ASTM E1934-99a

Standard Guide for Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with Infrared Thermography

SCOPE
1.1 This guide lists the responsibilities of the end user and the infrared thermographer when examining electrical and mechanical systems.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Dec-1999
• ICS: 29.120.99 - Other electrical accessories
• Technical Committee: E07 - Nondestructive Testing
• Drafting Committee: E07.10 - Specialized NDT Methods

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM E1934-99a(2005)e1 - Standard Guide for Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with Infrared Thermography
• Effective Date: 01-Mar-2005
• Referred By: ASTM E3353-22 - Standard Guide for In-Process Monitoring Using Optical and Thermal Methods for Laser Powder Bed Fusion
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1999
• Referred By: ASTM E2533-21 - Standard Guide for Nondestructive Examination of Polymer Matrix Composites Used in Aerospace Applications
• Effective Date: 10-Dec-1999

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:E1934–99a
Standard Guide for
Examining Electrical and Mechanical Equipment with
Infrared Thermography
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1934; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.5 qualified assistant—a person provided and authorized
by the end user to perform the tasks required by the infrared
1.1 This guide lists the responsibilities of the end user and
thermographer.He/sheshallbeknowledgeableoftheoperation
the infrared thermographer when examining electrical and
and history of the equipment to be examined and of all safety
mechanical systems.
practices and rules of the end user.
1.2 This guide outlines the specific content required to
3.1.6 qualitative infrared inspection—an infrared examina-
document qualitative and quantitative infrared examinations of
tion that provides images of exceptions but not temperature
electrical and mechanical equipment
data.
1.3 This guide may involve use of equipment and materials
3.1.7 quantitative infrared inspection—an infrared exami-
in the presence of heated, moving or all of these or electrically
nationthatprovidesbothimagesofexceptionsandtemperature
energized equipment.
data.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
3.2 See also Terminology E 1316.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4. Significance and Use
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
4.1 Thisguidecanbeusedbyanendusertospecifyinfrared
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
examinations of electrical and mechanical equipment and an
2. Referenced Documents infrared thermographer to perform them.
4.2 This guide lists the joint responsibilities of the end user
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and the infrared thermographer when using infrared thermog-
E 1316 Terminology for Nondestructive Examinations
raphy.
3. Terminology
4.3 The purpose of an infrared examination is to identify
and document exceptions in the end user’s electrical or
3.1 Definitions:
mechanical systems, or both.
3.1.1 end user—the person responsible for using the infor-
4.3.1 In electrical equipment, warm exceptions are usually
mation provided by an infrared examination.
created by an increase in resistance caused by loose or
3.1.2 exception—an abnormally warm or cool connector,
deteriorated connections, short circuits, overloads, load imbal-
conductor or component.
ances or faulty, mismatched or improperly installed compo-
3.1.3 infrared examination—the use of an infrared imaging
nents. Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed compo-
systemtoprovidethermaldataaboutastructure,system,object
nents.
or process.
4.3.2 In mechanical equipment, warm exceptions are usu-
3.1.4 inventory list—a list of the equipment by the infrared
ally created by friction caused by improper lubrication, mis-
thermographer.
alignment,worncomponentsormechanicalloadinganomalies.
Cool exceptions are usually caused by failed components.
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE-7onNondestructive
4.3.3 Exceptionsininsulationsystemsareusuallycausedby
Testing and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E07.10 on Emerging NDT
missing or deteriorated materials, improper installation or
Methods.
insufficient amounts of material.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1999. Published February 2000. Originally
published as E 1934 – 97. Last previous edition E 1934 – 99.
4.4 Providing opinions about the causes of exceptions, the
This guide is adapted from the Guideline for Infrared Inspection and Mechani-
integrity of the equipment or recommendations for corrective
cal Systems developed by Infraspection Institute, 1971 Shelburne Road, Shelburne,
actions require knowledge and skills beyond those of infrared
VT 05482, 1993.
thermography.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.03.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E1934–99a
4.5 Infrared examinations provide data about equipment at 6.4.3 Ensuring that the equipment to be examined is under
the time of examination only. adequate load, creating satisfactory loads when necessary, and
allowing sufficient time for recently energized equipment to
4.6 Infrared examinations are not remedial.
produce stable thermal patterns.
4.7 An infrared examination of electrical and mechanical
6.5 When examining the equipment, the thermographer will
equipment does not assure its proper operation. Other tests and
comply with all safety rules, regulations and practices of the
proper maintenance are necessary to ensure their reliable
end user.
performance.
6.6 The infrared thermographer shall perform examinations
when the environmental and physical conditions, such as solar
5. Personnel Responsibilities
gain, wind, surface and atmospheric moisture and heat transfer
5.1 The infrared thermographer shall:
are favorable to gathering accurate data.
5.1.1 Have sufficient knowledge of the components, con-
6.7 The infrared thermographer shall document any excep-
struction and theory of electrical or mechanical equipment, or
tions found by recording the data required in 7.2 through 7.2.9
both, to understand the observed patterns of radiation,
or 7.3 through 7.3.6, or all of these.
5.1.2 Be knowledgeable of, and comply with, the safety
NOTE 1—Special care must be exercised when examining surfaces
practices and rules of the end user, and
having low emissivities (<0.5). In these circumstances exceptions may be
5.1.3 Use an infrared imaging system with imaging or
more difficult to detect.Also, such surfaces produce reflections that can be
radiometric capabilities, or both, sufficient to meet the exami-
misleading.Theinfraredthermographershouldbeawareofthesepotential
error sources and use techniques to minimize them, such as moving the
nation requirements.
position of the imager and blocking the surfaces from reflected sources.
5.2 Unless he/she is a licensed electrician, professional
engineer or has other equivalent qualifications, the infrared 6.7.1 When requested by the infrared thermographer, the
thermographer: qualified assistant shall measure the loads of electrical equip-
ment.
5.2.1 Shall not perform any tasks that are normally done by
6.8 Thequalifiedassistantshallcloseorreplace,orboth,the
these personnel. Unless so qualified and authorized by the end
cabinet and enclosure covers that had been opened or removed
user, the infrared thermographer,
in 6.4.2 immediately after examination and documentation by
5.2.2 Shall no
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