SFCI TIC

Copyright © 2006 Thomson Delmar Learning
Rapid Intervention Company Operations (R.I.C.O.)
Michael R. Mason and Jeffrey S. Pindelski
Hall County Fire Academy – Fire
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Rapid Intervention and the
Thermal Imaging
Environment

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Objectives
• Discuss the basic principles on which thermal imaging is based.
• Explain how mass and density affect the image visualized on
the thermal imager.
• Clarify the three different types of infrared energy emitters.
• Discuss the drawbacks and limitations of thermal imaging.
• Identify how thermal imaging can be utilized in searching for
trapped firefighters.

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Objectives
• Explain the effects that image inversion has on a search
with the thermal imager.
• Explain what is meant by a T.I.C. lead search.
• Explain what is meant by a landmark search.

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NFPA Standards
• NFPA 1403
• NFPA 1500
• NFPA 1710
• NFPA 1720

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Introduction
• Thermal Imaging Technology has
provided a new edge and limitless
possibilities on the fireground.

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History of Thermal Imaging Technology
•Used by Military since the
1950’s
•Fire departments began using
this technology in the late
1980’s
•Not used to their fullest
potential

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Modern T.I.C. Cameras
• Modern TICs do not require focusing. The
microbolometer does not have an iris like
a camera.
• The default sensitivity of the camera
determines what you see. The more
sensitive, the less you see.

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Potential Uses
•Initial Size-Up
•Primary and Secondary Search
•Location of Fire and Extension
•Monitoring of Conditions Indicative of Flashover
•Overhaul
•Rapid Intervention Operations
•Hazardous Material Situations
•Preplanning
•Fire Inspections
•Urban Search and Rescue
•Assisting Law Enforcement

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How does it work?
•Based on infrared energy
•All objects emit energy to
different degrees
•Heat is a form of IR

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Infrared Energy
•Unaided vision is dependent on visible light available
•Smoke is made up of toxic gases &carbon particles
•Solid carbon particles block visible light
•IR is unaffected by light since it is based on heat

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What Do We See?
Why does this wall look
hotter then the rest of the
building?

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This Is What We See
• The parapet wall has
been heated by sun
causing it to appear
hotter then the rest of
the building.

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Energy Emitters
•Law of Heat Transfer - hot to cold
•3 Types of IR emitters
Passive - Furniture
Active - A Human being
Direct Source - A Fire

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Mass and Density
T.I.C.s cannot see through some
objects, they can only pick up heat
differentials that may pass through.

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Mass and Density
• Some objects allow
IR energy to pass
through others don’t

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Mass and Density
Masking – a passive emitter
(Turn-out gear) may mask an
active emitter (A firefighter).

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FF Down

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FF Down
• Note the signature of
the FF
• Note the shapes of
some objects like
boots and gloves
• Must be able to
interpret shapes (heat
signatures) as well as
color variations.
Boots
Gloved
Hand

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Drawbacks
• Expensive
• Intricate technology and components are
subjected to:
Impact
Heat
Water Exposure
Easily damaged

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Limitations
•T.I.C.s cannot replace a solid basic foundation in
search techniques
•Can cause overconfidence and dependability
•Battery Powered

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Limitations
•Size of Screen
•Depth Perception
•Field of View
•Cause the user to
advance faster than
the rest of the crew

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Limitations
•Object density affects imaging capability
•Cannot see through glass or water
•Shiny objects reflect infrared energy
•Doors and windows may not be able to be
determined if made of glass
•Vision is compromised while in a room where
sprinklers are actively discharging

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What the Human Eye can See

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What T.I.C. will see
• IR heat energy is
reflected by glass
• T.I.C. picks up the
reflected IR energy
from windows

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Using the T.I.C.
•Thermal Contrast – difference in temperature
between objects
•Low Contrast Scene- ambient temperature is cool
and all objects are close to that temperature
•High Contrast Scene- high thermal energy present
with differences in rates of energy absorption

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Using the T.I.C.
• Low Contrast Scene- all objects are close
to the same temperature
• Commonly referred to as white out,
usually a high temp room, where all
objects are near the same (high)
temperature

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Using the T.I.C
• Create thermal contrast-Open the nozzle
• Some objects will cool down and there will
be thermal contrast
• This will allow you to see objects in the
room

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Temperature Differences
• The color difference
only represents a
difference on temp.
– Not an exact temp
reading

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Hot Wall

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What’s behind the door?

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Heat

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Using the T.I.C.
The more clear that the picture becomes
onscreen signifies that you are getting closer to
the source of heat
Direction & Velocity = Location
The less heat emitted, the darker an object will
appear on the screen

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Using the T.I.C.
•Thermal Layering
- Check for presence against a fixed
landmark
- Monitor for movement
•Image Inversion- occurs when images
change colors due to changes in ambient
temperature. What was once light colored
may become dark due to changes in
surrounding temperature change.

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Six Point Scan
Systematic approach should be utilized to scan an area.
1. Ceiling
2. Midlevel
3. Floor
Overcomes a tunnel-
vision approach

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Six Point Scan
Systematic approach should be utilized to scan an
area.
1. Ceiling – Looking for thermal balance, rafters
etc.
2. Midlevel – Looking for thermal balance,
windows, doors, furniture, victims etc.
3. Floor – Looking for holes, victims etc.

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Six Point Scan
By starting at the top and performing this type
scan before you enter every room you are
ensuring you do not enter a hazardous
environment. Such as a room with burnt
through ceiling joists, or eminent flashover
etc.

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TIC Lead Search
TIC operator leads
the search team
through the area to be
searched while
relaying information to
the team members in
regards to direction of
travel and obstacles.
This could be used in
a cluttered room.

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TIC Lead Search
• Even using TIC some
areas must still be
searched by hand

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Landmark Search
TIC operator
identifies a specific
landmark and has
team search as
they make their
way to that point.
This could be used
in a room that is
open with very little
objects in the way.

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Scott Eagle Imager 160

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• Getting started
• Press either
button to turn
on the camera
• An initial
screen will
appear for
aprox 5 sec.

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• Screen
Information

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• Temperature difference modes
– Monochrome -The display screen uses shades of
grey, from black to white. Warmer objects appear on
the screen as lighter grey to white while cooler objects
appear darker grey to black
• Objects < 200 deg. F cause the camera to stay in the default
or lower temp mode. Objects > 200 deg. F cause the camera
to switch to the enhanced image mode. The letters “EI” will
appear in the upper left portion of the display screen to
indicate the camera is in the enhanced image mode.

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– Monochrome Red – displays shades of grey
the same as the Monochrome mode, but
objects exceeding 1000 deg F. will appear red
in the display screen

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• Monochrome Red
mode

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– Color mode – this displays a range of
temperatures in the screen as color from Blue
to Yellow.
• BLUE represents cooler areas and YELLOW
represents hotter areas
• The colors do NOT correspond to specific
temperatures, but give a relative picture of
temperature ranges.

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• Screen while in the
color mode.

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• Manually change display modes
– Press and hold the LEFT control button for 3
seconds
– The sequence is as follows
• Color mode
• Monochrome-Red mode
• Monochrome mode
– After the Monochrome mode press and hold
the LEFT control button to return to Color
mode

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• Temperature indicator
– Displays and small
crosshair
– This reads the approx temp
of the object in the
crosshairs
• TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR dose NOT
read exact temperatures
(use for relative
temperature differences)

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• Over Temperature Protection
– A HIGH TEMP warning will be displayed on
the screen when the core temp reaches 160
deg F or higher.
– The warning indicates the camera’s
performance will begin to degrade and the
unit may shut down

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• Video transmitting
– The TIC has the ability to transmit video to an
outside monitor.
– Helpful for outside FF and IC to have a better
idea of conditions inside the structure.

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• Video transmitter
– The camera will power
up in the mode it was
in when last shut down
– Press LEFT control
button and CH-A will
appear
– Press again and CH-B
will appear
– Press again and
nothing will appear

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• Battery
– When the battery has
approx 20% life
remaining, LOW BATT
will appear below the
battery level symbol in
the display

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• Battery Life
– 3 ½ hours under
normal operation
– 2 hours while
transmitting

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• Battery Maintenance
– Battery charger and recharging
• Green light indicates fully charged battery
• Yellow light indicates the battery is outside its
temperature for charging
– Allow battery to cool
• Red light indicates charging in progress
• Flashing red light indicated defective battery
– Battery charged for more then 4 hours and indicator light
is red indicates and defective battery

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• To turn off
– Press and hold the
RIGHT control button
– Screen will display
HOLD TO TURN OFF
– RELEASE FOR
STANDYBY continue
to hold.
– Standby can be
utilized to help
conserve battery
power

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• Cleaning
– Clean as necessary using a dampened cloth
with solution of mild detergent and water
– Rinse with cool/warm water (no hot water)
– DO NOT submerge in water

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Summary
T.I.C.s can vastly improve a rescue effort, but
they do not ensure success.
An in-depth understanding of thermal imaging,
how it works and practice will allow the rescuers
to properly interpret the images on screen.

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References
• Original created by Rapid Intervention
Company Operations (R.I.C.O.) and
published by Delmar learning.
• Updated by Hall County Fire Academy.

SFCI TIC

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