Protect Your Solar Investment with Expert Inspections
Solar panels are a significant investment for homeowners, offering energy savings and long-term benefits. However, ensuring their proper installation, functionality, and safety is essential. At Thermography Services (UK) Ltd, we specialise in thermal imaging solar inspections, providing precise, non-invasive assessments to protect your investment.
Whether you need a pre-installation inspection, a check before your warranty expires, compliance with insurance policies, or a post-storm damage assessment, our services ensure your solar system meets the highest standards.
Key Reasons to Schedule a Solar Panel Inspection
Pre-Installation Sign-Off:
Ensure your new solar installation meets industry standards before work is signed off. A pre-installation inspection verifies that your solar system has been installed correctly and adheres to key safety and performance guidelines, such as IEC62446-3:2017. By conducting a thorough thermal imaging and visual inspection, you can identify potential issues like improper wiring, defective panels, or insufficient mounting before the system is activated. This process gives you confidence in the quality of the installation and avoids costly adjustments down the line.
Pre-Warranty Expiry Check:
Identify potential issues and claim repairs under warranty before it’s too late. Solar systems often come with warranties that cover manufacturer defects or installation errors, but these warranties have strict time limits. A professional inspection before your warranty expires ensures that any problems—such as hotspots, faulty cells, or damaged connectors—are identified and documented. This allows you to address them under warranty, saving you from expensive out-of-pocket repair costs after the warranty period ends.
Insurance Compliance:
Satisfy your insurance provider’s policy requirements with a professional inspection. Many home insurance policies now require regular inspections of rooftop solar systems to ensure they are safe, fully operational, and free from defects. A comprehensive solar panel inspection, using thermal imaging technology, provides the detailed evidence insurers need to validate coverage. By staying compliant, you not only maintain your policy but also reduce the risk of claims being denied in the event of damage.
Post-Storm Damage Assessment:
Detect hidden damage from high winds, hail, or debris that could compromise your system’s performance. After severe weather, solar panels may appear intact to the naked eye, but internal issues like micro-cracks, loosened connections, or damaged cells could reduce efficiency or lead to system failure. A post-storm inspection uses advanced thermal imaging to uncover these hidden issues, ensuring that your solar system remains safe and efficient. Addressing storm damage promptly also protects your investment and helps validate any necessary insurance claims.
Includes data collection at your home and full compliant solar panel report. For installations over to 20 miles from Crawley, West Sussex area, please get in touch as we charge a travel fee of £0.45p per mile for travel outside our area.
Includes data collection at your home and full compliant solar panel report. For installations over to 20 miles from Crawley, West Sussex area, please get in touch as we charge a travel fee of £0.45p per mile for travel outside our area.
We will invoice the balance plus travel fee if applicable, for payment prior to the survey.
We charge a travel fee of £0.45p per mile for locations outside of 20 miles of the Crawley Down, West Sussex area. Use this calculator to to work out your mileage and times it by 2 for travel to and from your location… Then multiply the total miles by £0.45p for your travel fee.
We bring the expertise of a Level 3 Certified Master Thermographer, ensuring the highest level of precision and reliability in thermal imaging assessments.
Our team follows the IEC62446-3:2017 standard for photovoltaic (PV) system inspections, which outlines industry best practices, including visual checks, thermal imaging, and performance analysis.
Drone-Assisted Inspections
Through our sister company, Drone Media Imaging (www.dronemediaimaging.co.uk), we offer drone-based thermal inspections. With CAA-certified pilots and advanced drone equipment, we can inspect solar panels on rooftops safely, quickly, and efficiently—no scaffolding required.
Simple Process and Fixed Pricing
Our inspection process is straightforward and time-efficient, with most inspections completed within 30 minutes. We offer fixed-price inspection packages with no hidden fees, and you can book directly through our website for convenience.
Booking Procedures
Complete Booking Form
Make Payment
Receive Confirmation
Inspection Placed on ‘Weather Watch’
Home Visit Date & Time Arranged
Inspection Procedures
Arrange Home Visit
Complete Location Survey
Launch Drone and Complete Inspection 3-5 minutes
Drone Lands and Inspection is Complete
Report is made available to you via the internet 7-10 days after the inspection
Is there a Solar Panel Surveyor or Thermographer Near Me?
Yes, we cover the whole of the UK and the inspection price is the same, the only difference is the travel fee, we work on a pence per mile basis. Discover how a Level 3 Certified Master Thermographer can provide your with the performance integrity of your Domestic Solar Panel installation. Contact us today for a thermographic survey and experience the benefits of using thermography in solr panel maintenance firsthand.
IEC 62446-3:2017 – The Standard for Solar Panel Inspections
Environmental Requirements for the Inspection
IEC 62446-3:2017 specifies strict environmental conditions to ensure accurate and reliable thermal imaging inspections. Inspections must be conducted under clear skies, typically with direct sunlight, as this ensures the solar panels are actively generating power, making thermal anomalies more detectable. Wind speeds should be minimal to avoid cooling effects that may mask temperature differences, and inspections are usually performed during the early morning or mid-afternoon to achieve optimal conditions for accurate results.
Sunny day >600 w/m2 Irradiation
No rain or moisture on panels
Low winds
Certification Requirements of the Thermographer
To conduct an IEC 62446-3:2017-compliant inspection, the thermographer must hold relevant certifications, such as being a Level 2 or Level 3 Certified Thermographer, ensuring they have advanced knowledge of thermal imaging techniques and photovoltaic systems. Certification confirms that the inspector can interpret thermal anomalies correctly, follow the standard’s protocols, and provide actionable insights. Thermographers must also use calibrated thermal imaging equipment that meets the resolution and sensitivity specifications outlined in the standard.
What the Compliant Survey Can Detect
A compliant inspection can detect a variety of critical anomalies in solar panels, including hotspots, defective cells, damaged connectors, loose connections, bypass diode failures, and thermal bridging. These issues may not always be visible to the naked eye but can significantly reduce the efficiency of the system, increase the risk of fire, or lead to long-term system degradation. If these anomalies are not identified and addressed promptly, they can escalate into costly repairs, reduced energy output, and, in extreme cases, system failure or safety hazards.
The Inspection Report Contents
An inspection report prepared under IEC 62446-3:2017 provides a comprehensive assessment of the solar system’s condition. The report includes:
Environmental conditions during the inspection (e.g., irradiance, temperature, and wind speed).
Descriptions of identified issues, including the type and severity of anomalies.
Recommendations for corrective actions, such as replacing defective panels or tightening connections.
This report serves as both a diagnostic tool for homeowners and documentation for warranty claims or insurance purposes, ensuring full compliance with industry standards.
Don’t leave your solar system’s performance to chance. Book your fixed-price solar panel inspection today to ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency. Our fast and simple process means you’ll have peace of mind in no time. Visit our website now to schedule your inspection!
This is the international standard for Photovoltaic (PV) Module Inspections, ensuring your system meets safety and performance benchmarks. It covers the training of the thermographer, the equipment used, the report completed, and the environmnetal comliant conditions required for the inspection.
How do I book a Solar Inspection?2025-02-10T12:52:42+00:00
We offer fixed-price package, so there are no surprises. Use the links on our website for pricing details. We accept payments by bank trasnfer or card payment via ‘Stripe’.
Are your inspectors qualified?2025-02-10T12:52:43+00:00
Yes, we have a Level 3 Certified Master Thermographer qualification and CAA-certified ‘Operational Authority’ drone operators permission for unparalleled expertise.
Can a thermal inspection detect storm damage?2025-02-10T12:52:44+00:00
Yes. Thermal imaging can identify cracks, hotspots, or other issues caused by storms, even if they aren’t visible. Naturally, missing, moved or dislodged panals are always reported
Can inspections improve energy efficiency?2025-02-10T12:52:43+00:00