📏 Building a Standard Thermal Inspection Routine for Certified Thermal Electricians™

One of the biggest advantages of hiring a Certified Thermal Electrician™ is consistency. Not just in the quality of the images, but in the method, documentation, and decisions that come out of every thermal inspection.

A random thermal scan with no structure is just a picture. A structured, repeatable thermal inspection performed by a Certified Thermal Electrician™ becomes evidence – evidence that can be used for NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance, risk reduction, insurance documentation, and long-term asset management.

That’s why every Certified Thermal Electrician™ should follow a standard thermal inspection routine, and why pairing that routine with a reliable camera like the Mileseey TR20 Pro is so important. Our partnership with Mileseey Tools gives Certified Thermal Electricians the hardware needed to support the high standards of the program.

🏆 The Value of Being a Certified Thermal Electrician™

Earning the title Certified Thermal Electrician™ means you’re not just “someone with a thermal camera.” It means you’ve committed to a higher standard of electrical thermography:

• Understanding how electrical systems behave under load.
• Knowing how to interpret I²R heating, imbalance, and neutral loading.
• Recognizing the impact of emissivity, reflections, and environment.
• Translating thermal data into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Documenting inspections in a way that supports maintenance programs.

The Certified Thermal Electrician™ credential sets you apart as the professional that facility managers, property owners, and data center teams can trust. A big part of that trust comes from using a consistent routine on every inspection – and consistently using quality tools like the Mileseey TR20 Pro.

🧩 Why a Standard Routine Matters

A structured routine is what turns simple images into repeatable data. Without a routine, each inspection is different – different loads, different angles, different settings, different documentation. That makes trending and comparison almost impossible.

With a standard thermal inspection routine:

• Inspections are easier to repeat year after year.
• Different Certified Thermal Electricians™ can generate comparable results.
• Findings can be trended over time with confidence.
• Customers see consistent reports and professional processes.
• NFPA 70B-aligned maintenance is easier to justify and defend.

The combination of a consistent routine and a reliable thermal camera, such as the Mileseey TR20 Pro, supports the professional image and technical integrity of every Certified Thermal Electrician™.

📋 Step 1: Pre-Inspection Planning and Load Conditions

Every consistent thermal inspection begins before the camera is even turned on.

A Certified Thermal Electrician™ should start by:

• Confirming the scope of equipment to be inspected.
• Reviewing previous thermal reports and known problem areas.
• Verifying that the equipment will be under normal operating load (ideally ≥ 40%).
• Clarifying access requirements, panel removal, and safety clearances.
• Confirming PPE, arc-flash labels, and safety procedures.

This planning ensures the data you capture is meaningful. A lightly loaded system may look “cool and healthy” even when underlying issues are present. The Certified Thermal Electrician™ understands that load is part of the diagnostic equation – and plans accordingly.

🦺 Step 2: Safety First, Always

When working around live electrical equipment, safety is non-negotiable. Every inspection should follow:

• Arc-flash boundary and PPE requirements.
• Lockout/tagout where applicable.
• Safe panel removal and reinstallation procedures.
• Proper stand-off distances while scanning.

Thermal imaging is a non-contact technology, but the equipment being scanned can still present arc-flash and shock hazards. The Certified Thermal Electrician™ title carries with it a responsibility to uphold safe practices on every job.

🎛️ Step 3: Standardizing Camera Setup — Using the Mileseey TR20 Pro

Inconsistent camera settings lead to inconsistent data. As part of a standard routine, Certified Thermal Electricians™ should develop a consistent starting configuration for each inspection.

With the Mileseey TR20 Pro from Mileseey Tools, that setup might include:

• Setting emissivity based on typical surfaces you’ll inspect (painted metal, insulated conductors, etc.).
• Choosing a consistent color palette that highlights electrical hot spots clearly.
• Setting temperature span and range to focus on typical electrical operating temperatures.
• Ensuring focus is optimized so small details on lugs and terminations are clear.
• Verifying ambient temperature and reflected background temperature assumptions.

Because the TR20 Pro makes emissivity and imaging adjustments straightforward, it becomes easier for Certified Thermal Electricians™ to maintain consistent settings from site to site.

🔍 Step 4: Follow a Logical Inspection Sequence

A standard routine means scanning in the same order every time. This organizational discipline makes it easier to verify that nothing was missed, and it simplifies reporting.

A common sequence for Certified Thermal Electricians™ might be:

• Start at the service entrance and main switchgear.
• Move to distribution panels and feeders.
• Inspect branch panels, MCCs, and control panels.
• Scan critical loads such as motors, HVAC equipment, and servers.
• Finish with specialty equipment (UPS, generators, busduct, etc.).

At each panel or piece of equipment, scan:

• Phase connections and lugs.
• Neutral and ground connections.
• Breakers, fuses, and disconnects.
• Terminations at both line and load sides when accessible.

Over time, this kind of sequence becomes second nature, and every inspection performed by a Certified Thermal Electrician™ carries the same thoroughness and logical flow.

📸 Step 5: Capture Both Thermal and Visual Images

Consistency doesn’t stop at scanning—it extends to documentation. Each finding should be supported by:

• A clear thermal image showing the area of concern.
• A visible light image for context and identification.
• Notes on load conditions and environmental factors.

Using a camera like the Mileseey TR20 Pro, Certified Thermal Electricians™ can quickly capture repeatable images that can be compared year after year. That repeatability is what makes thermal imaging such a powerful predictive maintenance tool.

📊 Step 6: Evaluate, Compare, and Classify Findings

A standard routine should also include a standard approach to evaluation. Certified Thermal Electricians™ don’t just say “that looks hot” – they:

• Compare components phase-to-phase and component-to-component.
• Consider ambient temperature and load as part of the analysis.
• Use temperature differentials and patterns, not just absolute values.
• Classify each finding by severity and recommended response time.

The inspection routine and the evaluation routine work together. And when every job uses the same structure, your reports gain credibility – especially when combined with the Certified Thermal Electrician™ credential.

🧾 Step 7: Deliver Clear, Consistent Reports

Your final report is what the customer sees and acts on. A Certified Thermal Electrician™ should provide reports that are:

• Well-organized and easy to navigate.
• Backed by clearly labeled thermal and visual images.
• Consistent from one inspection to the next.
• Tied to specific assets and locations for trending.

Consistent use of the Mileseey TR20 Pro and consistent inspection routines result in reports that tell a clear story: where the system is today, what’s changing over time, and where corrective action is needed.

🚀 The Power of Consistency, Certification, and the Right Tool

At the heart of all this is a simple truth: customers don’t just buy images, they buy confidence. Confidence that the inspection was thorough. Confidence that findings are accurate. Confidence that the person doing the work is trained, certified, and using professional-grade tools.

That’s why the Certified Thermal Electrician™ title matters so much. It represents a commitment to best practices, to ongoing learning, and to a standard routine that can be trusted and repeated. It tells the customer: “This isn’t guesswork; this is a professional thermographic evaluation of your electrical system.”

And that’s why our partnership with Mileseey Tools is such a natural fit. Cameras like the Mileseey TR20 Pro give Certified Thermal Electricians™ the precision, flexibility, and ease-of-use needed to keep every inspection aligned with that high standard.

🎓 Become a Certified Thermal Electrician™ and Standardize Your Thermal Inspections

If you’re serious about electrical thermography, it’s time to do more than “point and shoot.” It’s time to build a standard thermal inspection routine, use professional-grade tools, and earn a credential that tells the world you’re operating at the highest level.

The Certified Thermal Electrician™ Program gives you the knowledge, methodology, and confidence to perform consistent, high-value inspections—while tools like the Mileseey TR20 Pro from Mileseey Tools help you deliver that standard in the field every single day.

Learn more about becoming a Certified Thermal Electrician™ at:
https://thermalelectrician.com