Electrical Thermal Imaging in Auckland

Infrared inspections of switchboards, control panels, cabling, and equipment to reduce fire risk and support preventative maintenance

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Detect Overheating & Electrical Faults

Each year, electrical faults and equipment failures contribute to hundreds of fires across New Zealand. A thermal imaging inspection can quickly spot abnormal heat build-up and other developing faults that may not be obvious during a visual inspection, so you can plan targeted corrective action early.

Infrared inspections are often carried out to support insurer requirements, assess ageing electrical assets, or investigate overheating, nuisance tripping, and unexplained electrical faults within critical electrical infrastructure.

Thermal imaging works by measuring surface temperatures in real-time while your equipment is operating. Findings are documented with thermal and visual images, clear priority ratings, and practical recommendations - so you can focus on the highest-risk issues first and plan repairs with minimal disruption.

Inspections are non-invasive and can often be completed with no disruption.

A thermal imaging inspection of an electrical switchboard in Auckland

Benefits

Reduce Fire & Equipment Failure Risk

Locate overheating electrical components before they lead to equipment damage, electrical faults, increased fire risk, or unexpected outages affecting site operations

Detect High Resistance Connections

Identify loose terminations, deteriorating cable connections, and resistance heating caused by poor electrical contact within switchboards, control panels, and distribution equipment

Support Preventative Maintenance & Reliability

Use thermal inspection data, severity assessment, and detailed reporting to help prioritise electrical repairs, maintenance scheduling, and ongoing asset management

Document Electrical System Condition

Provide documented thermal inspection findings to help verify electrical system condition for insurers, compliance records, and facility risk assessments

When to Book Electrical Thermal Imaging

Consider booking when:

An insurer requires a thermal imaging / infrared thermography survey
You’ve had nuisance tripping, overheating, odours, or unexplained faults
You’ve recently added load (new equipment, tenants, EV chargers, etc)
You’re building a preventative maintenance plan
New construction has been completed and needs a validation inspection
You want an evidence-backed baseline for critical electrical assets

Where required, this service can also be combined with an AS/NZS 3019 periodic assessment for a broader review of electrical condition and compliance.

Thermal image of an electrical switchboard with circuit breakers in Auckland

Electrical Assets Inspected

Main switchboards, distribution boards and sub boards
Motor control centres (MCCs) and control panels
Isolators, switchgear, breakers, contactors and fuse gear
Power factor correction units and harmonic filters
UPS boards, DC systems, PV solar panels and battery racks
Cable terminations, lugs, busbar joints and links
HV generation, transmission and transformer networks

Typical Issues Identified

Loose / deteriorated terminations
Overloaded cables, switchgear and distribution systems
High resistance connections and joints
Phase imbalance and uneven loading
Failing components (capacitors, fuses, contactors, breakers)
Hot spots caused by poor ventilation or heat build up
Insulation breakdown and tracking (incipient arcing)

How it Works

1. Scope & schedule

Tell me about the site, the inspection purpose, and any known concerns (tripping, overheating, burning smells etc). I’ll confirm scope, pricing, access requirements, and the best time to carry out the inspection.

2. On-site inspection & capture evidence

I’ll carry out a thermal imaging inspection of the nominated electrical equipment while systems are operating under load, capturing thermal and visual images to identify abnormal heat patterns consistent with loose terminations, overloading, phase imbalance, deteriorating components, or high-resistance connections.

3. Report & prioritise

You’ll receive a clear report with thermal and visual images, asset identification, priority ratings, and recommended actions to support maintenance planning, fault rectification, insurer requirements, and reduction of fire risk.

Thermal image of an overheating high voltage connection in Auckland

Who This Is For

Clients

Facilities and maintenance teams
Property managers and landlords
Insurers and risk managers
Building and home owners
Industrial site managers
Body corporates and associations
Government and Council

Commercial Sites

Warehousing and logistics
Office blocks
Retail and hospitality
Residential & aged care facilities
Public facilities (libraries, pools etc)
Data centres
Hospitals and healthcare

Industrial Sites

Production and manufacturing
Food processing and cold storage
Electricity generation & distribution
Rubbish and recycling
Water and waste water
Ports and marine
Oil and gas / fuel terminals

What You Receive

You’ll receive a clear report designed for decision-making:

Site details and inspection scope summary
Thermal and visual images with analysis for each finding
Priority ratings (so you know what matters first)
Practical recommendations (clear repair guidance and next steps)
Asset list format suitable for maintenance planning

Thermal image of an overheating cable termination in an Auckland switchboard

FAQs

How long does a thermal imaging inspection take?

Time depends on the number of assets, access and site conditions. Small sites can often be completed in as little as 1 - 2 hours, while larger or complex sites may require a full day or staged visits.

How often should an infrared thermography survey be done?

Many sites schedule annual or biennial thermal imaging inspections, depending on risk, criticality, environment and insurer expectations.

Do you need equipment running under load?

Yes - thermal imaging is most useful when equipment is operating normally and carrying meaningful load.

Will the inspection require equipment shutdowns?

Not usually. Most inspections are completed with equipment operating normally, however shutdowns may be required if safe access can’t be achieved or guards need to be removed (site dependent).

Do you provide a report suitable for insurers?

Yes - reports include evidence images, findings and priority ratings to support maintenance planning and compliance documentation.

What happens after you find a hotspot?

Findings are prioritised and reported with practical recommendations. Repairs are typically completed by your electrician, and a follow-up scan can confirm resolution if required.

What areas can’t be inspected?

Assets may be excluded where access is restricted, surfaces are not visible, safety requirements can’t be met, or electrical load is too low to provide meaningful results.