The fourth principle of water damage restoration

11/18/2020 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Northwest Portland at 503-283-3658.

Here at SERVPRO, we believe it’s important for our community to understand the principles that outline the work we do. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a standards developing organization for the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries. SERVPRO of Northwest Portland and all other restoration companies follow the standards and guidelines put forth by the IICRC. The standards manual for water damage restoration is the S500.

To learn more about the IICRC, visit our previous blogs on the S500 series The certification firm every restoration professional uses, The importance of safety and health on a restoration worksite, The importance of documentation on water damage worksite, and The steps to mitigating water damage. 

In this series, we are outlining the principles of water damage restoration work, the first three being Safety, Documentation, and Mitigation. This blog is regarding the third principle outlined in the S500.

S500 Principle 4: Clean and dry affected areas.

A restorer’s task is to reduce the time that building materials and contents are excessively wet. The more quickly items are returned to a dry condition, the less damage they will suffer while wet. 

Thus, the first step is to remove excess or bulk water where we can. Extraction is the most effective way to remove bulk water. Once any extraction is performed, restorer’s can focus on drying the materials through specialized equipment.

Once materials start returning to a dry state, restorer’s can begin the cleaning process. Contents are moved from the premises and restored in our warehouse, while the structure and attached materials are cleaned depending on material. 

Wood, paper, and fabrics can be damaged within hours of water intrusion; furniture stains can start within the first few hours; carpet deterioration can start within 24 to 48 hours; and mold growth can start within 48 hours.

If you experience water intrusion in your home or business, trust SERVPRO of Northwest Portland to handle your needs. Call us any time or day at 503-283-3658.