Posted to News on 15th Feb 2018, 12:18
Stainless steel IR windows: highly robust and simple to install
The growing demand for infrared windows for safe thermal inspection of energised electrical systems has led FLIR Systems to extend its FLIR IRW-Series. As well as its windows with an anodised aluminium frame, these products are now available in stainless steel for use in harsh environments and outdoors. This option also eliminates the possibility of galvanic corrosion from contact between the stainless steel cabinet and window frame.
Although primarily designed for use with FLIR thermal imaging cameras to provide the very best combined performance, FLIR IR stainless steel windows can be used with any brand of camera. And in common with the entire IRW-Series, they are compliant with NFPA 70E requirements and all relevant UL, CSA, IEC and IEEE standards and ratings.
The gold standard for electrical fault detection is to conduct thermal inspection when the system is live, as it allows much more meaningful information to be gathered and shortens problem diagnosis. This practice, however, exposes the camera user to the risk of arc flash and requires him or her to wear cumbersome PPE as protection against the danger.
The loss of productive time and the costs involved in putting kit on and taking it off again are huge and the reason why FLIR Systems introduced its own range of thermal imaging windows that now provides even more choice than ever before.
As with the established FLIR IRW-Series, the new stainless steel models bring important benefits to the market, the most important being robust design and easy installation; just drill a single hole and attach the single PIRma-Lock ring nut to hold the window in place. No screw holes are required that may subsequently strip out.
A permanently-hinged cover flips over and stays put, so there is no risk of losing, dropping or mixing-up covers. An ID label is on the reverse of the cover for foolproof identification.
The broadband crystal lens - for short, medium and long-wave IR - is encased in the stainless steel frame. It offers good transmissivity across the spectral range and enables cameras to capture visible light pictures as well as thermal images. They also allow the LED and laser illumination features that are standard on many FLIR cameras to pass through for clearer visual assessment.
Another pertinent, standard feature on the FLIR high-end cameras is automatic IR window compensation that factors in associated energy loss so that the highest possible temperature accuracy is achieved.
As with the anodised aluminium IRW-Series windows, the stainless steel products are rated for operating temperatures up to 260degC and are available in three sizes - 50mm, 75mm and 95mm.
For more information about FLIR's infrared windows go to www.flir.co.uk/instruments/ir-windows.
