Duration: 3.5 days (32 hours)

Plus 2-hour optional extra 3rd party certification exam through AINDT. 75% passing grade, 60 multiple choice questions. Available at an additional cost.

Format: Classroom learning

Compliance: Follows ISO 18436-7 and Certification ISO 18436-1, ISO/IEC 17024, Training ISO 18436-3.

Prerequisite: Prior experience is not required for attending the training course, but 12 months of verified experience is required for AINDT certification.

Candidates must pass the Ishihara colour perception test.

Outcome: You will come away from the course with the knowledge and confidence to be successful as an infrared thermographer. With a good understanding of thermography fundamentals, you will be competent in quality data acquisition and diagnosing common faults.

Certification is valid for 5 years.

• Lunch and refreshments.
• Student manual.
• Certificate of Attendance issued upon successful completion of the training course.

An AINDT Academy 3rd party Certification exam is available at an additional cost.

Maintenance practices

• Reactive, preventive, condition-based, proactive
• How to decide between them

Condition monitoring

• Why it works
• Vibration, ultrasound, oil analysis, wear particle analysis, and electric moto testing
• Detecting faults, root causes, and quality control

Principles of infrared thermography

• Understanding the difference between heat energy and temperature
• The laws of thermodynamics
• Heat transfer modes – conduction, convection and radiation
• The thermal capacity of different materials

Thermal conduction

• The fundamentals of conduction
• Conductive heat transfer rate
• Thermal conductivity of different materials

Thermal convection

• The fundamentals of convection
• Compensating for the “wind cooling effect”

Thermal radiation

• The fundamentals of radiation
• Emitted, reflected and transmitted radiation.
• Radiation wavelengths and the electromagnetic spectrum
• Emissivity and the Stefan-Boltzmann Law
• Incident and exitant radiation

Equipment and data acquisition

• Understanding the infrared camera
• Lenses and lens materials
• Capturing and controlling the image with temperature range, level and span
• Colour palette selection.
• Error source recognition, prevention and control
• Calibrating the thermal camera
• Environmental and operational conditions
• Image storage and management

Safety rules and guidelines

• Hazard awareness
• Standards and guides
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Thermographic applications

• The basic principles of diagnostics (ISO 13379) and prognostics (ISO 13381)
• Machinery engineering principles
• Electrical application – fuses, transformers, switchgear, transmission lines etc
• Mechanical application – pipes, tanks, refractories, heat exchangers etc
• Civil applications – windows, air leaks, construction integrity etc
• Process applications – steam traps.

General image interpretation guidelines

• Image processing
• Fault Classification

Report generation

• Providing actionable information

• Certificate of Attendance issued upon successful completion of the training course.

• 3rd party Certification through AINDT Available at an additional cost. ISO Category I certification exam, conducted online, on the last day of classroom training courses, or as an independently invigilated exam at a time of your choice.

Eligibility for AINDT certification:

• Complete an AINDT approved IRT Category I training course.
• Pass the AINDT Certification Centre CAT I certification exam.
• Have at least 12 months of practical experience as a Thermographer.

Candidates who meet the certification requirements will be certified through AINDT and be recognised as a Certified Category I Thermographer.

Erik Thorup

AINDT-CMCB CAT III Thermographer (E/M) #4135
BINDT-PCN CAT III Thermographer (E/M) #327611

With a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Erik Thorup has been working as a Thermographer in Australia since 1992.

Through RMIT and Melbourne University, he initiated the first Australian Thermography training course, certified by AINDT.

With his successful business, IR Technology Australia Pty Ltd. (IRTA)
Erik was part of many milestones; the inaugural meeting of AUSPTA, the ‘Building Science Level 1 Thermography’ training, being appointed chair of ‘IRT Applications and Exams’ with AINDT and certifying in ‘CAT III - Electrical and Mechanical Thermography’.

Erik continued working as a consultant Thermographer whilst writing articles for esteemed industry publications, and in 2024  IRTA produce the CAT I Thermographers course to AS/ISO18436-7 approved by AINDT.