Fire Damage Testing

Damage from a fire is as dynamic as exists in the restoration industry, examples include: Heat damage causing wood to char and steel to twist; thermal shock (abrupt cooling of materials) causing porcelain fixtures to shatter and brick to fracture; corrosion causing glass to etch and circuit boards fail; water damage causing wood to warp and mold to grow; fire odor causing contents to be discarded and employees to refuse re-occupancy; fire residue causing odor to persist and asbestos/lead cleanup to be performed.

IAQ Management Services uses state-of-the-science methods and detection equipment to document the extent of fire damaged materials. This information can then be used by the client, the insurance adjuster, and the fire restoration contractor to confirm the scope of loss and ensure that restoration is performed in a complete and professional manner. Our third-party reports describe the cause of damage, scope of damage, and method of remediation. This facilitates decisions regarding insurance coverage, restoration cost, and restoration methods. And we can verify that the project is complete.

Our Approach

Our goal is to assist with these scenarios by performing the most comprehensive and detailed assessments in the industry. Since our practice is strictly limited to environmental testing and consulting – and never remediation-you’re assured of an unbiased assessment. Methods include visual inspection, moisture testing, boroscopic probing, and environmental testing to provide an evaluation of damage to property and contents by reporting the following:

• Scope of damage
• Character of damage
• Appropriate remediation plan
• Environmental quality

Additionally, a third-party clearance evaluation, including environmental inspection and testing, may be performed that will assess the effectiveness of remediation.

When to Call IAQ Management

Our professional, third-party service should be performed in the following circumstances:

• 3rd party project scope development and post remediation verification of fire or water damage is necessary
• Combusted or damaged materials or contents may have dispersed contamination
• Special needs or immune suppressed occupants may be exposed to contaminants or ill-health symptoms have been reported
• Damage is complicated (ie: drying process uncertain)

 

A word of caution: Forces determining the distribution of contamination include fire temperature, combustion time, and geography of the space. Contamination may be distributed to distant or concealed locations – e.g. mechanical chases and duct work.