Company-specific training programs help to strengthen theindustry as a whole. As PuroClean CEO Lauren Reid explained to ClaimsChristina Bramlet, his company's latest step in educating a newwave of restoration professionals involves a rigorous courseoffering (approved by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning andRestoration Certification (IICRC)) and a new Applied StructuralDrying (ASD) hands-on demonstration facility. Reid talks about someof the features of the facility and how it is conducive tolearning.

Tell us more about the motivation behind the facilityand training program.

The substantial time and capital investment associated with notonly PuroClean Academy but especially the new ASD facility speaksto our desire to help solidify best practices and standardizetraining and operations. We believe that our IICRC-approved course offerings and the hands-ontraining afforded by the ASD facility and the other features of theAcademy will equip restoration professionals with the necessaryskills and knowledge to handle both small- and large-scale disasterrecovery situations.

Our newest ASD facility is one of only a few of its kind in theworld. The Academy is designed to assist industry professionals indeveloping core competencies in water damage restoration, fire and smoke restoration,odor control, carpet cleaning, and color repair. All of ourfacilities, but especially the ASD house will also be utilized forthe research and development of new equipment, processes, andprocedures in disaster restoration.   

What do visitors see when they arrive?

The Property Restoration Training Center includes a flood house,a smoke and soot simulator, and a contents cleaning room designedfor PuroClean's integrated contents management system. We haveessentially constructed a one-bedroom home inside of a commercialbuilding. The ASD facility was built from the ground up; it is nota modular home set on a foundation. It was imperative that the homebe fully functional and also be built to hurricane standards—we arein Florida—so that visitors could touch and feel the entireproperty restoration process. Within the controlled environment ofthe Flood House, participants gain knowledge about how to applyIIRC-approved guidelines to structural drying,and in other parts of our Academy they will learn how to deal withthe remediation of smoke and soot damage. They can use theequipment and follow the process from beginning to end.

This setup also means that technicians and other professionalsare able to better understand the construction of a commondwelling—for instance, observing several types of subfloorings andfloor coverings and the way a basement may be built. They can alsofamiliarize themselves with building styles, mechanisms, andprocesses to handle various  exposures. We have installedremote monitors inside of walls and under floors that allow us totrack the drying progress online from any computer. We candemonstrate how appliances, counters, and cabinets should be driedand cleaned following exposure. The contents cleaning room allowsus to demonstrate the proper way to clean and restore furniture andother contents that have been exposed to water and tosmoke/soot. 

The variety of materials in the "home" is intended to help ourtechnicians and franchisees experience real-world application sothat they obtain the best knowledge available in order to bestserve their clients in the future.

Can you tell us more about PuroCleanAcademy?

Industry professionals—including claims adjusters, insuranceagents, and technicians—can take courses in property damagerestoration. We offer classes in business and financial management,sales, and marketing. Attendees can gain and maintaincertifications and continuing education (CE) credits. As previouslymentioned, the courses and instruction are IIRC-approved. Our newfranchisees can also take a 40-hour class on water damage and ASD,including fire damage.

Are there tangible benefits to claims adjusters inparticular?

The training provided by the Academy can help adjusters betterevaluate losses accurately while developing an enhancedunderstanding of the proper restoration procedures. Adjusters whovisit our high-tech training facility will see how PuroCleanapproaches losses. Featuring an interactive SmartBoard, theclassroom is built with students in mind.

How can adjusters get involved?

The first property restoration training class in the new Academytook place in mid-January. We typically run about eight 3-weekclasses each year for new owners and plan to offer a variety oflearning opportunities as we move forward. Our school and coursesare open to adjusters and other insurance industry-professionals.We hope that many of them will take advantage of this chance toexpand their skills.