By: Roy Chan, P. Eng.
Consumers Choice
Property Consultants Inc.

Recently, we were invited to provide an infrared scan on a newly-renovated small home after Icynene insulation had been applied to most of it’s exterior walls on the inside before the drywall was installed. The temperature that day was about 4° C which will be perfect for scanning. However, since the heating system was not hooked up yet, there was no temperature difference to reveal the heat loss. Thus, early in the morning we called the owner to heat up the house by using rental kerosene heaters to provide background heating to the entire house. The interior temperature was about 19° C. By the time we arrived on site, it was late afternoon. We specifically scheduled for the late afternoon so that solar loading would be minimized on the exterior walls during the scan. First, we scanned on the exterior starting with the East, then North, then West and finally, the South wall.

One anomaly (potential air-leakage) was found at the top North side between the roof and the wall (see figures 1). No other anomalies were discovered on the outside.

Figure 1a

Figure 1b

This was showing very positive results thus far…

Next, we performed further scans on the interior.

Our result showed that most of the exterior walls were in generally satisfactory condition with not much air leakage except some typical difficult areas such as the corners and the rim joist…a design issue. Most of these areas were exhibiting either thermal bridging effect of direct contact with the exterior cold surfaces through conduction (see figures 2, 3 & 4) or air-leakage through from the door (see figure 5).

Figure 2a	Figure 2b
Figure 3a	Figure 3b
Figure 4a	Figure 4b
Figure 5a	Figure 5b

In conclusion, after scanning the entire house (both exterior and interior), we are of the opinion that the Icynene insulation is an excellent product that will help to seal up the house from air leakage and yet allow moisture to pass through so that mould will not start and propagate.

Overall, as a result of the scan both we and the owner were very pleased with the effect of the Icynene.

This article was submitted by Roy Chan, P.Eng., Certified Level II, IR Thermographer, Principal Inspector of Consumers Choice Property Consultants Inc. of Canada. p: 905.795.1935, e: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , w: www.ccpci.ca