Methodology to determine the adequacy of indoor enclosures to use infrared thermography cameras and their application to medical emergency services

Abstract

When an infrared thermography camera is used inside buildings, the characteristics of the place where the camera is used should be considered since results could be affected. For this reason, the development of methodologies is of great interest to know, as accurate as possible, whether these spaces have the appropriate conditions to use those cameras. The goal of this research is to establish the possibility of applying quality management methodologies, such as the Quality Function Deployment, very known and usually used in other scopes. Thus, the characteristics of enclosures belonging to medical emergency units in Spain were used as the object of experimentation given the importance of these services for society and the possibility of using directly useful technologies for diagnosis. After collecting the starting information based on references, the consultation to 21 experts, and the characteristics of these enclosures included in regulations, standards and recommendations in Spain, and also after applying the methodology mentioned above, the results showed that air conditioning (13.6/100), the thermal insulation of the room (11.9/100), windows (10.5/100), dimensions of spaces (10.2/100), and humidity (10.1/100) are the most influential factors. Within the scope of medical emergency services, those triage, consultation, examination, treatment, and observation rooms fulfilling what is specified by Spanish regulations, standards and recommendations obtained positive assessments (≥3/5) in most cases. It was therefore concluded that this methodology is of great interest to assess generally the suitability of indoor enclosures to use infrared thermography cameras, and regarding the specific case of the main enclosures of medical emergency services fulfilling with Spanish standards and recommendations, their characteristics make them suitable for using infrared thermography cameras, at least in relation to the fulfilment of basic conditions.