ADVICE & OPINION
RESTORATION PLAN
FMJ AIMS TO SUPPORT TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN THE FM MARKET
6harmin $kter Managing Director 7otal 6olutions *rouS off ers advice
on ƛ re and Ɯ ood damage restoration
Fire and water damage can have
a very significant e ect on your
company and your employees, both
financially and socially. Regularly
assessing risks, and taking steps to
reduce these, will help to tighten up
operations and safeguard people,
while a Business Continuity Plan
should enable emergency procedures
to be implemented rapidly should
the worst happen. Speed is of the
essence in any disaster situation, as
the quicker action is taken the less
damage is likely to occur, and the
greater the number of assets that will
be recoverable.
FIRE DAMAGE
The damage fires cause to businesses
and homes is o en devastating and can
leave buildings unusable for long periods
of time. The immediate visual damage
can be distressing enough, without the
secondary e ects such as soot odour,
corrosion and potential health problems.
It is essential that fire damage is cleaned
up immediately, as there will otherwise
be further deterioration of buildings and
equipment.
Fire and soot contamination can
leave a property in a terrible state, with
secondary damage of a number of
types likely. The acidic soot and smoke
particles, o en propelled under pressure
during the fire, infiltrate every surface
and can cause corrosion. Porous surfaces
expand in the heat, allowing the soot
and odours to enter and trapping them
when the pores close. However, the
particles can then migrate back to the
surface over time. Hazardous substances
formed during combustion create a
toxic environment, o en impregnating
furnishings and textiles, and the process
of extinguishing the fire is likely to cause
damage, including water damage. In
addition, fire damaged properties may
be open to the elements for a period
of time until properly sealed. If you are
16 MARCH 2019
unfortunate enough to experience fire
and smoke damage it is essential that
you take rapid action.
Each fire is unique and the damage
needs to be dealt with using appropriate
knowledge and experience to bring
about the best possible results. It is
absolutely vital to ensure an e ective
restoration is performed, maintaining
the structural integrity and value of
your property. A rapid response is vital,
so as soon as safe to do so, specialist
restoration companies will assess the
fire and smoke damage and determine
what items can be recovered. The
remediation process requires a scientific
understanding of materials, combustion
and the chemical reactions that take
place and the techniques required to
deal with the particular damage that has
occurred. It is important to categorise
the damage and prioritise the urgency
of items and areas for action. Any fire
damaged item of value yet salvageable
should be given high priority, as
deterioration starts within 24 hours.
Fire and smoke can cause damage
to a property in many ways and the
outcome will depend on building design,
materials, temperature, pressure and
weather conditions. Complete removal
of soot and smoke will be required
throughout the building, and sand
blasting or eco blasting may be needed,
as well as odour control techniques and
building maintenance. A professional
company will provide a guarantee that
buildings, contents, oak beams, brick,
machinery and assets will be free from
all incident related contaminants, such
as smoke and soot, when the work is
complete.
FLOOD OR WATER DAMAGE
There are many causes of flooding
and water damage from extreme
external elements to minor plumbing
malfunctions. These include major UK
disasters, extreme weather conditions,
melting ice, burst pipes, leaks,
and firefighting water. Even if the
cause of the damage is minor, the
consequences can be devastating and
can include damage to ceilings, floors
and carpets, machinery, paint and
insulation.
Flooding and water damage can
bring the risk of significant financial
losses for businesses and so it is
important to limit the damage and
return operations to normal as soon
as possible. Fast action ensures the
best chance of restoring your property
back to its original state, avoiding
permanent damage and recovering the
assets. The pressure of large volumes
of water in severe floods may a ect the
structure and integrity of the property,
so the clean-up operation should
be handled by experts in damage
management.
It is important to prioritise what
needs to be done immediately,
to mitigate further damage or to
fast track the restoration of a key
business area, and to identify areas
that can be le until urgent essential
work is completed. The first actions
will normally involve removing the
standing water and recovering assets
from the building, as well as checking
whether there are any remaining
leaks, using specialist trace and access
equipment. Moisture levels can then be
measured and a full record of damage
made, before deploying appropriate
technical drying equipment with a
carefully controlled plan.
Rapid Drying Systems (RDS) are the
most e ective and work by drawing
in air from the atmosphere, drying or
heating that air, then injecting it into
the a ected building. This method
increases the moisture content each
cubic metre of air can hold, ensuring
the building can be dried as quickly
and e ectively as possible. This creates
a hot air chamber within the building,
which absorbs moisture from the
building’s structure and contents like a
sponge. The moisture is then removed
from the building using specialist venting
systems, reducing the likelihood of
continuing damage. Among the benefits
of RDS are that they can be managed
remotely, from start to finish, with the
entire system monitored via the internet
to ensure that the temperature and
humidity are optimised for safe, fast
drying. This helps to make the drying
process more e icient, saving money on
further building maintenance, as well as
being environmentally friendly.
Depending on the nature of the
building and the water damage,
disinfection to destroy microorganisms
and mould may be needed, together
with odour neutralisation and removal
of water stains. In addition, the building
contents will need drying and o en
restoring by specialist technicians, using
the latest technology to remove all
traces of water. UV technology is used
for examination and cleaning, and ozone
chambers can be used to destroy spores,
mould and bacteria and to neutralise
troublesome odours.
The priority following a fire or flood
is to return the a ected property to its
pre-incident condition as quickly as
possible, minimising secondary damage
and disruption. This requires a rapid
response from experts, who are available
365/24/7, who can assess the damage,
o en in conjunction with the insurer’s
representative, and recommend and
implement the most e ective course of
action. Minimising the time the business
is out of operation requires a carefully
planned programme of work to ensure
that restoration is completed safely and
on budget.
FAST FACTS