A perpetual quest among professional thermographers involves seeking a standard contract for their inspection services.  In this Tip, we offer a time-tested solution that can help to increase sales and improve customer satisfaction.

A contract is a binding legal agreement that is enforceable in a court of law. Simply put, a contract is an exchange of promises, which if broken, have remedy in the law.  Among other things, an infrared inspection contract should address the responsibilities of the thermographer and the client, work to be performed, applicable standards and procedures, pricing, delivery, and payment terms.

Due to the diverse nature of infrared inspection services, preparing a one-size-fits-all contract can be very difficult.  This challenge becomes even greater when ancillary services such as providing electricians or moisture verification are required as part of a project.  In many areas, preparing a contract requires the assistance of a legal professional in order to ensure that the final contract meets all regulatory and legal requirements.

For professional thermographers, the first step in approaching any new project should be to generate a formal proposal.  This proposal should contain all information pertinent to the project and be sufficiently detailed to reflect the responsibilities of all parties including the client and the thermographer.  Once a proposal has been deemed satisfactory by a client, a Purchase Order or contract may then be prepared and forwarded to the thermographer for review and acceptance. 

Infraspection Institute offers standard proposal templates for several different types of residential and commercial infrared inspections. Each template provides suggested wording and format for preparing a comprehensive and professional proposal.

Eight proposal templates are currently available covering the following applications: electrical systems, mechanical systems, electro/mechanical systems, building envelopes, insulated roofs, process equipment, steam traps, and underground piping.  Each template outlines scope of work, pricing options, client and thermographer responsibilities, applicable standards, additional services, and terms.

All templates are provided in a Microsoft Word file and can be modified to suit the user's particular needs. Templates may be used as core language for contract documents.  Purchase price includes license for unlimited use of template by the original purchaser. Templates are available individually or as a complete set of eight through the Infraspection Online Store.