ASTM E1934-99a(2010)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: E1934 − 99a(Reapproved 2010)
Standard Guide for
Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with
Infrared Thermography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1934; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.4 inventory list—a list of the equipment by the infrared
thermographer.
1.1 This guide lists the responsibilities of the end user and
the infrared thermographer when examining electrical and
3.1.5 qualified assistant—a person provided and authorized
mechanical systems.
by the end user to perform the tasks required by the infrared
thermographer.He/sheshallbeknowledgeableoftheoperation
1.2 This guide outlines the specific content required to
and history of the equipment to be examined and of all safety
document qualitative and quantitative infrared examinations of
practices and rules of the end user.
electrical and mechanical equipment.
3.1.6 qualitative infrared inspection—an infrared examina-
1.3 This guide may involve use of equipment and materials
tion that provides images of exceptions but not temperature
in the presence of heated, moving or all of these or electrically
data.
energized equipment.
3.1.7 quantitative infrared inspection—aninfraredexamina-
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the tion that provides both images of exceptions and temperature
data.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3.2 See also Terminology E1316.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
4. Significance and Use
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 4.1 Thisguidecanbeusedbyanendusertospecifyinfrared
examinations of electrical and mechanical equipment and an
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
infrared thermographer to perform them.
3. Terminology
4.2 This guide lists the joint responsibilities of the end user
3.1 Definitions:
and the infrared thermographer when using infrared thermog-
3.1.1 end user—the person responsible for using the infor-
raphy.
mation provided by an infrared examination.
4.3 The purpose of an infrared examination is to identify
3.1.2 exception—an abnormally warm or cool connector,
and document exceptions in the end user’s electrical or
conductor or component.
mechanical systems, or both.
3.1.3 infrared examination—the use of an infrared imaging
4.3.1 In electrical equipment, warm exceptions are usually
systemtoprovidethermaldataaboutastructure,system,object
created by an increase in resistance caused by loose or
or process.
deteriorated connections, short circuits, overloads, load imbal-
ances or faulty, mismatched or improperly installed compo-
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestruc-
nents. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed compo-
tive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.10 on Specialized
nents.
NDT Methods.
4.3.2 In mechanical equipment, warm exceptions are usu-
Current edition approved June 1, 2010. Published November 2010. Originally
´1
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1934 - 99a (2005) .
ally created by friction caused by improper lubrication,
DOI: 10.1520/E1934-99AR10.
misalignment, worn components or mechanical loading
This guide is adapted from the Guideline for Infrared Inspection and Mechani-
anomalies. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed
cal Systems developed by Infraspection Institute, 425 Ellis Street, Burlington, NJ
08016. components.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.3.3 Exceptionsininsulationsystemsareusuallycausedby
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
missing or deteriorated materials, improper installation or
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. insufficient amounts of material.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1934 − 99a (2010)
4.4 Providing opinions about the causes of exceptions, the 6.4.1 Obtaining authorization necessary to gain access to
integrity of the equipment or recommendations for corrective the equipment to be examined and notifying operations per-
actions require knowledge and skills beyond those of infrared sonnel of the examination activities,
thermography. 6.4.2 Opening or removing, or both, all necessary cabinet
and enclosure covers immediately before examination to pro-
4.5 Infrared examinations provide data about equipment at
vide the infrared thermographer with direct views of the
the time of examination only.
equipment.
4.6 Infrared examinations are not remedial.
6.4.3 Ensuring that the equipment to be examined is under
adequate load, creating satisfactory loads when necessary, and
4.7 An infrared examination of electrical and mechanical
allowing sufficient time for recently energized equipment to
equipment does not assure its proper operation. Other tests and
produce stable thermal patterns.
proper maintenance are necessary to ensure their reliable
performance. 6.5 When examining the equipment, the thermographer will
comply with all safety rules, regulations and practices of the
5. Personnel Responsibilities end user.
6.6 The infrared thermographer shall perform examinations
5.1 The infrared thermographer shall:
when the environmental and physical conditions, such as solar
5.1.1 Have sufficient knowledge of the components, con-
gain, wind, surface and atmospheric moisture and heat transfer
struction and theory of electrical or mechanical equipment, or
are favorable to gathering accurate data.
both, to understand the observed patterns of radiation,
5.1.2 Be knowledgeable of, and comply with, the safety 6.7 The infrared thermographer shall document any excep-
practices and rules of the end user, and tions found by recording the data required in 7.2 through 7.2.9
or 7.3 through 7.3.6, or all of these.
5.1.3 Use an infrared imaging system with imaging or
radiometric capabilities, or both, sufficient to meet the exami-
NOTE 1—Special care must be exercised when examining surfaces
nation requirements.
having low emissivities (<0.5). In these circumstances exceptions may be
more difficult to detect.Also, such surfaces produce reflections that can be
5.2 Unless he/she is a licensed electrician, professional
misleading.Theinfraredthermographershouldbeawareofthesepotential
engineer or has other equivalent qualifications, the infrared
error sources and use techniques to minimize them, such as moving the
thermographer: position of the imager and blocking the surfaces from reflected sources.
5.2.1 Shall not perform any tasks that are norma
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