Published on:
27
February 2007
Infra red thermographic cameras are to be used to identify possible faults in the installation of thermal insulation in new buildings.
Clackmannanshire Council's Building Standards Team is one of only six Councils selected to take part in the pilot study by the Scottish Building Standards Agency, which is part of the Scottish Executive.
The cameras can check walls, roofs and the entire fabric of the building. The project is finding out whether they are a helpful tool for Building Standards Surveyors.
Alastair Mackenzie, Building Standards Team Leader at Clackmannanshire Council said: "We are pleased to be taking part in this pilot project. It is often difficult for Building Standards Surveyors to properly assess whether the necessary insulation has been fitted in a building. The use of these cameras, if proven to be reliable, will greatly help identify missing or badly fitted insulation located below floors, behind walls and in roof spaces.
"With all the issues associated with protecting the environment, and the conservation of fuel and energy, the role of properly insulating buildings is an important one."
The survey itself will only include buildings that have been the subject of recent Building Warrant approval and where a Completion Certificate has not yet been accepted for the works involved. The Building Standards Team will be contacting applicants, agents and owners of the buildings selected to take part in the survey.
The project is jointly funded by the Scottish Building Standards Agency and Communities Scotland with additional funding for the cameras provided by the Scottish Executive Sustainable Development and Biodiversity Division.
Councillor Eddie Carrick, Depute Leader of the Council said: "If the use of the cameras and results of the pilot prove to be reliable we hope that thermal imaging can be used throughout Scotland to help promote good building practice. The scheme furthers the aims of sustainable development and the conservation of fuel and power. This will in turn lead to lower heating bills and warmer buildings."
All 32 Councils were invited to take part in the study.
Training will commence mid to late March 2007 and the study will cover a 26 to 30 week period.
Ends