According to U.S. News and World Reports, an estimated 400,000 sewer backups and 40,000 SSO (Sanitary Sewer Backup) in the U.S every year. Of all the water mitigation claims, sewage backups pose one of the most serious health concerns, especially where concrete is concerned. Without the proper protocol on “cleaning concrete” it is hard to get the concrete surfaces to a pre-loss condition.
The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration) definition of a Category 3 or a “Black Water Loss” is any water that contains pathogenic agents and is grossly unsanitary.
Black water includes sewage and other contaminated water sources entering or affecting the indoor environment. Category 1 and Category 2 water that is not removed promptly from the structure may be reclassified as Category 3 water. Toilet backflows that originate from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination, regardless of visible color. Category 3 water includes all forms of flooding from seawater, ground surface water and rising water from rivers and streams. Such water carries silt and organic matter into structures and creates black water conditions. The water is considered Category 3 water in situations where structural materials and/or contents have been contaminated with such contaminants as pesticides, heavy metals, or toxic organic substances.
The key to any disater water damage mitigation, especially sewage, is the removal of all excess water and contaminant from the structure and building materials. It is 500 times easier to physically remove standing water than to get rid of it with evaporation and dehumidification. All water should be extracted from carpet and pad before removal from the structure. Containment should be built to prohibit cross contamination to other non-affected areas of the structure as if it was a mold remediation. Porous building materials and affected personal property, without question, needs to be removed. This should be handled with greater care than a regular Category 1 Clean water loss where we try to save as much building materials as possible. This would include but is not limited to any wet carpeting, padding and sheetrock. This is determined with a Tramex non-penetrating moisture meter, Protimeter SurveryMaster penetrating meter, and FLIR Thermo-imaging cameras. This can also include any sub flooring, planking, or any framed wood members.
Once removal of all the Category 3 water damaged contents and building materials, the concrete floor should be fully exposed for restoration practices. A steam cleaning of all affected concrete surfaces should be performed. The proper cleaning method, according to the IICRC, is (1) rinse, (2) clean, (3) rinse, (4) sanitize. The steam cleaning performs the rinse, clean, rinse portion of the job. It also uses water in temperatures excess of 130 degrees Fahrenheit that is pressurized into the capillaries of the concrete to dislodge any spores that normal cleaning methods might not reach. A disinfection of the remaining semi-porous and hard materials should be performed using EPA approved biocides/disinfectant before structural drying commences.
Due to the fact this type of property damage loss is considered a Category 3, Class 4 Water Loss, drying would consist of low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers (# determined by scientific calculation based on Class of loss, dehumidifier AHAM rating and cubic feet) and accompanying axial fans spaced every 16LF (required in Vortex Drying) placed in a way that is conducive to Vortex Drying. Vortex is essentially placing air movers in manner that produces a vortex in a room maximizing the static pressure on all surfaces and greatly improving the efficiency of drying as a whole.
Having a 3-stage HEPA filtered air scrubber(s) provide air scrubbing for the necessary cubic footage is always a plus. Once dry, we recommend the application of a vapor permeable coating to bind residual particulate debris and lessen inhalation risks. Test the performance of the cleaning method by obtaining 3rd party swab samples for E. coli, total coli form, and fecal coli form from test locations that are hard to clean.
Any further questions please contact us at Advanced Restoration Corp.
Also contact your insurance agent immediately to report your claim.
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