fire damage mitigation 3 hr sa16305
TRANSCRIPT
We Restore More Than Property…
We Restore Lives.
Company Profile
Largest full-service mitigation, restoration and reconstruction company in the U.S.
National franchise of over 240 locally owned offices since 1966
Locally with 20 years of experience, we provide your insured with the highest quality of service and commitment
PDR of Nebraska & Iowa
80+ full time employees 30 full time cleaning division employees 100,000+ sq. ft. combined warehouse facilities IICRC certified in:
– Fire Damage – Smoke Damage– Water Damage– Applied Structural Drying (ASD)– Mold Remediation– Carpet & Duct Cleaning
Website: www.IICRC.org
6 Locations to Serve You
Omaha, NE
Lincoln, NE
Grand Island, NE
Columbus, NE
Sioux City, IA
Des Moines, IA
Fire Damage MitigationFire Damage Mitigation
Largest % of Fire Losses
• Inattentive Behavior– Children– Candles– Holidays
• Thanksgiving• Christmas• 4th of July
Why Your Insured Should Understand the Urgency of Fire Claims
Immediate response after a fire
Psychological damage
Safety hazards
Odor penetration
Ongoing effect of contamination
The best time for your insured to plan is before a loss
Immediate Response
With aggressive mitigation efforts begun within 4 to 12 hours
after a loss, the overall cost of a loss can be reduced by
approximately 50% to 70%
When the fire trucks are gone, damage is on-going
Property owners do not always realize this
Improper actions can jeopardize successful restoration
Psychological Damage
Insured expects immediate response in their time of need
Often the adjuster cannot be on-site right after loss Insured is highly vulnerable to bad advice from
neighbors, etc. Insured may take matter into own hands jeopardizing
their safety and impeding successful restoration
Safety Hazards
After a fire loss, structure
can be highly hazardous
Safety Hazards
Insured is usually unaware of the types of risks
and how to mitigate them
Allow your insured to be involved from the
beginning of the process to provide a
successful outcome in the end
Does Your Insured Understand the Categories of Fire Damage?
Light
Moderate
Severe
Very severe
Light Damage
Damage Fire residues
Restoration Cleaning
Example of Light Damage
Moderate Damage
Damage Fire residues Localized heat damage Odors Personal property
Restoration Clean, paint Replace, resurface Deodorization Clean, resurface
Example of Moderate Damage
Example of Moderate Damage
Severe Damage
Damage Severe Structural damage Heavy fire residues Severe odors Contaminated cavities Contents
Restoration Clean, paint Replace, resurface Deodorization Clean, resurface
Example of Severe Damage
Example of Severe Damage
Example of Severe Damage
Very Severe Damage
Damage Unstable structure Major structural
elements Heavy water damage Contaminated cavities Contents
Restoration Temporary repairs Demolish, rebuild Clean seal, paint Access, treat Pack-out, most
replaced
Example of Very Severe Damage
Example of Very Severe Damage
Example of Very Severe Damage
What a full service Restoration Contractor can do for your insured
What Happens Within Minutes
Plastics discolor, small appliances, switch plates
Paper discolors, books, documents, etc.
Limestone, marble and alabaster stain
What Happens Within Hours
Grout stains Furniture and cabinet finishes begin to yellow Appliances discolor permanently Fiberglass plumbing fixtures yellow Metal begins to tarnish and rust Counter tops discolor
What Happens Within Days
Most metals develop severe rust, corrosion or pitting
Wallpaper discolors permanently
Clothing becomes permanently soot stained
Vinyl and wood floor require refinishing and replacing
Paints yellow and discolor permanently
Carpet, upholstery and drapery become permanently soot stained
What Happens Within Weeks
Glass, china and crystal require replacement,
due to etching and pitting
Window glass and mirrors etch and pit
A Checklist For Your Insured
What should the property owner do immediately? Take photographs
Open windows if security and temperature allows
Remove all pets to uncontaminated environment
Remove and prop up wet upholstery items
Wait for insurance agent/adjuster to advise on salvaging or disposing of contents
Change the furnace filter, if operational
A Checklist for the Insured
What should the property owner NOT do? Attempt to wash walls, ceilings or other absorbent surfaces
Use TV’s, stereos, or electrical appliances until they have been inspected
Try to attempt restoration processes on their own
Smoke Residue Categories
Wet Smoke Smoldering Cool Oxygen starved Easily absorbed by fabric More odor More difficult to remove
Smoke Residue Categories
Dry Smoke Fast burning Hot Oxygen rich Fine particles Less odor Easier to fix
Smoke Residue Categories
Plastic or Rubber Smoke Burn vigorously Low temperatures Light weight Easily smeared Small quantity can produce
large volume of smoke
Smoke Residue Categories
Protein Smoke Meat or poultry
Stove or oven
Extremely, pungent odor
Oily residue
Nearly invisible soot
Understanding the Behavior of Smoke and Fire
If the agent understandsthe behavior of fire andsmoke losses, they canservice their insured on ahigher level than thosethat don’t.
Behavior of Smoke
Temperature
Heat rises
10 degrees in temperature doubles the air volume
Behavior of Smoke
Temperature of Surroundings
Rising hot air seeks cooler surfaces
Falling air at walls causes pulling affect
of warm air
Results in soot deposit on top and back
of drapes
Behavior of Smoke
Ionization of Smoke Particles
Magnetism to:
Nail heads
Synthetics
Smoke webs
The Amount and Severity of Smoke Is Increased With the Following
Materials that burned
Prolonged combustion time
Lack of oxygen
Higher temperature Remember, fire is non-discriminatory and any substance that CAN burn WILL
burn. The more substances that do burn increase penetration of residue and create a more complex odor.
Ongoing Effects of Contamination
Odor sources continue to off-gas until they have been dealt with properly
The longer porous materials are exposed, the more difficult it becomes to clean
Smoke residue, over time, will degrade almost all surfaces Delay in authorizing the cleaning and restoring process can
drastically increase the size of claim
Emergency CleaningAlso called a pre-clean
• The Goal:– Neutralize the acid residue
• Use a Surfactant Agent• Or Cooking Oil
– Protect surfaces and reduce claim costs
Wall Coverings and Smoke Mitigation
• Test cleaning or you might “set” the soot permanently!
• The famous “chem sponge”
Tools of the Trade
Ultrasonic Cleaners
• Mild cleaning solution agitated with sound waves in a tank. Used to clean non-porous and/or delicate items.– Jewelry.– Ceramics.– Computer equipment.
Dry Ice Blasting
• Similar to sand, aggregate or water blasting but can be very delicate.– Furniture.– Glass.– Paper.– Structure.
Ozone Generators
• Used to remove odors. Normally items are stored in a sealed room with ozone generator.– Not safe for natural rubber.
VaporTek
• This unit uses the Vaportek patented essential oil membranes to release non-toxic, odor-neutralizing dry vapor into the air.
Thermal Foggers
• Used to cover odors in areas and on items.
Air Scrubber
• Air scrubbers are used to remove particles in the air. They are HEPA filtering devices.
How Much Does Your Insured Know?
Thank You For Your Time
Question and Answer