One of the first things that a water damage restoration company will look at when taking on a new job is what caused the flooding to begin with. The experts at companies like Greenpoint Restoration have different techniques that they use to make such determinations.
According to Mac White, Vice President of Greenpoint Restoration in Charlotte, North Carolina, water damage restoration companies like his use a standard system for rating water damage or water mitigation scenarios. This standard protocol is known within the industry as IICRC S500. Using this protocol, water damage companies can quickly determine the best course of action to take in any type of repair job.
The three main categories of floods outlined in the IICRC S500 are:
Category 1 – This is a clean water break. Most likely this would occur when a supply water line breaks or cracks, or something of that nature. If the water damage repair company answers quickly enough, White says there is a 99% chance that building materials can be saved during a Category 1 flood.
Category 2 – This type of water loss comes from an overflowing dishwasher, washing machine, or toilet that has urine in it. Again, most building materials can be saved in this type of situation if a water damage repair company responds quickly enough, assuming that the company uses an application of an antimicrobial disinfectant.
Category 3 – This is the worst type of flood. A Category 3 water loss is a sewage backup where there is fecal matter present, or flood water from a lake, river, or stream that enters a residence. If a Category 3 flood occurs, them most of the building materials will have to be removed or replaced.
In addition to there being three categories of water, White says there are also three different categories of building material components: porous, semi-porous, and non-porous building materials.
White says that porous materials are generally thought of as the textiles in the home. This includes fabric drapes, fabric-covered furniture, and carpeting. Drywall is also considered a porous material for the sake of water remediation because it absorbs water very quickly and becomes especially prone to mold and bacteria growth. When Category 3 water touches a porous material, that material will have to be removed and replaced.
It should also be understood that Category 1 and Category 2 waters can also degrade to Category 3 over time if the water is left untreated. White uses the analogy of a swimming pool. Although the water might be fine to swim in one day, it will become unsafe if it is not treated with chlorine in a timely manner. Therefore, White says that Category 2 water can turn into Category 3 water if it is not responded to and addressed quickly enough.
When it comes to repairing damage from a water line break or flood, the immediate response and timeliness of a homeowner’s actions are critical not only when it comes to saving key building components, but also when it comes to having those repairs covered by insurance companies.