links to vendors, they are links to us. Are you saying that the Founder of InterNACHI shouldn’t be promoting InterNACHI by posting links to InterNACHI pages on InterNACHI’s message board?
I didn’t take the parenthesis statement that way. Nick knows Jim, which means he knows that Jim owns a good sized IR inspection company on top of Infraspection.
I think he was more referencing some in the building science industry. There are a lot of scientific types (engineers) that are very text book smart in the industry, but have very little hands on or field experience. Although maybe my perception was incorrect also.
Oh, I see, someone was making the false claim that I said something that I didn’t. There is a trick to discovering exactly what I said… read what I said. With this being my 26,154th post, it shouldn’t be too hard to pick on my actual words, you won’t need to resort to someone’s incorrect take on my words.
Anyway… my thinking is that a non-home inspector shouldn’t be offering IR services just because he took a class on IR cameras (no matter how scientific the course seems)… any more than… a person should offer carpentry services just because he/she took a class on power saws.
Learning about the tool itself is only 10% of what you need… at most. The most important word in infrared inspection is “inspection.”
You got to take their criticism with a grain of salt. Scott is a vice president of a competing organization and Dale is the president of that same organization which is ran by John Bowman. John Bowman was ran out of NACHI because of his underhanded trashing of NACHI in hopes to getting NACHI members to join a different organization that he had started which went under soon after.
I really do not have anything against Scott or Dale but I have noticed their change in attitude towards NACHI whenever they got involved in the competing organization. Sad but true.
Well, I don’t really follow other groups. I have enough trouble with this InterNACHI monster. Sorry if I suckered anyone into forming their own inspection association by making it look easy. LOL!
