Forty-three years in the disaster restoration industry provides a long-range perspective when it comes to handling water damage claims. The decision to commit to following the ASNI/Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Restoration Certification (IICRC) S500 standard for water damage restoration included a learning curve that occurs when one implements changes to an otherwise loosely followed protocol or nonexistent standard of care. Adjusters unfamiliar with the standard began objecting to many parts of the protocol, until they learned how it protected their policyholders in the longrun.

Most restorative drying projects require demolition, and the use of air filtration devices (AFDs – i.e., air scrubbers, HEPA filtration devices and negative air machines), a practice strongly recommended in the S500. This practice led to an investigation into some of the more frequently disturbed materials found in the typical residential dry out to help justify the placement of AFDs if needed, since the protection of the homeowner, insurance professionals, our staff and others entering the structure was paramount.

Water loss categories