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. […]
Joshua Woolen
Fire damage is devastating to the occupants and owners of a facility. The first responders battling the fire and those technicians tasked to perform emergency services, cleaning, and remediation may be exposed to safety and health risks. The building can be impacted as a whole or in part, affecting structure materials, assemblies, and contents. Fire […]
Ed Bauer & Gustavo Contreras
OVERVIEW This discussion is intended for business owners, property managers, and anyone tasked with protecting and restoring commercial operations. It focuses on a wide-ranging overview: Smoke intrusions can pose a serious threat to the reliability, safety, and expected lifespan of business equipment, from building electrical switchgear and breakers to production-line electronics, printed circuit boards, medical […]
Tom Peter
The cleanup of the World Trade Center site after the September 11, 2001, attacks took nine months and cost billions. The dust from the pulverized towers was toxic and affected the health of thousands of workers. Additionally, the 9/11 cleanup revealed significant issues with untrained responders, many of whom were not fully prepared for the combined […]
Beau Burdett
In the world of property restoration, few items in a home carry the emotional weight and historical value of a fine area rug. When water, fire, or smoke damage occurs, these pieces can either be lost forever or saved with care. Restoration professionals are increasingly encountering handmade, antique, and specialty rugs in the homes they […]
Lorne McIntyre
I was recently asked by a contractor friend to evaluate a residential fire loss that, at first glance, appeared to be progressing well. The fire had been confined to a limited area, suppression was effective, and the restoration contractor had completed cleaning and deodorization. The space looked clean and orderly. However, as the evaluation continued, […]
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. […]
Bran Lynch
Decades ago, the pioneers of the restoration industry recognized the need for standards that restorers could use to set a benchmark for professional services. People like Martin L. King, Lloyd Weaver, Cliff Zlotnik, Claude Blackburn, Rusty Amarante, Lee King, Larry Holder, Pete Consigli (and many more) fought to have our industry recognized as organized and […]
Joshua Woolen
There is only one type of fire, which is fire itself, whether it occurs in man-made structures or in open, natural areas. While we distinguish between structural fires and wildfires, both produce heat, smoke, particulates, and odors. The key to effective fire cleaning and remediation is understanding the common nature of shared cleaning and remediation […]
Joshua Woolen
When performing building restoration after a fire, the fire restorers tasked with conducting visual and physical investigations should commence their investigation from the exterior of the structure. This will enable them to identify any structural hazards that may pose a risk to their safety. Additionally, the restorers should give thought to boarding up the building […]
