Business fire damage restoration is a major challenge. If you're looking at restoring a commercial or industrial location after a fire, you should plan to go through these six stages.
Safety and Security
The first goal is to verify the building is safe and secure. You may have to cover holes in the roof or walls with tarps, plastic, or plywood to keep out the elements. Likewise, you might need to install fencing and other forms of access control to prevent people and animals from entering the site.
During industrial fire damage restoration projects, you need to secure potentially dangerous materials, too. Qualified professionals should identify spots where explosive or volatile chemicals are. They should treat the affected areas and then remove any contamination.
Finally, engineers will need to assess the structural integrity of the buildings. If any represent hazards, demolition may be necessary. You might also reinforce affected areas to permit the assessment and cleanup processes until you can get around to structural repairs.
Assessment
Now you'll need to figure out how much damage there is. An assessment might include looking for structural problems, smoke and water damage, and affected utility systems. You should also review any reports from the fire department and the insurance company. The initial assessment will inform your pre-inspection checklist before you reopen the building.
Debris Removal
The fire likely left behind a lot of debris, such as burned furniture, crumbling drywall, broken glass, and compromised roofing materials. Removal efforts usually involve heavy machinery to transport the bulk of the debris to roll-off dumpsters. Team members may also have to remove smaller bits of debris by hand.
Cleaning
With the debris gone, the next step is to thoroughly clean affected areas. A commercial fire damage restoration contractor might need special cleaning products to remove smoke and soot stains. They may also have to apply disinfectants to affected areas to prevent mold growth, especially if the fire suppression efforts drenched much of the core structure.
Repair and Restoration
You are finally ready to repair structural issues, such as fixing or replacing support beams and putting a new roof on the building. New windows and doors are usually necessary, too. Workers will get the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems in order. Fresh drywall, flooring, paint, and decals will round out the restoration process.
Inspection
Local compliance officers will verify that the building is safe before allowing you to resume operations. Your insurer may also conduct an inspection to verify that you restored the site according to your policy terms.
Speak to a company like St. Louis Cleaning and Restoration to find out more.
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