Definitions

• Anti-Microbial: An antimicrobial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites.
• Dry Ice Blasting: Dry ice blasting is a revolutionary blasting method that uses dry ice pellets as the blasting material. The process is very environmentally friendly and provides a fast and effective alternative to traditional methods of cleaning. Dry ice blasting has no waste disposal, avoids abrasion, is fast and effective, improves production quality and lowers costs.
• Hydro Sensor: These machines are used to determine if carpet and padding are wet.
• Non-Penetrating Moisture Meter: These meters are least invasive and detect surface and sub-surface moisture in most structural materials.
• Infrared Camera: An infrared (IR) camera can produce clear images of normally invisible evidence of potential future problems by recognizing temperature anomalies. The IR camera is a valuable tool in locating moisture, heat, and heat-loss, enabling needed repairs to be made with confidence. Infrared thermo-graphic inspection is a powerful non-invasive means of monitoring and diagnosing the condition of buildings and structures. It provides immediate documentation of water damage to building materials. Moisture in building materials can destroy structural integrity and nurture mold and insect infestations. With a FLIR THERMA CAM IR you can see a problem immediately which allows you to immediately assess and fix the damages.”
• Penetrating Moisture Meters: These meters are used to identify hidden pockets of moisture behind walls, hardwood floors.
• Soda Blasting: Baking soda is blasted at the object being cleaned through a specialized tool, and a miniature explosion takes place as each soda particle hits the surface. Soda blasting can be used wet or dry and with varying degrees of hardening agents and air pressure to adjust the aggressiveness accordingly. Soda Blasting is even gentle enough to use on glass without etching and is an incredible effective cleaning technology. It is used to remove smoke residue, mold, paint, rust, and soiling from a wide variety of substances without causing damage to the material being cleaned.
• Sand Blasting: Sand is blasted at the object being cleaned through a specialized tool, and a miniature explosion takes place as it hits the object, removing the debris.
• Thermal Fogging: A thermal fogger is appropriately named, since it is a device that uses heat to produce a fog without degrading the active ingredient. A thermal fogger produces a range of droplet sizes including a large number of very small droplets. This makes a thermal fogger the preferred type of equipment to reach air spaces in areas highly obstructed by vegetation, or other physical obstructions in buildings. A large number of very small droplets produced in a thermally generated fog also make the fog highly visible. This can help the operator to monitor the fog and ensure thoroughness of application.
• Thermal Hygrometer: This meter determines the exact amount of moisture or grains per pound of moisture in the air; also known as specific humidity.

Water-Damage Categories:

• Category One: Clean Water = Clean water is one that does not pose substantial harm to humans. Once a clean-water source contacts other surfaces and materials, its condition may change as it dissolves or mixes with soils and other contaminants and as time elapses. Examples of a clean-water category would be: a broken water supply, tub or sink overflow with no contaminants, appliance malfunctions involving water supply lines, melting ice or falling rainwater, and broken toilet tanks.
• Category Two: Gray Water = Unsanitary or “gray” water contains some degree of contamination. Potentially, it could cause substantial discomfort or sickness if consumed by humans, and it carries microorganisms. Time and temperature aggravate Category 2 water contamination significantly. Water in flooded structures that remains untreated longer than 48 hours can change from a Category 2 “grey” to a category 3 or “black.” Examples of a gray-water category could be: Discharge from dishwasher or washing machine, overflows of toilet bowls with some urine (no feces), broken aquariums, and punctured water beds.
• Category Three: Black Water = “Black” water always contains pathogenic agents. Grossly unsanitary or black water sources are those that arise from sewage or other contaminated water entering a structure. Sewage contains the expected urine and feces, but it also could contain dangerous chemicals or medical wastes. In situations where structural materials and/or contents have been contaminated, they should be discarded according to IICR and OSHA standards. Examples of black-water contamination could be: Toilet backflows (beyond the trap), sea water, ground surface water, rising water from rivers or streams.)