When the topic is thermal cameras or thermal imaging, there is a lot of misinformation about their working and detection. What they can see and cannot see has been more like a mystery for most people. If you are planning to get thermal cameras in your building installed, you might want to be clear about all these things so that you know what’s going to be captured in thermal cameras and how effective they are at detection of something. So, to help you out, we have done all the research for you and shared this guide with you.

To better understand answers to questions on thermal cameras, it is a good idea to first know how they work.

How does a thermal camera work?

A thermal camera, also known as a thermal imaging camera and an infrared (IR) camera, uses infrared radiation as visible light. This camera utilizes heat, which enables you to see any object during dark conditions. They detect heat as it bounces off an object. Any thermal energy behind a wall is thus bounced back from that side and not through the wall. However, thermal cameras can see the heat on a wall where the source of high enough heat is present on the other side.

Can thermal camera work through walls?

No, a thermal camera cannot see through a wall or any solid object like you might have seen in movies. Walls are usually thick and insulated enough and block any heat from the other side. So, if you point a thermal camera at a wall, it will detect heat from the wall and not what is behind it. However, if there is something inside the wall or on the other side that causes enough heat to create a temperature difference in the wall, a thermal camera will be able to detect it on the surface of the wall.

Building maintenance professionals also now use thermal imagers for the same reason to detect issues such as water leakage or missing insulation without tearing down the walls to detect the problem.

Can Thermal Cameras See Through Smoke?

Yes. Thermal cameras can detect heat through smoke and therefore, they are widely used by firefighters to effectively and quickly find people trapped in a building on fire. While soot particles effectively block visible light, they allow infrared radiation to pass through, allowing firefighters or first responders to navigate through smoke-filled rooms and environments.

Can Thermal Cameras See Through Fog and Rain?

Yes. Though fog and rain can potentially limit the range of a thermal camera due to the scattering of infrared radiation off water droplets, thermal cameras can penetrate fog more successfully than cameras that work through visible light. That’s why top car manufacturers are now equipping their premium autonomous car models with thermal imagers into sensor suites.

Can Thermal Cameras See Through Metal?

For thermal imaging cameras, metal can be a tricky material. Metals with a shiny surface or smooth and polished surface act as an infrared mirror and reflect infrared radiation. So, this can cause a problem for anyone trying to monitor pipes or machinery for parts that are overheated. Oxidized metal or material coated with a matte finish is easier to measure accurately. In all cases, thermal cameras cannot see through metal objects; however, conductive metals can show hot spots, cold spots, or the level of substances inside metal containers.

Can Thermal Cameras See Through Concrete?

The answer to this question is the same as the question about walls. Thermal imaging cameras cannot see through concrete but can detect something inside the concrete, such as pipes or radiant heating that result in temperature difference on the surface of the concrete. So, when it comes to checking cracks or leaks in pipes installed inside the concrete, you can certainly use thermal cameras.

Can Thermal Cameras See Through Glass?

No. When it comes to seeing across the glass, regular cameras that use visible light can see clearly through the glass. However, you cannot get the same view through the glass when using thermal imaging cameras. You might have got the idea above; the glass acts as a mirror for infrared radiations. So, if you point a thermal imaging camera at a glass window, you won’t see anything on the other side of the glass. On the contrary, you will see a nice reflection of yourself.

Glass is a highly reflective material, which means it shows the reflected temperatures of objects rather than letting infrared radiation be transmitted through. The same principle applies to other reflective surfaces such as highly polished surfaces.

Can thermal cameras see through trees?

A thermal camera cannot detect objects through the trunk of a tree but it can help spot people or animals in forest areas. That’s why search and rescue teams employ thermal imaging cameras to spot heat signatures when searching through large areas of wilderness.

Can thermal cameras see-through plastic?

A thermal imaging camera can see through a thin, opaque sheet of plastic such as a garbage bag. Infrared radiation can pass through plastic, allowing the thermal camera to detect whatever is behind it. On the other hand, visible light cannot pass through it. However, this only works with very thin plastic. It won’t work for thicker plastics as they can block infrared radiation.

Can thermal cameras see in the dark?

Yes. Thermal imaging is not affected by darkness at all. It doesn’t need visible light to visualize heat. A thermal camera can see much better in dark conditions.  

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