The 7-step Fire Restoration Process for Commercial Buildings

12/2/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration for commercial buildings

Immediate action after a commercial fire is important to prevent further damage and foster swift restoration of the business to preloss condition. Any delay can cause the soot, smoke, and water damage to worsen and increase the cost of restoration. SERVPRO shares the fire restoration process for commercial buildings. 

Step 1: Emergency Contact

Calling the fire damage restoration professionals such as SERVPRO immediately can ignite the restoration process quickly. The representatives will ask relevant questions about the fire damage event to gauge the resources and equipment needed to begin the restoration process. SERVPRO’s 24x7 emergency service and franchisee across the country enables a quick turnaround time. 

Step 2: Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment

SERVPRO technicians will carefully inspect and test adjoining rooms of the property to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, and soot damage. This step is crucial to developing a plan of action. The team will document the extent of damage, a detailed list of the contents, and the recommended restoration processes. It is important to hire a certified, licensed, insured, and reputable team to clean, repair, and rebuild the property.  

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof-Tarp Service

Fire damage can often compromise windows, walls, and roofs. A professional team like SERVPRO can board up the vulnerable areas of the property to maintain security, prevent further structural damage, and protect against further damage from weather, debris, and vandalism. This boarding up and tarping also allows safer access for the insurance assessor to visit and evaluate the fire damage and begin the claim process quickly.

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying (if water damage is present)

Any commercial building would generally have the standard commercial-grade sprinkler system installed. This implies that each sprinkler head would have discharged between 20 and 40 gallons of water each minute from the time it detected fire until a firefighter turned it off. The likelihood is that there are almost 200 gallons of water in the building that need to be removed and the property and its contents need to be dried and dehumidified. The water removal process must begin almost immediately to avoid further damage such as mold and mildew infestation. SERVPRO uses the latest technology and methods to remove the water and dry the property completely.

Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces

The byproduct of any fire event is smoke and soot. The carcinogens present in soot and smoke can cause health effects. SERVPRO professionals can clean the walls, floors, ceilings, and any other parts of the building’s structure using specialized equipment and techniques. Some items affected by smoke and soot can be restored at the specialized facility at SERVPRO. 

Step 6: Cleaning and Sanitizing

The technicians at SERVPRO will clean, sanitize, and disinfect all of the restorable items and structures that were damaged by the fire. This ensures that the building is habitable and that everything in the building is clean, structurally sound, and safe. The team will use a variety of cleaning techniques to restore the belongings to pre-fire condition. The deodorization process will be carried out to remove odors using industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment. 

Step 7: Restoration

The final step is the restoration that may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. With a professional team like SERVPRO, business owners can be assured of a swift and efficient restoration of their property. 

Why SERVPRO?

SERVPRO uses state-of-the-art equipment to bring the damaged property back to its original state. SERVPRO of E. Fullerton Placentia is always updating its fleet and equipment so clients in Fullerton, Placentia or anywhere else can quickly access the services. 

With over 1,700 US and Canadian Franchise locations, SERVPRO is strategically positioned to respond faster to an emergency of any magnitude.

The SERVPRO staff is highly trained in fire damage restoration and other restoration services. They receive initial in-house training and constant skill up-gradation at the corporate training facility and also acquire the regular IICRC-industry certification.

For commercial fire damage restoration services, call SERVPRO of E. Fullerton Placentia today at (714) 525-0158