Developing operational protocol for thermographic inspection programs

摘要

Abstract: The success of a thermographic program hinges on many factors. These include, among others, the selection of appropriate inspection equipment; training of personnel having the necessary backgrounds and technical skills; and creating a management plan. Also critical to success is developing the day to day protocol of the program. These guidelines and procedures not only help the thermographers optimize their inspections, they also ensure the findings will produce maximum benefits within the organization. This paper discusses a general protocol of operations developed from examples of practicing thermographers. During the early stages of developing a program, there is protocol that creates an organizational climate conducive to utilizing thermography, while also establishing some of the logistics needed to support inspections. The inspections themselves benefit greatly from structure - everything from plotting inspection routes to creating data files. After the inspection further protocol suggests how the findings will be analyzed and reported. Other issues, such as safety, education, and designing inspectable equipment, must be addressed on an on-going basis to maintain and refine a program. While no single protocol is right for all situations, the generalizations presented in this paper will serve as a valuable framework for many thermographers, both those who work within organizations as well as those providing consulting services. We have found the end result of a well developed protocol is a more efficient inspection program and a program that produces higher quality and more consistent benefits.!4