ASTM E1934-99a(2024)
(Guide)Standard Guide for Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with Infrared Thermography
Standard Guide for Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with Infrared Thermography
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This guide can be used by an end user to specify infrared examinations of electrical and mechanical equipment and an infrared thermographer to perform them.
4.2 This guide lists the joint responsibilities of the end user and the infrared thermographer when using infrared thermography.
4.3 The purpose of an infrared examination is to identify and document exceptions in the end user's electrical or mechanical systems, or both.
4.3.1 In electrical equipment, warm exceptions are usually created by an increase in resistance caused by loose or deteriorated connections, short circuits, overloads, load imbalances or faulty, mismatched or improperly installed components. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed components.
4.3.2 In mechanical equipment, warm exceptions are usually created by friction caused by improper lubrication, misalignment, worn components, or mechanical loading anomalies. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed components.
4.3.3 Exceptions in insulation systems are usually caused by missing or deteriorated materials, improper installation, or insufficient amounts of material.
4.4 Providing opinions about the causes of exceptions, the integrity of the equipment, or recommendations for corrective actions require knowledge and skills beyond those of infrared thermography.
4.5 Infrared examinations provide data about equipment at the time of examination only.
4.6 Infrared examinations are not remedial.
4.7 An infrared examination of electrical and mechanical equipment does not assure its proper operation. Other tests and proper maintenance are necessary to ensure their reliable performance.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide lists the responsibilities of the end user and the infrared thermographer when examining electrical and mechanical systems.
1.2 This guide outlines the specific content required to document qualitative and quantitative infrared examinations of electrical and mechanical equipment.2
1.3 This guide may involve use of equipment and materials in the presence of heated, moving or all of these or electrically energized equipment.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1934 − 99a (Reapproved 2024)
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 3.1.2 exception—an abnormally warm or cool connector,
conductor, or component.
1.1 This guide lists the responsibilities of the end user and
3.1.3 infrared examination—the use of an infrared imaging
the infrared thermographer when examining electrical and
system to provide thermal data about a structure, system,
mechanical systems.
object, or process.
1.2 This guide outlines the specific content required to
3.1.4 inventory list—a list of the equipment by the infrared
document qualitative and quantitative infrared examinations of
thermographer.
electrical and mechanical equipment.
3.1.5 qualified assistant—a person provided and authorized
1.3 This guide may involve use of equipment and materials
by the end user to perform the tasks required by the infrared
in the presence of heated, moving or all of these or electrically
thermographer. He/she shall be knowledgeable of the operation
energized equipment.
and history of the equipment to be examined and of all safety
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
practices and rules of the end user.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1.6 qualitative infrared inspection—an infrared examina-
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
tion that provides images of exceptions but not temperature
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
data.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1.7 quantitative infrared inspection—an infrared examina-
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
tion that provides both images of exceptions and temperature
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
data.
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.2 See also Terminology E1316.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
4. Significance and Use
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
4.1 This guide can be used by an end user to specify infrared
2. Referenced Documents
examinations of electrical and mechanical equipment and an
2.1 ASTM Standards: infrared thermographer to perform them.
E1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
4.2 This guide lists the joint responsibilities of the end user
and the infrared thermographer when using infrared thermog-
3. Terminology
raphy.
3.1 Definitions:
4.3 The purpose of an infrared examination is to identify
3.1.1 end user—the person responsible for using the infor-
and document exceptions in the end user’s electrical or
mation provided by an infrared examination.
mechanical systems, or both.
4.3.1 In electrical equipment, warm exceptions are usually
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E07 on Nondestruc-
created by an increase in resistance caused by loose or
tive Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.10 on Specialized
deteriorated connections, short circuits, overloads, load imbal-
NDT Methods.
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2024. Published February 2024. Originally
ances or faulty, mismatched or improperly installed compo-
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as E1934 – 99a (2018).
nents. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed compo-
DOI: 10.1520/E1934-99AR24.
nents.
This guide is adapted from the Guideline for Infrared Inspection and Mechani-
4.3.2 In mechanical equipment, warm exceptions are usu-
cal Systems developed by Infraspection Institute, 425 Ellis Street, Burlington, NJ
08016.
ally created by friction caused by improper lubrication,
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
misalignment, worn components, or mechanical loading
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
anomalies. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. components.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1934 − 99a (2024)
4.3.3 Exceptions in insulation systems are usually caused by 6.4 The qualified assistant shall prepare the equipment for
missing or deteriorated materials, improper installation, or examination by:
insufficient amounts of material. 6.4.1 Obtaining authorization necessary to gain access to
the equipment to be examined and notifying operations per-
4.4 Providing opinions about the causes of exceptions, the
sonnel of the examination activities,
integrity of the equipment, or recommendations for corrective
6.4.2 Opening or removing, or both, all necessary cabinet
actions require knowledge and skills beyond those of infrared
and enclosure covers immediately before examination to pro-
thermography.
vide the infrared thermographer with direct views of the
4.5 Infrared examinations provide data about equipment at
equipment.
the time of examination only.
6.4.3 Ensuring that the equipment to be examined is under
adequate load, creating satisfactory loads when necessary, and
4.6 Infrared examinations are not remedial.
allowing sufficient time for recently energized equipment to
4.7 An infrared examination of electrical and mechanical
produce stable thermal patterns.
equipment does not assure its proper operation. Other tests and
6.5 When examining the equipment, the thermographer will
proper maintenance are necessary to ensure their reliable
comply with all safety rules, regulations and practices of the
performance.
end user.
5. Personnel Responsibilities
6.6 The infrared thermographer shall perform examinations
when the environmental and physical conditions, such as solar
5.1 The infrared thermographer shall:
gain, wind, surface and atmospheric moisture and heat transfer
5.1.1 Have sufficient knowledge of the components, con-
are favorable to gathering accurate data.
struction and theory of electrical or mechanical equipment, or
both, to understand the observed patterns of radiation, 6.7 The infrared thermographer shall document any excep-
tions found by recording the data required in 7.2 through 7.2.9
5.1.2 Be knowledgeable of, and comply with, the safety
or 7.3 through 7.3.6, or all of these.
practices and rules of the end user, and
5.1.3 Use an infrared imaging system with imaging or
NOTE 1—Special care must be exercised when examining surfaces
radiometric capabilities, or both, sufficient to meet the exami-
having low emissivities (<0.5). In these circumstances exceptions may be
more difficult to detect. Also, such surfaces produce reflections that can be
nation requirements.
misleading. The infrared thermographer should be aware of these potential
5.2 Unless he/she is a licensed electrician, prof
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