Understand Water Damage
Understanding Water Damage
Why is Water Damage a problem? - Major Causes - The Inspection and Evaluation Process
Categories of Water Damage - Classes of Water Damage - How is a Structure Dried?
The topics of water damage we will discuss will be the following; Why is Water Damage a problem, Major Causes of Water Damage, The Inspection and Evaluation Process, Categories of Water Damage, Classes of Water Damage and finally How is a Structure Dried?
Premium Restoration has been dealing with emergency restoration since the early 2000’s and has handled over 10,000 jobs to with over 1,000, 000-man hours in work completed. Premium has hired some of the best professionals in the industry from emergency technicians, contents staff, project managers and especially the administrative staff that can handle any task assigned to them.
With water damage and fire claims becoming more prevalent and more and more people working from home, everyone needs to know who to deal with water damage and hopefully prevent massive flooding their home and businesses. Also due to the age of buildings in the Greater Vancouver Regional District GVRD and the Fraser Valley Regional District FVRD, Environmental Remediation for Asbestos, Lead, Mould etc. and now COVID 19, this can be a large and expense undertaking and needs to be handled by the appropriate professional otherwise physical and mental health can be compromised.
Kris Kuran has been in restoration for the past 10 years and dealt with the average home restorations – basement floods, to most complicated arenas, hospital and municipality restoration. Kris Kuran also offers continuing educational courses for brokers and insurance companies.
WHY IS WATER OR MOISTURE INGRESSION INTO OUR HOMES AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES SUCH A PROBLEM?
Prolonged moisture deteriorates building materials, increased risk of bacterial and microorganism growth as well all types of mould growth.
Major Causes of Water
Sewer Backup - Fire Suppression system - Natural Disaster Causes – Accidents
Negligence - Faulty / Defective Plumbing - Defective Appliances / Fixtures - Willful Misconduct & Vandalism (strata's) - Faulty / Damaged Construction
Strata’s have been willfully mismanaging their building and the bill has come to pay.
Improved building codes, insulation / retrofit programs and higher energy costs have resulted in:
More energy efficient buildings that have:
Less air exchanges
Trap moisture
These efficiencies have actually caused more moisture issues
The Inspection and Evaluation Process
Restorers should conduct the following pre-restoration activities:
Information Gathering
Initial response and Health and Safety issue resolution
Pre-restoration inspection
The Extent, content, degree of penetration is very important to determine the next course of action
Penetration depends on the Material & Contents involved
Types of materials (contents)
Quality of water or sewage (category)
Quantity / Length of contact time (class)
Severity depends on the Category and Class of Water Damage.
Source/Cause and time frame
Health and welfare of occupants from hazardous material
Evacuation or Isolation of the damage areas
Types of Materials/Contents they could be carcinogenic or hazardous material
Pay special attention to all hygroscopic materials in the water
How far has water migrated
Restore the contents or replace everything
Has it affected the HVAC
Best methods for repair
When safe for occupancy
Create a plan with a professional project manager and move forward with that plan not deviating for any reason.
Moisture Detection
Contact Moisture Meter & Thermal Imaging Cameras are the 2 most important tools in a restoration project managers arsenal.
Contact moisture meter allow and thermal imaging cameras for non-invasive techniques. In the past only invasive tools where used which caused damage to areas that were not wet.
Contact Moisture Meters
The Purple Spot Shows Moisture
Invasive Methods – Rip the walls down and test afterwards
Categories of Water
Category 1 - Water Damage - Clean Water
Originates from a sanitary water source with minimal risk from dermal, ingestion or inhalation exposure.
Broken water supply line
Tub or sink overflows
Appliance malfunctions
Melting ice or snow
Falling rain water
Broken toilet tanks/bowls
Category 1 Water can deteriorate for many reasons:
Contact with building materials - Contact with contents - Mixing with soils
Category 2 - Water Damage - Grey Water
Contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans.
Examples of Category 2 Water:
Discharge from dishwasher or washing machines
Overflows from toilet bowl on the room side of the trap with some urine but no feces
Seepage through wall and basement foundation
Category 3 - Water Damage - Black Water
Grossly contaminated
Can contain pathogenic, toxigenic or other harmful agents
Generally, of sewage origin
Human exposure to pathogenic raw waste
Evacuate and begin restoration immediately
Extreme Health Risks within the Water
Classification of Water
For broker and adjuster explanation: Classes designate water-damaged environments by their relative degree of saturation, which is then used to determine the approximate initial amount of dehumidification equipment necessary for an efficient drying system. i.e. the Class takes into consideration the typical size of the loss and types of materials likely to be affected.
Class 1
Least amount of water, absorption and evaporation. A small one room flood with non porous material
Concrete floors – Garages and some Basement Floors
Class 2
Large amount of water, absorption and evaporation
Affects at least an entire room of carpet and cushion (pad)
Water has wicked up walls less, than 24 inches
Moisture remaining in structural materials such as
Plywood
Particle Board
Structural Wood
Vinyl Composite Tile
Concrete
Substructure Soil
Class 3
Large amount of water, absorption and evaporation
Restoration projects in which water has wicked up the walls greater than 24 inches.
A water loss that enters the structure from overhead and affects the entire area
Ceilings Walls Insulation Carpet Cushion Subfloor
Class 4 - Specialty Drying Situations
A water loss that involves wet materials with very low permeance/porosity such as:
Typically, there are:
Deep pockets of saturation
Require very low specific humidity
May require longer drying times and special methods.
Injectidry System with floor mats.
Dual system of Tenting and Injectidry System
Desiccant System
Desiccant dehumidifiers work by using a large desiccant wheel to adsorb moisture from the process air stream. This heated air steam picks up the moisture from the wheel, in turn drying the wheel so it is reactivated and able to continue to dry the process air.
Humidity Control
Accelerates the drying process
Reduces damage to absorbent structural materials and to contents
Creates a comfortable environment for occupants
Note: You can over dry - With Over-drying and heating control you must be
Careful not to warp wood floors and other wood materials. It can shrink items
like wall paper – melt plastics
Air Movement
High velocity air movement:
Increases the rate of evaporation
Reduces material temperatures
Retards the growth of microorganisms
Technicians go to school to learn how to create air movement, 2-3 blowers can do more then 6 or 7 blowers if placed correctly. Each tech is arms with a formula our techs use to ensure proper air movement.
Temperature
Use enough heat to increase the rate of evaporation
Maintain safe temperature to reduce mould and mildew growth
Maintain a comfortable environment for occupants
Cool & even warm air holds more moisture that is why we use heat.
Time
Time is key to ensure proper drying.
The usually drying time for Class 1 & 2 is 3-4 days.
As the classification go up 3 & 4 special drying technique and more time is usually necessary.
In the event of water damage call your local restoration company and ensure to mitigate the damage as it states in your insurance policy. It is your responsibility to mitigate and then call your insurance company. Remember it is your choice who you use to mitigate and rebuild.
2nd to be released Understanding Water Damage 2022
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