Overview
IEC TS 63144-1:2020 - Industrial process control devices - Thermographic cameras - Part 1: Metrological characterization - defines metrology-focused test methods and reporting requirements for thermographic cameras used to measure surface temperature. The Technical Specification covers both two-dimensional imaging cameras and one-dimensional line cameras/line scanners, regardless of scanning principle. It is intended to standardize the statement and testing of technical data in datasheets and instruction manuals so manufacturers and sellers can declare compliance with a common metrological baseline.
Key topics and technical requirements
The document specifies test conditions, methods and procedures for determining metrological performance parameters commonly cited in thermal imaging datasheets:
- Measuring temperature range and required declaration parameters
- Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD) (sensitivity)
- Measuring distance, Field of View (FOV) and Instantaneous Field of View (IFOV)
- Number of image elements and detector format
- Slit Response Function (SRF) and Minimum Field of View (MFOV) for reliable temperature measurement
- Spectral range and emissivity settings used for temperature calculations
- Environmental influences: internal instrument temperature, humidity, operating temperature range
- Non-uniformity, Inhomogeneity Equivalent Temperature Difference (IETD) and size-of-source effect (SSE)
- Temporal behaviour: response time, exposure time, integration time range, refresh rate, warm-up time
- Stability and reproducibility: short-term and long-term stability, repeatability, interchangeability (production spread)
- Test infrastructure: schematic measurement setups and illustrative figures for synchronous/asynchronous acquisition
The TS also includes an informative annex on radiative interchange effects relevant to indicated temperature changes.
Applications
- Standardizes how thermographic camera performance is measured and reported for industrial process control, quality assurance, predictive maintenance and safety monitoring.
- Supports consistent datasheets and instruction manuals used by procurement, engineering, and compliance teams.
- Helps test laboratories and manufacturers perform comparable metrological characterization and validate device suitability for temperature monitoring tasks.
Who should use this standard
- Thermographic camera manufacturers and sellers preparing datasheets
- Calibration and test laboratories performing metrological characterization
- System integrators, maintenance engineers, and procurement officers evaluating camera suitability for industrial temperature measurement
- Metrologists and regulatory bodies requiring standardized reporting
Related standards
Refer to other IEC/ISO publications covering thermography, temperature metrology and product safety for complementary guidance on application-specific requirements and calibration traceability.