ISO 10880:2017

Non-destructive testing - Infrared thermographic testing - General principles

ISO 10880:2017 provides general principles for infrared thermographic testing in the field of industrial non-destructive testing (NDT).

Essais non destructifs — Essais thermographiques infrarouge — Principes généraux

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2017
• ICS: 19.100 - Non-destructive testing
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 135/SC 8 - Thermographic testing
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 135/SC 8/WG 2 - NDT-IRT-General principles
• Current Stage: 9060 - Close of review
• Completion Date: 02-Sep-2027

Relations

• Consolidated By: ISO 17677-1:2019 - Resistance welding - Vocabulary - Part 1: Spot, projection and seam welding
• Effective Date: 06-Jun-2022

Overview

ISO 10880:2017 - Non-destructive testing - Infrared thermographic testing - General principles - defines general principles for using infrared thermographic testing in industrial non‑destructive testing (NDT). The standard provides guidance on personnel qualifications, equipment selection and setup, test environment control, measurement fundamentals (including emissivity), imaging methods, signal/image correction, and documentation/reporting to ensure consistent, reliable thermal imaging inspections.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Personnel: TT (thermographic testing) personnel must have knowledge of infrared measurement and heat‑transfer basics and meet visual acuity and colour‑vision requirements referenced to ISO 9712.
• Equipment: Select an appropriate infrared camera with suitable detector type, spatial resolution (instantaneous field of view), temperature range, temperature resolution/accuracy, frame/exposure time, and wavelength sensitivity. Accessories (lenses, filters, mirrors, software) must be accounted for in calibration and corrections.
• Active vs Passive Thermography:
  • Passive thermography inspects emitted thermal radiation without external stimulation (e.g., operating electrical equipment, solar loading).
  • Active thermography requires controlled thermal stimulation (optical, sonic, inductive, microwave, etc.); heating/cooling intensity must match camera performance and material thermal properties without damaging the test object.
• Measurement fundamentals: Correct for emissivity, reflected ambient temperature, and any transmission/absorption by intervening media (water vapour, CO2, window materials). If surface emissivity is low or non‑uniform, apply matte coatings or attach high‑emissivity membranes; surface roughening or oxidation are alternatives.
• Imaging practice: Use non‑uniformity correction, verify field of view and spatial resolution (distance/lens), maintain an observation angle ≤45° (≤60° acceptable), set optimal temperature range and display span, and choose frame/exposure times suited to defect detection. Infrared‑reflecting mirrors may be used for hard‑to‑access views.
• Reporting: Document test procedures, equipment settings, environmental conditions, image processing steps, and produce a formal test report as part of NDT procedure/instructions.

Applications and who uses the standard

ISO 10880:2017 is applicable to industrial NDT across sectors such as:

• Power plants and electrical distribution (hot‑spot detection)
• Building and structural inspections (insulation defects, moisture)
• Electronic components and assemblies (thermal anomalies)
• Industrial materials and manufacturing quality control

Typical users: NDT technicians and engineers, maintenance inspectors, condition‑monitoring specialists, third‑party inspection bodies, and organizations implementing thermal imaging programs.

Related standards

• ISO 9712 - Non‑destructive testing - Qualification and certification of NDT personnel
• ISO 10878 - Non‑destructive testing - Infrared thermography - Vocabulary

Keywords: ISO 10880, infrared thermographic testing, NDT, thermal imaging, infrared camera, emissivity, active thermography, passive thermography.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 10880
First edition
2017-02
Non-destructive testing — Infrared
thermographic testing — General
principles
Essais non destructifs — Essais thermographiques infrarouge —
Principes généraux
Reference number
©
ISO 2017
© ISO 2017, Published in Switzerland
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form
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written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address below or ISO’s member body in the country of
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ii © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Infrared thermographic testing personnel . 1
5 Infrared thermographic testing equipment . 1
5.1 Infrared camera . 1
5.2 Equipment used for active thermography. 2
6 Test environment . 2
6.1 Installation environment for the test equipment . 2
6.2 Avoidance of disturbance. 2
7 Test method . 2
7.1 Emissivity of test object . 2
7.2 Passive thermography and active thermography . 3
7.3 Imaging method . 3
7.3.1 General. 3
7.3.2 Non-uniformity and infrared intensity value correction . 3
7.3.3 Field of view and spatial resolution . 3
7.3.4 Angle . 3
7.3.5 Temperature range and temperature resolution . 4
7.3.6 Display of thermal images . 4
7.3.7 Frame time and exposure time . 4
7.3.8 Testing by using the infrared-reflecting mirror . 4
7.3.9 Adjustment of focus . . 4
7.3.10 Confirmation of settings . 4
7.4 Signal processing and image processing . 4
8 Implementation and reporting of tests . 5
8.1 Items described in the NDT procedures . 5
8.2 Items described in the NDT instructions. 5
8.3 Record of test conditions . 5
8.4 Report . 6
Bibliography . 7
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 135, Non-destructive testing,
Subcommittee SC 8, Thermographic testing.
iv © ISO 2017 – All rights reserved

Introduction
The industrial applications of infrared thermographic testing in non-destructive testing (NDT) are
growing, along with a remarkable improvement in thermographic technologies. The effectiveness of any
application of infrared thermographic testing depends upon proper and correct usage of the method.
The purpose of this document is to provide general principles for infrared thermographic testing in
order to promote the correct and effective application of a variety of industrial NDT, such as in power
plants, buildings and structures, electronic instruments and industrial materials.
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 10880:2017(E)
Non-destructive testing — Infrared thermographic testing
— General principles
1 Scope
This document provides general principles for infrared thermographic testing in the field of industrial
non-destructive testing (NDT).
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 9712, Non-destructive testing — Qualification and certification of NDT personnel
ISO 10878, Non-destructive testing — Infrared thermography — Vocabulary
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document the terms and definitions given in ISO 10878 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http:// www .iso .org/ obp
4 Infrared thermographic testing personnel
Personnel who are responsible for conducting infrared thermographic testing (TT) shall meet the
following criteria.
a) TT personnel shall have an adequate knowledge of the basics of infrared measurement and heat-
transfer engineering as required by ISO 9712.
b) The TT personnel’s visual acuity and colour vision shall meet the requirements of ISO 9712.
5 Infrared thermographic testing equipment
5.1 Infrared camera
Each infrared camera has different properties and functions, such as the type of infrared detecting
device, the spatial resolution (instantaneous field of view, effective pixels), temperature range,
temperature resolution, temperature accuracy, frame time, exposure time, detection wavelength range,
cooling method, scanning method, and the visible image display and recording function. It is necessary
to ensure that an infrared camera with appropriate properties and functions with appropriate
temperature calibration to meet the purpose of the testing is used.
If necessary, various devices that can be attached to the infrared camera such as wavelength filters,
attenuation filters, replacement lenses, monitors, computers and software for data collection and
processing, and infrared-reflecting mirrors may be used.
5.2 Equipment used for active thermography
Select the appropriate heating or cooling system, taking into account the properties and functions of the
infrared camera, the test environment, and the status of the test object (dimensions, shape, emissivity,
material, temperature before thermal loading, and so on.)
NOTE For the heating
...