Spotting a poor thermographic inspection: 6 red flags
You pay for certainty, not for a pretty report. Yet many thermographic "inspections" look professional but amount to little in measurement terms. How do you, as a client, separate the wheat from the chaff?
Why does this matter?
A superficial inspection is worse than none: it gives false certainty. A defect missed because it was measured at the wrong time or with the wrong camera keeps smouldering until it costs money — and by then the link with a loss event has often gone. Knowing what to watch for protects you from that false reassurance.
The 6 red flags
- No radiometry. Colour pictures without temperature values per finding are not verifiable.
- Wrong timing. Measured with too little sun or load, so defects don't heat up enough.
- No emissivity or reference correction. Reflections are then mistaken for damage, or the reverse.
- No certification. No EASA operator, no demonstrable thermographic knowledge.
- No location per finding. Without GPS or a clear reference your repairer doesn't know which panel or roof section.
- Messy delivery. Loose files by email without structure — hard to read, hard to share.
What a good inspection does
A sound thermographic inspection delivers measurable data (radiometric), taken at the right time, with correct settings, by a certified operator, and every finding localised. The delivery matters too: a professional delivery is itself a quality marker. We bundle every inspection in a dedicated client portal — DronePortal: one link, no loose files, with images, measurements and report in one place.
Why with a drone?
A drone enables a systematic, repeatable measurement without climbing onto the structure, with a professional radiometric sensor. That makes exactly those red flags — no radiometry, no location, no repeatability — avoidable.
Why Droneview?
Droneview is EASA-certified, measures radiometrically with the Matrice 30T at the right time, and delivers a structured, localised report that holds up with insurer and manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an inspection was radiometric?
A radiometric report contains measured values: temperatures per finding and a delta-T relative to the surroundings. If you only see colour images without numbers, the inspection probably was not radiometric.
Does a thermographer need to be certified?
For drone inspections an EASA certification of the operator is required, and thermographic knowledge (emissivity, delta-T, interpretation) is essential. Ask for it; a professional shows it without hesitation.
Why is the timing of the measurement so important?
Without enough load or irradiance there is too little temperature difference to see defects. A measurement at the wrong time can make a damaged installation look healthy.
What if my previous report had no measured values?
Then it is hard to substantiate with an insurer or manufacturer. A new radiometric measurement does provide verifiable data and can serve as a reference or counter-assessment.
Doubting an earlier inspection?
Have your installation re-measured — radiometric, certified and with a verifiable report.
Request a quote