Thermal Imaging Camera Maintenance Recommendations

One of the most common reasons for TIC failure is due to lack of proper care and maintenance. A fire service TIC has been designed to endure certain hardships of the demanding and unforgiving environment that firefighters often face. However, it is not indestructible. The following tips and recommendations will ensure that the thermal imaging camera will provide a long service life.

Each day, a member should check the TIC for operational readiness, battery issues, and any potential problems. This check out should follow the following steps:

1. Power the device on: The device should fully power up in 30 seconds. If the device takes longer than 30 seconds to fully power up it may need to be sent back to the manufacturer for service. Take note, that if the device has been stored in an environment below freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) or above 104 degrees Fahrenheit it may not fully power up in this time frame. This start-up time requirement applies to TICs produces from 2013 to current day.
2. Battery Check-Ensure the device has a full battery: Each TIC should have a battery bar icon with four bars. Each bar represents a minimum of 30 minutes of battery life. Newer models are now offering batteries that last up to 6 hours. Special features such as a flashlight, recording, or transmitting features can cause the battery performance to diminish faster. Remove the battery and check the charging contacts. They should be clean and not damaged. If equipped with a truck charger, check the charging contacts on the TIC and the contacts on the truck charger. These should be clean. These areas can be cleaned with an alcohol wipe but not soap, water, or solvents.
3. Lens Check: The TIC lens should be inspected for scratches and chips as this can diminish the overall image clarity. If notable scratches and chips are present the lens should be replaced. See attached photo. It is recommended to use a flashlight to inspect the lens as chips and scratches can be difficult to detect on the diamond lens coating (black coating) across the lens.
4. Scan test: Scan the immediate environment and look for any anomalies or issues with the detector. These anomalies can be any of the following: ghosting/shutter failure (where a previous image remains on the screen after scanning to the next area), static or lines across the display (this is signs of a detector failure), black dots that do not go away on the image as the scan is completed (this is due to pointing the TIC at an intense radiant heat source such as the sun, arc welder, or plasma cutter), and ensure that all features are operational such as application modes, recording features, and default reset button (which is simply tapping the green power button to return back to TI Basic)
5. Radio Frequency Interference: Lastly, take a firefighter portable radio and key up the microphone next to the TIC. On devices produced since 2013, this should have no effect on the TIC. If the EMI coatings are damaged or improperly installed, the screen will produce a white static like image, and the screen may freeze for an extended period. If this occurs, the device, needs to be sent back for repair.
6. Stow the TIC: Lastly, the device needs to be properly stored in position of operational readiness. Storage positions may vary such as placing it back in the truck charger, securing it to the SCBA, etc. but do not place it on a hot surface or on the dash where it is exposed to the sun.

   Maintenance Recommendations:

   * Proper cleaning: Fire service TICs should be cleaned with a mild soap solution only. Avoid paint removers, degreasers or solvents as this may damage the housing that protects it from water and dust intrusion. This may sound trivial, but we have seen fire departments use harsh solvents and wire brushes on these devices only to find out later that they had damaged their costly investment. Do not remove the battery and submerge the TIC in water to clean it. This will void the warranty and could permanently damage the device. Beaware of PC connections on any thermal imaging cameras have covers on them to prevent dust and moisture intrusion. If these areas are exposed, this could be a potential area for moisture intrusion and will cause the device to fail. 

   * Proper Use: A fire service TIC is a qualitative device designed to provide approximate measurements and not exact measurements. It should not be pointed at extreme heat objects that will damage the detector such as the sun, a plasma cutter, high powered lasers etc. A fire service TIC pointed at the sun will damage the detector & void the warranty. This often occurs by accident, when a firefighter removes his/her gear & drops the TIC on the ground & inadvertently leaves it pointing up at the sun. This is actually a very common problem, and it is listed in every manufacturer’s instruction that the “TIC should not be pointed at extreme sources of radiant heat such as the sun.”

   * Proper Carry: The Fire Service TIC should be strapped to the firefighter in whatever means they deem most comfortable and for ease of use. However, it is not to be dragged, used as a forcible entry tool to break out windows, or left in the fire as this will ultimately damage the TIC requiring repair and or replacement. While storing it on the apparatus, it is recommended to be either in the truck charger or in a tool bag where the power button may not be inadvertently pressed or the lens can become scratched. At Insight Training, we are not “big fans” of the retractable cord due to the issues it often creates. We have seen firefighters entangled where the cord has wrapped around the ladder rung, wrapped around the firefighters. These types of carrying devices should be inspected regularly and connection points (such as carabiners) should be swivel lock or locking carabiners to prevent entanglement and the TIC from detaching from the firefighter. We recommend a strap carried over the firefighter’s coat (like a radio strap position) where the TIC is positioned down low out of the way in the action area (anywhere in the torso area of the front of the firefighter between the SCBA waist strap and upper shoulder area but not behind the firefighter. Many firefighters use webbing where we have found great use of an ordinary seatbelt strap with a large carabiner for the attachment point.

   If a department chooses to use a retractable strap, we recommend the gear keeper brand and ensure that the carabiners are locking carabiners to prevent potential entanglement issues or loss of the TIC. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND CLIPPING THE RETRACTABLE STRAP TO THE BACK OF THE SCBA! THIS HAS BEEN SHOWN TO DAMAGE THE TIC AND BREAK THE RETRACTABLE STRAP FASTER THAN ANY OTHER METHOD USED TO CARRY THE DEVICE.

   * Battery Life: They should be fully charged & fully drained to avoid developing a memory. Lithium-ion batteries manufacturers state that they cannot develop a memory. This may be true, but the battery itself is rated for a certain number of cycles of charges. A fire service TIC that is placed on a truck charger improperly by not fully locked into the charger, or the charging contacts are dirty will result in short cycles of charging. A battery is only rated for certain number of cycles (or uses). This can dramatically shorten the battery life. In addition to this, a fire service TIC is required to be IP67 rated which is dust & water intrusion safe (up to a certain duration). However, if the battery port or PC connection cover is not fully covered or water is allowed into either of these areas, it will lead to damage to the TIC. Any TIC left upon a hot surface can also inadvertently drain or discharge the battery.