Buying Thermography

Robert P Madding

doi:10.1117/12.959549

27 January 1981 Buying Thermography

Robert P Madding

Proceedings Volume 0254, Thermal Infrared Sensing Applied to Energy Conservation in Building Envelopes: Thermosense III; (1981) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.959549
Event: Thermal Infrared Sensing Applied to Energy Conservation in Building Envelopes (Thermosense III), 1980, Minneapolis, United States

Abstract

The cost of thermographic information obtained by contracting for a service is compared to that of buying equipment and doing the work in-house. A breakeven analysis method is used to find the number of days per year an instrument must be used to justify buying it. Life-cycle costing techniques are used to find the equivalent annual cost of various classes of thermographic instruments. Results indicate that a full-time person earning $20,000 annually must use a $30,000 instrument at least 73 days per year if thermography can otherwise be contracted for $675 per day. By devoting a person to thermography part-time, the number of inspection days for this case can be reduced to about 28. Further in-house advantage can be gained by considering investment tax credits, salvage value and, to some extent, accelerated depreciation. Techniques for finding the breakeven number of inspection days for other costs are developed. A nomogram is included for rapid comparisons.

Citation Download Citation

Robert P Madding "Buying Thermography", Proc. SPIE 0254, Thermal Infrared Sensing Applied to Energy Conservation in Building Envelopes: Thermosense III, (27 January 1981); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.959549

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