Know your smoke

4/29/2013 (Permalink)

When SERVPRO of Virginia Beach arrives on the scene of a fire, the first step is to calm the customer's fears. The next step is to pre-test the smoke to determine what type of fire has taken place. Knowing the types of smoke and their behavior patterns is crucial to proper cleanup protocol.

Smoke and soot residue can damage carpet, upholstery and contents if not removed quickly and efficiently. In a fire-damaged structure with soot on walls and surfaces, cleaning and restoration is less disruptive and more cost-efficient than replacement. Replacement means a longer disruption time than restoration. For a business waiting to reopen or a family that just wants to come home, this downtime can present a enormous hardship.

Do not leave the first vital hours to anyone who does not understand pre-testing.

The character of smoke

Wet Smoke: generated by the burning of plastics and rubber. Identifiable by it's pungent odor -- the residue is sticky and smears easily.

Dry Smoke: generated by the burning of paper and wood at high temperatures. More residue found at high levels as heat rises.

Protein Smoke: is a product of the evaporation of material during fire, not the fire itself. Although virtually invisible, It discolors paint and varnishes and has an extremely acrid smell.

We know the rules...

Insurance and business professionals understand the rule, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." SERVPRO of Virginia Beach works hard to ensure pre-testing is completed on every loss to determine restorability. Pre-testing should occur immediately to qualify restoration with the customer by identifying the following:

Items unaffected by the loss

Restorable items

Items that cannot be restored

Questionable items that need an adjuster's professional opinion

Determine the most effective cleaning and restoration processes

Identify pre-existing conditions

Gauge the extent of the loss

Reduce overall costs of the restoration process

Eliminate needless replacements

Judge what is restorable and what must be replaced.

SERVPRO of Virginia Beach
757-431-1400

It's always best to call directly.