Our thermal assessments and thermal imagery services provide specialist analysis of non-traditional properties, including PRC and system-built homes such as Airey, Wimpey No-Fines, Cornish, Tarran, BISF and other pre-1970 construction types. These buildings often suffer from poor thermal performance and hidden fabric defects that are difficult to identify through visual inspection alone.
Using infrared thermography, we help social landlords understand how their non-traditional housing stock performs in practice, supporting energy efficiency improvements, retrofit planning and long-term asset management.
What Is a Thermal Assessment?
A thermal assessment uses infrared thermal imaging cameras to identify temperature variations across a building’s fabric. These variations can indicate:
- Heat loss through walls, roofs and floors
- Thermal bridging at structural elements and junctions
- Missing, defective or poorly performing insulation
- Air leakage and draught paths
- Moisture ingress and condensation risk
For non-traditional properties, thermal imagery is particularly valuable in revealing construction-specific weaknesses that impact energy efficiency and occupant comfort.
Why Thermal Imagery Is Important for Non-Traditional Housing
Many non-traditional homes were built without modern insulation standards and can be challenging to upgrade without clear evidence of performance issues. Thermal assessments provide:
- Visual evidence of thermal inefficiency
- Early identification of hidden defects
- Reduced risk when planning retrofit or refurbishment
- Support for compliance with energy and housing standards
- Improved targeting of investment and grant funding
Thermal imagery allows landlords to move from assumption-based decisions to evidence-led intervention.
Our Thermal Assessment Approach
We deliver thermal assessments using a structured methodology tailored to non-traditional construction:
Desktop Review and Planning
Review of construction type, existing EPC data and retrofit history to inform survey scope and timing.
On-Site Thermal Imaging Survey
External and internal thermal imaging carried out under suitable conditions to capture accurate data across key building elements.
Analysis and Interpretation
Thermal images are analysed by experienced professionals with specialist knowledge of non-traditional construction systems, ensuring results are correctly interpreted.
Reporting and Recommendations
Clear reports explain findings, identify causes and recommend targeted improvement measures.
Supporting Retrofit, EPC and Asset Planning
Thermal assessments and imagery support a wide range of housing objectives, including:
- Retrofit assessments and PAS 2035 programmes
- EPC improvement strategies
- Energy efficiency and net zero planning
- Identification of fabric defects prior to refurbishment
- Validation of completed insulation or repair works
Our service helps ensure that energy investment delivers real performance improvements, particularly in complex non-traditional stock.
Deliverables
Clients receive clear, decision-ready outputs, including:
- Thermal imagery with annotated findings
- Assessment of heat loss and thermal defects
- Commentary linked to construction type
- Recommendations for insulation, repair or further investigation
- Reports suitable for asset managers, retrofit coordinators, funders and regulators
All reports are written in plain English, translating thermal data into practical, actionable advice.
Why Work With Us?
We have extensive experience assessing thermal performance in non-traditional housing, combining building pathology expertise with a deep understanding of system-built construction and retrofit challenges.
Our independent, evidence-based approach helps social landlords prioritise investment, reduce energy costs and improve resident comfort, while supporting compliance with current and future energy standards.