FLIR thermal cameras detect heat radiation and surface temperatures

FLIR thermal cameras detect heat radiation and can be used to identify the surface temperature of objects and people.

With this capability, FLIR thermal cameras are commonly used as a non-contact screening tool to detect differences in skin surface temperatures and pattern changes.

In fact, FLIR is registered with the US FDA to provide a variety of its thermal products to screen for elevated skin temperatures in connection with additional screening tools.

The standard FLIR product accuracy specification of ±2°C or 2% of the temperature reading at 30°C (86°F) ambient environment applies to all temperature ranges it measures and for the multiple applications for which it can be used.

FLIR thermal cameras “see” or detect the temperature differences with temperature measurements between -20°C and 2,000°C (-4°F—3,632°F).

FLIR thermal camera with Screening mode can achieve accuracies of ±0.5°C (0.9°F) at 37°C (98.6°F). This can be achieved by using the camera in a stable ambient environment, only looking at humans, and updating the reference samples according to the population being screened.

It’s important to note there are many factors that can affect the accuracy of thermal cameras, such as focus, distance, the emissivity* of the target, the ambient environment, and the speed at which the temperatures are acquired.