Nothing can prepare you for the devastation that surrounds being personally affected by a fire. It is for this reason that fire restoration technicians take their jobs seriously, and seek to aid in rehabilitating any structural damage that they can.
To do this, a fire restoration technician must follow strict laws and guidelines and must follow safety protocol, closely. Doing so will not only ensure your safety, but also the safety of those around you.
What Is Fire Restoration?
Fire restoration is the act of restoring a scorched environment back to its original state, or better. There are several goals associated with fire restoration.
The first goal is to ensure that the property affected is safe. Slippery surfaces, sharp edges, weakened structures, airborne contaminants and more should all be addressed before a living or working environment can become habitable once again.
The second goal of the fire restoration process is cleanliness. Cleaning fire-affected properties may involve the usage of heavy chemicals that will require proper equipment and ventilation techniques. In these cases, you may be asked to leave the immediate environment for the benefit of yourself and other occupants within the structure.
The third goal is to rid the environment of unwanted and unpleasant odors. Many smells can result from the onset of a fire within a home or establishment, most of which can be potent and unappealing. As such, tackling odors at their source will be one of the many tasks that your restorer will seek to take on, so you can get back to a fresh and neutral smelling structure, once again.
The final goal in fire restoration is to take care of aesthetic needs concerning structural components and their contents, so that the structure looks better than, or equal to, its prior state before the impending fire event.
In order to achieve these goals, your technician must overcome a few obstacles.
One of them is the conservation of materials and overall efficiency. By ensuring that the methods and equipment utilized are effective and fit for the task, all parties, including the client, benefit. Poor use of equipment and ineffective strategies, however, will waste resources and will heighten costs for both parties involved.
Another obstacle of the restoration process that your fire restoration team will need to consider, is whether or not they are complying with safety guidelines and local laws set before them. Many fire and smoke remediation technicians are well-versed on local laws and ordinances, and will hold to strict standards to stay in compliance.
One last potential hindrance to the fire and smoke restoration process involves working in environments where emotions are running high, and where the general atmosphere may be hostile. Remember, your technician will do his or her best to empathize with you and your situation, but will also need to adhere to the proper protocol that is put in place to keep you, and those around you, safe.
Safety First
After a significant fire event, there are many hazards that you’ll need to watch out for. These include:
- Wet and slippery floors
- Failing items
- Debris
- Caving structures
- Sharp objects and edges
- Electrical damage
- Exposed wires and cables
Because these hazards pose a significant risk to the occupants of the affected structure, you will need to leave the cleaning and rehabilitation of your home or establishment up to the professionals.
Once a remediator arrives on the scene, he or she will wear the appropriate protective gear to take on the task, safely. If you have any specific sensitivities to particular scents and chemicals, be sure to communicate this to your restorer. He or she may be able to utilize specialized equipment to rid the air of toxins while also implementing the use of steam cleaners and non-fragrant agents to ensure that your sensitives are unaffected.
Help Is on the Way
Though enduring a fire situation can be tough, rest assured that your restorers are going to do all that they can to ensure that your building and belongings are restored, as much as it depends on them.
Be aware that because fire events can be traumatizing for those that experience them, you may feel anxious, depressed or more “on-edge” than you normally would. If you are feeling this way, communicate with your restorer about how you are feeling, and be sure to calmly mention any objects or items of value that you’d like to see restored. While your restorer can never make promises, he or she can do their best with what they have to attempt a restoration of the things you value.
All in all, if you are in need of restoration services for a fire-affected home or building, contact your local remediation specialist for help. Remember to never take on these jobs yourself, as doing so can pose major risks to your health and safety.