Professionalism and TrustMy Account Apply for Membership My Account Apply for Membership National Association of Infrared Specialists 16192 Coastal Highway, Lewes, Delaware 19958 NAIS Mechanical Systems Standards of Practice (MechSOP) This standard sets the requirements for infrared surveys of mechanical equipment and rotating machinery. Section 1: Purpose, Scope and Alignment 1.1 Purpose. To set a uniform, defensible minimum standard for infrared surveys of mechanical equipment. 1.2 Alignment with NAIS Core Standards. This standard is an addendum to the NAIS Core Standards of Practice (CoreSOP) and the NAIS Code of Ethics. Everything in the CoreSOP applies unless this standard says otherwise. It relies on ASTM E1934 and ISO 18434-1 (condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines: thermography, general procedures). 1.3 Scope. Motors, bearings, pumps, gearboxes, belts, couplings, fans, compressors and steam traps. 1.4 Exclusions. This standard does not cover vibration analysis, oil analysis, alignment, repair, or the design of equipment. Section 2: Safety The thermographer shall follow the site's lockout, guarding and machine-safety rules. Hot surfaces and moving parts shall not be touched, and guards shall not be removed. Electrical safety follows ElecSOP Section 2. Section 3: Procedure Survey equipment while it runs at normal load, and record the load and the speed. Compare similar components under the same load and conditions, or compare the component with its own earlier baseline thermogram. Record the absolute temperature of the component and of its reference, and the ambient temperature. A baseline thermogram of every important machine should be taken when it is known to be in good condition. Section 4: Fault Signatures Component Pattern that may indicate a fault Common causes to check Bearings Local heat at the housing Over-lubrication, under-lubrication, misalignment, wear Belts and couplings Uneven heating along the axis Slippage, friction, angular misalignment Motors Hot windings, hot end bell or uneven frame Overload, blocked cooling, unbalanced supply Steam traps Temperature much higher or lower than expected upstream and downstream Failed open, failed closed, blocked A pattern in this table is a lead to investigate. The thermographer shall not name a cause as confirmed without a second form of evidence, such as vibration data or inspection. Section 5: Severity The report shall state the temperature rise over the reference and the component's operating limits. Where NAIS classes are used, they shall be those in ElecSOP Section 5, and the manufacturer's limits take priority. Section 6: Reporting The report shall meet CoreSOP Section 7, with the following added: the equipment identifier, the load and speed at the time of survey, the baseline image where one exists, and the temperature rise over the reference. Section 7: Limitations This survey shows surface temperature only. Internal faults may not show on the surface, and a machine surveyed at low load can understate a fault. The CoreSOP limitations statement shall appear in every report.

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