Thermal imaging cameras: 6 questions to ask before buying

May 14, 2023

Thermal imaging cameras are essential tools for police and fire departments, but you need to have the right one

By James Careless and Mazzy Beasley for FireRescue1 BrandFocus

The ability of thermal imaging cameras (TICs) to detect various levels of infrared radiation (heat) and then display them as visible light on handheld color screens makes these tools indispensable for police and fire departments.

For police departments, handheld TICs (and now aerial TICs in drones) allow them to detect people and other heat sources in darkness and other visually obscured conditions. As a result, police can use TICs to search for missing persons, locate and identify victims and perpetrators during hostage situations and shootouts. It also allows law enforcement to "see" people illegally crossing borders into protected wildlife zones and other secured areas.

Meanwhile, TICs can assist firefighters in a myriad of ways. For instance, being able to see the intensity and location of heat sources from a safe distance can help fire crews identify dangerous hot spots and safe routes of entry/exit in burning buildings. TICs are also useful for finding victims. As well as surveying fire risks in car crashes or finding an occupant thrown from a vehicle. Factor in HAZMAT chemical detection due to temperature differences and USAR applications such as tracking down missing people during searches, and you'll find TICs are a must-have for every fire department.

Of course, all thermal imaging cameras are not equal. Here are six questions you need to answer first, to get the right TICs for your department.

To find the right thermal imaging cameras for your department, begin by determining how it will be used by your officers and for what functions. If the TICs will be deployed in wide-area outdoor searches, rugged all-weather handheld TICs with long battery life are your best bet. But if the TICs will be looking inside buildings to identify people and fire hot spots, high resolution imagery that provides a lot of information to the viewers are a priority.

Ideally, the more image resolution that a thermal imaging camera can deliver when it comes to defining different temperature levels as different colors, and showing shapes being detected as intelligible images, the better. However, a department doesn't have to have the highest possible resolution. Some lower-cost cameras can still provide enough resolution to do the job properly.

The specific size of a thermal imaging camera's display isn't as important as it being bright enough to portray imagery clearly in all light conditions. Paying extra for a larger display makes sense if a law enforcement officer needs a lot of visual details, i.e. when looking inside buildings to find hostages and shooters. However, the camera size needs greatly depend on the intended use for fire departments. The larger cameras work well for fire officers who are looking at the bigger picture while smaller cameras act as a situational awareness tool and do not necessarily need the size. the larger size may not be justified for firefighters who need TICs that are small, lightweight and very portable.

A rule of thumb: The more demanding the work environment – including temperature, water, dust, and rough handling – the tougher the thermal imaging camera needs to be to survive on the job. There's no point spending scarce department funds on TICs that fail two weeks after being issued, due to fragility-related failures.

Go here to the final two questions you should ask before investing in a thermal imaging device. When you're ready to shop, visit OfficerStore.

Request information from OfficerStore.com

Thank You!

By submitting your information, you agree to be contacted by the selected vendor(s) and that the data you submit is exempt from Do Not Sell My Personal Information requests. View our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.