Branden Adams
If you have been in restoration long enough, you have probably heard water losses described as “clean,” “gray,” or “black.” Those terms are leftovers from earlier editions of the IICRC S500. In fact, the 1999 edition referred to Category 1 as “clean water,” Category 2 as “gray water,” and Category 3 as “black water.” Earlier […]
James Copeland
Defining Cleanliness in Fire, Mold, and Compliance Driven Industries As building materials, consumer electronics, appliances, art and textiles continue to evolve, new materials are constantly being introduced into homes and structures. When these materials and components burn, the by-products from fire damage become more complex, water and mold remediation becomes more challenging, and compliance expectations […]
Nate Birch
The job that sails through and the job that drags are often the same quality of work. What separates them is whether the file can stand on its own. The drying went textbook. The crew hit the dry standard on schedule, the equipment was sized right, nobody cut a corner. Then the file sits for […]
Lorne McIntyre
Walk into almost any water loss situation and you’ll hear the same questions. “How many dehumidifiers do we need? How many air movers should we install? How long will this take?” These are all very practical questions, but the more important question is: “What is the drying plan?” ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard defines successful drying by […]
Justin Sachs
When disaster strikes—a wildfire, hurricane, deep freeze, or catastrophic plumbing failure—restoration professionals are among the first to step into the chaos. Amid toppled drywall, blown insulation, smoke-laden furniture, and muck left behind, their job is to make damaged properties safe and livable again. Yet, one of the most critical safety measures for crews and building […]
Tommy Yacobellis
The Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) assessment process in the ANSI/IICRC S590 identifies impacted and non-impacted HVAC internal surfaces after a water, fire, or mold damage event. This Standard contains procedures to perform HVAC assessments and create a written report and Restoration Work Plan (RWP) of work for residential, commercial, institutional, and healthcare buildings. […]
Lorne Mclntyre CR WLS FLS CLS ERS CSDS
Every water damage project eventually comes down to one simple question: is it dry? That question sounds easy until you are the technician standing in a finished basement with a moisture meter in your hand, an adjuster asking for justification, a homeowner asking when the equipment can be removed, and a project manager trying to […]
Phill McGurk
“Think water damage is predictable? Think again.” We’re on the cusp of a revolution where laser-precise scanning, smart scheduling, and instant cost assessments aren’t futuristic they’re happening right now in the restoration industry. Here’s how LiDAR mapping, AI-powered inventory tracking, and object recognition software are driving a new era of speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. Stick […]
Lorne McIntyre CR WLS FLS CLS ERS CSDS
In the world of disaster restoration, few surfaces present as much of a challenge or hold as much value as hardwood flooring. When water damage strikes, flooring professionals must quickly and accurately assess the extent of moisture migration while doing everything possible to preserve the floor’s structural and aesthetic integrity. This article aims to guide […]
Brendan Kimmel
Effective restoration relies on more than the right equipment. It also requires correctly classifying the job. For example, picture this: a pipe bursts and causes a large-scale water intrusion. The contractor classifies it as a Class 2 loss and begins work. However, days later, drying progress is slow. Both the client and contractor are frustrated. […]
