School Roof Inspections | Safe, Accurate Drone Thermal Imaging

Inspecting school roofs can be a dangerous and complex task, often requiring costly equipment and posing significant safety risks. Traditional methods involve ladders or lifts to access multiple levels, which are both time-consuming and expensive. On one project, a partner nearly fell 15 feet after a metal roof became dangerously slick due to reaching dew point, highlighting the hazards of manual roof inspections.

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The challenges multiply with complex roof designs, such as a large barrel roof, where curvature makes it nearly impossible to obtain accurate thermal images using conventional methods. In addition, fall hazards are a constant concern for teams working on such surfaces.

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Traditional inspections by a two-person team can take hours, during which wet insulation can equalize with dry insulation, masking critical issues and sometimes requiring repeat visits. Our drone thermal imaging technology transforms this process, enabling us to inspect 10,000 to 20,000 square feet per hour with better accuracy, often completing a full inspection in just 15 minutes.

 

Benefits of Drone Inspections for School Roofs

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• Enhanced Safety: Eliminates risks of falls or slick surfaces by keeping inspectors off the roof.

• Increased Efficiency: Reduces inspection times from hours to minutes.

• Improved Accuracy: Captures precise thermal images to detect issues like wet insulation or leaks.

• Cost Savings: Avoids the need for expensive lifts or repeat inspections.

 

For school administrators seeking a safer, faster, and more reliable way to inspect their roofing systems, drone thermal imaging offers the perfect solution.

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This image is the roof of East Valley High School in Spokane Valley, WA The images was taken with a drone from an altitude of about 195 feet.

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Click on the images to see a larger view of the rooftop. As can be seen, there is a lot of deferred maintenance on the roof.