Apparatus and Method for Identifying Equipment

Abstract

An apparatus and method for locating building equipment such as HVAC systems, electrical lines, gas lines, water lines, IT lines and the like which is located above the ceilings, behind the walls, or under the floors of a building is presented. According to the invention, the walls, ceilings, or floors that cover building equipment are marked with an invisible marking material. When the location of a particular piece of equipment is required, the previously marked wall is illuminated with a remote apparatus designed to read the invisible markings, thereby identifying the equipment location. The marking material can be any commercially available invisible material that is suitable for such use. The illumination apparatus can be any device which is capable of displaying the marking material. For non-limiting example, an infra-red readable material can be used with a remote apparatus, such as a flashlight, equipped with an infra-red identifying wavelength light.

1 . An apparatus for identifying building equipment located behind building equipment covering on a wall, a ceiling, or a floor comprising a marking material for marking the exterior of a building equipment covering over the location of building equipment, the marking material further being invisible to the eye, and a remote illumination apparatus for illuminating the marking material to identify the location of building equipment, the illumination apparatus further comprising an illuminator. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for identifying building equipment of  claim 1  wherein the illuminator emit ultraviolet wavelengths. 
   
   
       3 . A method for identifying building equipment located behind building equipment covering on a wall, a ceiling, or a floor comprising the steps of:
 placing a marking material over the location of building equipment on the exterior surface of a covering, said marking material being invisible to the eye;   using a remote illuminating apparatus to reveal the marking material so that it is visible to the eye, the illuminating apparatus further comprising an illuminator for emitting a source that highlights the marking material.   
   
   
       4 . The method for identifying building equipment of  claim 3  wherein the illuminator emit ultraviolet wavelengths.