A fire isn't limited to smoke and flames. Related problems include water damage from sprinklers or fire hoses, smoke damage, and security breaches. Fire protection means preparing your business for all contingencies, from data recovery to emergency power systems. Consider this:
Smoke damage can destroy paper documents and electronic equipment, like laser printers and hard drives. Due to its unique behavior, smoke damage is often difficult to understand. Like any hot air, smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure, and is not confined to the area affected by the fire. Smoke often flows through plumbing systems, using holes around pipes to go from floor to floor and damaging equipment throughout a building.
What to Do if You Have Smoke Damage
If you have fire insurance, contact your insurance agent for suggestions and advice. If you rent, contact the owner so you both can assess the damage. The restoration process is greatly affected by the type of smoke and smoke damage in a fire. For the fastest possible response, business owners should familiarize themselves with the varieties of smoke damage.
Types of Smoke Damage
Fires create two types of smoke damage — visible soot and invisible odor. Because each fire is different, it's not possible to provide one set of guidelines on how to remove soot and odor.
- Wet Smoke - Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.
- Dry Smoke - Fast burning at high temperatures.
- Protein - Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes. Extreme pungent odor.
- Fuel Oil Soot - Furnace puff backs cause fuel oil soot.
- Other Types - Include tear gas, fingerprint powder, and fire extinguisher residue.
Contact a reputable smoke damage repair service in your area, or your local chamber of commerce for more information on smoke damage restoration.
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