Fire & Smoke Damage Recovery – Part 2
How much water was introduced?
Since most fires in building structures are extinguished with water, what do we do with it? The water can come from multiple sources, usually a fire suppression system, mixed with other efforts from the local Fire Department. Many thousands of gallons can run out and will travel the course of gravity, pressure, capillary action (wicking), and vaporization. If it sits too long, odors and microbial growth ensue.
It is very important to get this extraction and eradication addressed immediately. The sooner the building is dried and cleaned, the less demolition is necessary and the sooner the building can be put back in full operation. But it is critical to track the water in all forms. Where are the chases and passages that the water followed? Are they exposed, dried and repaired? This takes careful investigation and thorough …
Fire & Smoke Damage Recovery – Part 1
5th December
What is consumed in a fire becomes very critical in recovering from fire and smoke damage. It helps determine the degree of heat that might have been present, what is in the soot and what types of particulates will be in the air. All these factors have to be understood in order to create the right recovery plan. Why? Because this will affect the integrity of the building materials and substrates, determine what cleaning products and methods must be used, determine how to protect the workers on the job and to properly set clearance criteria for job completion.
Was the fuel organic or inorganic? How many types of materials burned? How long? How did the fire start? How was it put out? When burned, many items create new chemical compounds, some of them can be highly acidic or corrosive. The soot, …
Restoration Management for Water Damage, Part 1
2nd December
Water Damage comes in many forms and from many causes. Whether caused by natural disasters like hurricane and flood, or specific building issues like burst pipes, sewage backups, leaks and sprinkler-head pops, it creates a lot of work. Water also migrates and can culture microbial growth. The water is subject to movement from gravity, pressure, capillary action and vaporization. And it may carry contaminants.
There are options to dry through Heat, Desiccant, Refrigerant and even the outside environment. How much equipment is necessary? What is the right process for each job? How is it monitored? Where is all the water – liquid and vapor? Are there cross-contamination risks? What is the right amount of demolition? What material, equipment and furniture can be saved and is it worth it? These are all questions we answer and make sure that your Restoration Contractor, executes …
Maintaining LEED qualifications after Restoration Work
30th November
If you have gone through the rigors of obtaining a LEED certified building, you certainly don’t want to lose that or have it downgraded after the completion of Disaster Recovery work. Building owners of LEED certified buildings need to have contractors who understand this. Hiring a company with experience in working with LEED certified buildings and who have an understanding of environmental sustainability as well as building hygiene is an asset to any recovery project.
The main thing to remember is that first and foremost the products and processes must work to remove any unwanted contaminants. You can’t afford to sacrifice quality for products that are “green” by name only. If certain products are not effective, then the process has to make up for the difference and bring the final solution back to a clean and environmentally …
