Thermal Imaging Fact Sheet
How Does Thermal Imaging Work?
All objects have a certain temperature and emit waves of energy called infrared radiation. Hot objects emit more energy than cold objects. A thermal imager translates these energy waves into a viewable image, which shows a “heat picture” of a scene. On the screen of a thermal imager, hotter objects show as white, cooler objects show as black, and objects in between these temperatures are displayed in shades of gray. Because infrared radiation is not blocked by smoke, firefighters can use thermal imagers to see through smoke, enabling them to find victims faster, identify the seat of the fire earlier, and detect structural dangers that could put them at risk.
In some respects, the detector in the TI is similar to the human eye. The TI’s detector (called a focal plane array, or FPA) and the eye are both receivers. They receive electromagnetic energy and convert it into an image for our brains to interpret. The eye receives wavelengths of energy called “visible light,” while the FPA receives wavelengths of heat energy called “infrared.”
The human eye and the TI do not “see” through most materials. Drywall,
plaster, concrete, steel, wood, paneling, down comforters, doors,
sofas and the like are not transparent to visible light or infrared.
They “see” only what is on the surface: colors for the eye, temperature
differences for the TI.
Proof That Thermal Imaging Works
Chicago Fire Department Demonstration
During a news conference on May 27, 2003, at the Chicago Fire Academy,
firefighters conducted a technical demonstration that illustrated
the time rescuers save when they’re using thermal imagers.
Olive Branch, Mississippi
In 2002, the Olive Branch Fire Department kicked off a thermal imager
campaign by conducting a real-time simulation of a search and rescue
of three children. The first time, firefighters went into the smoke-filled
building without a thermal imager to search for the children. During
the second entry, the children were re-positioned, and firefighters
conducted their search with the aid of thermal imaging.
Burton, South Carolina
Nine companies of firefighters in Burton, South Carolina conducted
two sets of studies – one on the time required to find a fire and
one on the time required to find a victim. Each drill was done
with and without a thermal imager.
Advanced Rescue Technology:
The August/September 2001 issue of Advanced Rescue Technology included an article about a thermal imaging study conducted by the Johnson City Fire Bureau in Johnson City, Tennessee.
What are Some Ways Firefighters Use Thermal Imaging?
- Sizeup – Thermal imagers can give firefighters important information
early at an incident during sizeup, which can help them develop
a better plan for mitigation. At a structure fire, the thermal
imager may help identify the location of the fire or the extent
of fire involvement prior to firefighters being committed into
the structure. At non-fire incidents, thermal imagers can help
verify the number of victims at a vehicle collision.
- Fire Attack – As in size-up, thermal imagers provide information
to the fire attack crew that they did not previously have due to
poor visibility and building construction. Using this information,
firefighters can immediately direct water to the seat of the fire
and ensure that their hose streams are working effectively. A thermal
imager can also help firefighters locate and isolate hidden fires,
such as electrical fires behind walls.
- Search and Rescue – Of all the operations in which thermal imaging
can improve a firefighter's efforts, this technology has the most
dramatic impact on search and rescue. Without a thermal imager, firefighters
search burning buildings by crawling on their hands and knees and
groping their way through blinding smoke to find unconscious victims.
Recovery rates in these operations are low, since firefighters are
forced to rely on physical contact alone to locate victims. Firefighters
using thermal imagers can see the scene, which enables them to quickly
navigate and identify victims. In addition to allowing firefighters
to see through smoke in burning structures, thermal imagers enable
first responders to see in the dark to find victims who are lost
or in danger. Police departments can also use these devices to search
for fugitives.
- Ventilation – Firefighters can use thermal imagers to identify
areas of heat accumulation, possible ventilation points, and significant
building construction features. This helps ensure proper and effective
ventilation that successfully removes smoke and heat from a building.
Ventilation reduces the chances of backdraft or flashover, while
possibly giving trapped victims a few more valuable seconds to be
found. Identification of superheated gases also helps keep firefighters
safer.
- Overhaul – After the fire is out, firefighters overhaul a structure
to ensure that there are no hidden fires or smoldering materials
that could cause the fire to reignite. When using a thermal imager
for overhaul, firefighters methodically scan each room for remaining
hot spots. When firefighters find these hot spots quickly and efficiently,
they minimize the risk of a rekindle, and they reduce property damage.
Structural components can be identified easily with a thermal imager,
helping firefighters remain safe while fighting fires in compromised
structures.
- Emergency Medical Service Runs -- For many fire departments, up
to 85% of their emergency runs can be emergency medical service runs.
Thermal imagers can help at these, too. Thermal imagers can help
locate victims, help evaluate the extent of hypothermia, or even
help find amputated body parts.
- Training – Using transmitter systems, incident commanders can
observe in real time what is occurring inside the building. Training
officers can monitor evolutions during practice exercises and videotape
them for review and teaching later.
- Hazardous Materials – Thermal imaging helps fire officials manage
hazardous spills and other hazmat incidents more effectively. Firefighters
can use thermal imagers to identify sources and movement of contaminants
in bodies of water and on the ground. With the aid of the technology,
firefighters can also determine product levels in sealed or pressurized
containers.
- Wildland Firefighting – Using thermal imagers, firefighters can quickly scan large areas for hot spots, aiding them in getting the fire under control quickly.
For photos of various thermal imaging applications, visit the Bullard Thermal Imaging Gallery.
Development of Thermal Imaging
- The current fire service thermal imager is based on technology
that was originally developed for the military. Thermal imaging
technology provides the ability to see and target opposing forces
through the dark of night or across a smoke-covered battleground.
Some of the properties that have made IR detection valuable to
military services around the world also make it valuable to fire
services.
- Three types of sensor material are used in today’s thermal imagers:
barium strontium tinanate (BST), vanadium oxide (Vox), and amorphous
silicon (aSi). BST is a ferroelectric technology, while VOx and aSi
are microbolometer technologies. Both technologies were developed
at the same time under a classified military program, enabling soldiers
to better visualize the battlefield.
- The current technologies provide vastly improved performance over earlier generation devices. Due to reduced size and lowered cost, these newer devices have become available for use in a range of applications, including law enforcement applications, traumatic injury evaluations, and a variety of applications within the fire industry (see above).
Click here for a brief military history of thermal imaging.
The Business of Thermal Imaging
- The first Bullard Thermal Imager (the Bullard TI) was introduced
in the fall of 1998, and the T3 was introduced in the fall of 2001.
The company has captured the lead market position in the US with
thermal imagers for the Fire Service, with more than 10,000 units
in the field.
- About eight manufacturers currently sell thermal imagers to the
US Fire Service, with three manufacturers supplying the majority
of units in the past three years.
- Bullard has a proven track record supplying thermal imagers to
14 of the top 20 largest cities in the United States and thousands
of communities throughout the world. Large US customers include fire
departments in Boston, Chicago, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Phoenix
and San Francisco. Large European customers include Leicestershire,
UK; Madrid, Spain; Cologne, Germany; Amsterdam, Netherlands, and
Berlin, Germany.
- In March of 2000, Bullard secured the contract to supply thermal imagers to all of New Jersey’s fire departments. New Jersey is the nation's first state to equip all its departments with thermal imagers, doing so with state funds. Bullard fulfilled its contract within nine months, shipping more than 1,000 thermal imagers for use in departments across the state, 100 percent on time according to the original schedule.
Statistics of Interest
- According to the National Fire Data Center (www.usfa.fema.gov ), the US has one of the highest fire death rates in the industrialized world. Each year, fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
- For statistics on the fire death rate per capita in your state: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/statistics/state/
- The Bullard Save-A-Life Club is a reward and recognition program for firefighters who save a civilian life or escape a life-threatening situation while using a Bullard Thermal Imager. At the end of 2004, the club had recognized the rescues of 41 civilians and 35 firefighters who probably wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for the skillful use of Bullard TIs during fires and other emergency responses.
Bullard TI Line Overview
Bullard Thermal Imagers are known widely to offer the greatest durability and the most practical features, backed by the best training resources and the highest level of support available on the market. From the most basic personal issue thermal imager to the most advanced command unit, Bullard offers firefighters what they need to get the job done, at price points to meet the needs of every fire department.
Bullard TI Commander
The Bullard TI Commander™ borrows its tried-and-true design from the original Bullard TI, with an engine based on proven high resolution L-3 BST technology. This analytical thermal imager, which comes standard with a 5-inch backlit display, offers many innovative and highly useful optional features, including digital 2X zoom, digital image capture, Relative Heat Indicator (RHI), thermal throttle, enhanced internal battery charging system, and custom startup graphics. The TI Commander offers the same foolproof simplicity and uncompromising durability that has made Bullard the top choice of firefighters around the world.
Bullard T3 Series
With the simplicity and durability of the original T3, the new Bullard T3MAX™ once again affirms Bullard’s leadership of the industry. Innovations such as an Electronic Thermal Throttle™ and Super Red Hot™ feature give firefighters new information about the fire scene, helping them make accurate and timely decisions that can significantly influence the outcome of incidents.
Exclusive to the T3MAX, the Electronic Thermal Throttle enables firefighters to optimize the fire scene with the touch of a button. This feature is ideal for pinpointing hot spots during overhaul, searching for overheated electrical equipment, or clarifying objects in the heat of battle. The Super Red Hot feature gives firefighters the ability to see heat levels by color. Starting at 500°F, heated objects are tinted yellow and gradually transition to solid red as heat levels rise. The T3MAX is engineered Bullard Tough and incorporates the latest engine technology from L3 Communications (formerly Raytheon Infrared Commercial). The advanced relative heat indicator helps users with image interpretation, and startup time is just two seconds.
The Bullard T3XT offers the same high performance image quality as the T3MAX to budget-restricted fire departments. The T3XT’s Relative Heat Indicator displays temperature levels of objects in a scene, while the Red Hot feature pinpoints areas of intense heat.
For more information about why Bullard Thermal Imagers are the top choice of firefighters around the world, visit the Select/Buy a TI section of www.thermalimager.com.
Bullard Briefing
- Bullard is a fourth generation, privately held manufacturer of personal protective equipment, based in Cynthiana, Kentucky. The company, established in 1898, is led by President and CEO Richard C. Miller. Mr. Miller succeeded Edward “Jed” Bullard as President/CEO in 1998 when Mr. Bullard assumed the Chair of the Company’s Board of Directors.
- Bullard products are sold and distributed worldwide, with sales offices in North America, Germany and Singapore. Bullard representatives work in North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the Pacific Rim.
- Bullard is certified to the international quality system standard, ISO 9001. To obtain certification, Bullard works with independent auditors who verify strict adherence to standards and perform a detailed analysis of the company’s quality systems. Customer benefits include quality measurement, consistency, continuity and continuous improvement.
- Bullard employs about 300 people.
- The Bullard web site addresses are www.bullard.com and www.thermalimager.com
Click here for Bullard historical information.