Water Damage Consulting

The IEP Group recommends following the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration as a guideline for handling any water intrusion into a structure. The guideline classifies flood water into three categories (Category 1-Clean Water, Category 2 – Grey Water and Category 3-Black Water).

Floods originating from water classified as Category 1 are considered clean in nature. An example of Category 1 water would be water originating from a plumbing supply source. If floods are determined to be Category 1 and are responded to promptly, disruption to the building and occupants can often be minimized. However, the guidelines recommend treating Category 2 and 3 waters with more caution due to the potential for hazardous substances that may be contained in the waters. An example of Category 3 water would be those waters originating from beyond the p-trap in a plumbing system, i.e. sewage. Raw sewage can contain a wide variety of pathogenic organisms including Salmonella, Shigella, enteric viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, multi-cellular parasites, blood-borne pathogens such as HIV, and the virus that causes hepatitis. Sewer water can also contain hazardous chemicals that might have been dumped down the drain.

The IICRC S500 guidelines in general recommend that all porous materials impacted by category 3 floodwaters be removed and non-porous materials be cleaned and disinfected. The IEP Group will help evaluate the extent of damages using state-of-the- art infrared cameras and moisture meters after the flood occurs, develop a scope of work to ensure the work gets done right the first time, will provide professional consulting to reduce the risk of potentially infectious disease to the tenants occupying the space and the restoration contractors performing remediation, provide work-in-progress monitoring as need be, and perform post remediation verification to document that the affected areas are ready for reconstruction and general occupancy. In older buildings, we will collect asbestos and/or lead-based paint samples for occupant protection and OSHA compliant purposes, as needed.

Whether a clean water flood or a sewage loss, The IEP Group is the right choice to assess your situation to get your property restored.