Where Do I Start To Cleanup Commercial Fire Damage In Bristol?

4/18/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Bristol at (860) 582-3330 handles commercial fire damage in local properties of any size.

SERVPRO has decades of experience handling fire loss in local Bristol commercial properties

When a fire happens, particularly in a commercial property, whether it is an apartment building or a warehouse or a professional apartment building, it needs specific types of cleaning for the best outcome. It can be overwhelming to see charred items pushed towards the middle of the room and saturated with water. Then there is the smoke damage on walls. Prioritizing the restoration of the property can be confusing for where to begin.

What is the Best Way to Remove Smoke and Commercial Fire Damage from Walls and Ceilings in My Business?
A lot can go wrong if you choose to work on commercial fire damage in your Bristol property yourself. Commonly seen additional problems created by incorrect cleaning methods include:
    •    Liquids applied to dry smoke causing it to stain surfaces
    •    Scrubbing of soot on walls driving it in deeper
    •    Missed water damage wicking into sheetrock and seeping under flooring into the subfloor
    •    Leaving charred items behind leaves soot odor in the property

How to Reduce Fire Odor Through Cleaning
Soot produces smoke odors after a fire, and since particles smaller than the human eye can see are common, it is nearly impossible to clean away the fire odors without some professional help. When SERVPRO techs handle cleanup in Bristol commercial properties, one of the things the techs do immediately on arrival is to scope the property to determine the scale of the fire loss. Items that appear too charred for restoration services through cleaning methods undergo a detailed documentation process, including photographs before approved disposal off-site.

Air scrubbers are a big help for reducing odors, and the techs frequently run them during the entire mitigation process so they can continually capture soot particles.

How Can I Prevent Soot and Fire Odors From Spreading Throughout My Property?
When SERVPRO techs handle fire loss restoration in commercial property, they turn off the HVAC as soot can get pulled into the ductwork and set up containment as needed. Standard containment tactics involve the covering of doorways and vents with a heavy-weight plastic to form a barrier between the work area and the rest of the building. In other cases, the techs can set up negative air chambers to port away soot and help improve the air quality during mitigation.

What is the Best Way to Clean Smoke Damage From Surfaces?
The surface the residue is on is a significant consideration as some cleaners can mar surfaces. Before cleaning, the techs test the residues to find the best application in regards to both the type of smoke as well as the surface it was left behind on. Broadly defined, smoke residues from a structure fire that does not involve proteins, fit into two categories:
    •    Dry Smoke-has a dry, powdery appearance and gets addressed using pick-up methods first before cleaning the surface with wet cleaning agents.
    •    Wet Smoke-has a greasy appearance and smears easily. It can be difficult to remove without the assistance of a solvent-based cleaner.

Odor Control
The majority of fire loss in Bristol properties leaves behind some type of fire odor that needs addressing. No one wants to live in an apartment building or work in an office that looks great but smells like smoke. That means soot is actively present and can be an irritant if left unmitigated. The techs have several different methods for odor control. In many instances, there is a need to overlap methods such as time-release gel pellets after thermal fogging or running a hydroxyl generator to ensure that neutralized odors stay that way. When soot cannot get removed from walls and ceilings through standard methods, the techs often apply a sealant and recommend repainting over the area, so there is no sign of the previous fire loss through sight or smell.

Prepping for Repairs and Reopening
Once the property gets its restoration services completed, the tech makes a note of the repairs that need to happen to bring the structure back to its preloss condition. Commonly needed repairs include the installation of carpet or tile, new sheetrock, or paint walls and ceilings.
If any equipment has potential damage from the effects of the fire, SERVPRO techs can arrange for an industry professional to inspect electronics before reuse to ensure they are safe.

SERVPRO of Bristol at (860) 582-3330 handles commercial fire damage in local properties of any size. The certified technicians clean up the loss and restore the property to its pre-fire condition using their proven techniques and advanced equipment.

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