6 Facts About Commercial Water Damage

10/26/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to water damage to a residential or commercial property, there is more than meets the eye.

Here are some water facts and figures as they pertain to the restoration industry:

1. Water is capable of dissolving a variety of different substances. In fact, water is known as the “universal solvent” because it dissolves more substances than any other liquid.

2. A sheet of drywall standing upright with its edge sitting in a ½” of water can wick water up to 6 inches in less than three hours.

3. Mold typically begins to grow in 24 to 48 hours in an untreated moist environment.

4. A good indication of a failing hot water heater is a puddle of water underneath it, indicating a slow leak, or rusted or corroded fittings on the top of the heater. If you don’t investigate the leak ASAP, you may quickly flood your home because water heaters are under a great deal of water pressure.

5. There are three categories of water contamination defined in the restoration industry:

• Category One – Water from a clean water source with no substantial risk of causing sickness or discomfort. Examples include water from a broken water supply pipe or an overflowing bath tub.
• Category Two – Water that has a significant degree of chemical, biological, and/or physical contamination. Examples include water from aquariums, dishwasher or clothes washer leaks, and water entering the structure from below grade. Discharged Category One water that sits untreated more for more than 24 hours becomes Category Two.
• Category Three – Water emanating from a grossly unsanitary source or carrying disease causing agents. Examples include discharges from sewer or septic systems/pipes and flood waters. Discharged Category One water that sits more for more than 48 hours becomes Category Three. Discharged Category Two water that sits more for more than 24 hours becomes Category Three.

6. Controlling pathogenic microorganisms during a restoration project may require the use of chemical agents that act as biocides. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has defined three levels of biocidal activity:

• Sanitizers – Designed to reduce the number of microorganisms.
• Disinfectants – Designed to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms but not necessarily their spores.
• Sterilizer – Designed to destroy all microorganisms (fungi/molds, bacteria, viruses, etc.) and their spores.

Can your Business Survive a Flood?

10/19/2022 (Permalink)

Floods are unavoidable and when disaster strikes, you need to be prepared. This is best achieved by planning in advance and knowing how to deal with the aftermath once the flood has occurred. Below are a few tips on how to prepare your business for a flood before it happens and what to do after it has struck. 

Devise a flood plan

Whether you are expecting a flood or not, one of the most important things to have in place is a thought-out flood plan to help reduce the damage caused to your business or property. Your flood plan should cover the following aspects:

Staff

In the event of a flood, you need to make sure your staff are not only fully informed of the plan in place, but understand the risks involved. If you are expecting a flood to strike, it may be worth sitting down as a team and working out the best way to approach the situation. 

Equipment

If you work in an office then it is likely that you will have computers or some form of electrical equipment; this can pose a huge risk when it comes to floods so it is important that you include such equipment and risks in your flood plan. The best thing to do is listen out for any news about the flood and whether it is predicted to reach your premises any time soon. If the flood is close to your business, it might be worth switching off all of the electrical equipment and moving it to higher, safer locations before evacuating the building. This way you not only ensure the safety of your employees, but you also reduce the chance of suffering expensive equipment damage and loss.

Sandbags

Sometimes it is impossible to predict sudden events or evacuate the building before disaster hits. Therefore, it is vital that you are prepared for the flood striking when you least expect it. Sandbags can be incredibly useful in a flood, so you should have some spare just in case. Not only can they help to barricade the flood's entry points i.e. the door where the flood is coming in, they can also filter a few sediments commonly found in flood waters. 

Dealing with the aftermath

The results of a severe flood can be devastating for everyone. Floods can change the lives of homeowners and entire families. In the business world, flood can affect everything from property safety to business operation, which in turn can put people's livelihoods at risk. This is why it is vital that if you are expecting a flood you have someone who can help you deal with the aftermath and restore your business as soon as possible.

Here at SERVPRO, we offer a fire and flood restoration service that focuses on providing those affected by floods have a stress-free experience when it comes to cleaning up and getting business back to normal a quickly as possible.

Should you encounter flooding at your business, call the professionals at SERVPRO.  We will help you get your business back up and running as quickly as possible.

Know The Facts About Business Fire Restoration

10/18/2022 (Permalink)

Know the Facts about Business Fires

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, as many as one in four businesses that suffer some kind of major disaster do not reopen afterward. It’s true, overcoming a major loss is extremely difficult, but with the right restoration company and team on your side, working hand-in-hand with your insurance company, the chance of your Indianapolis-area company surviving is pretty high!

Depending on the size of the fire, and the amount of damage, some businesses that have come to SERVPRO for help have reopened just days after the fire happened. Thanks to innovations in smoke odor removal, fire damage restoration, and cleaning in general, it is possible for crews to start work nearly immediately after the fire department clears the scene, and have things back up and running in no time. Although, again, that all depends on the severity of the fire. But no matter the severity, recovery is possible!

According to the National Fire Prevention Association, U.S. fire departments responded to about 3,300 office property fires per year between 2007 and 2011. Those fires resulted in about $112 million in property damage each year, and most were in business offices – and happened during business hours. However, the good news is the number of business fires was down a whopping 71 percent from 1980 to 2011.

Here are some other stats from the NFPA:

Time of Day

• Peak time of day for office fires: Noon – 2p.m. (a.k.a. lunch time!)
• 69% happened between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• The 31% that occurred between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. caused 67% of recorded property damage, because they went undetected longer. This also highlights the need for automatic detection equipment and working sprinkler systems.
• 19% of fires happened on weekends.

Cause of the Business Fires

• 29% were caused by cooking equipment. However, just 6% of these fires caused actual property damage.
• Intentionally-set fires caused the most direct property damage – 21%.
• Electrical equipment is the second leading cause of office fires.
• Just 2% of office fires start in a concealed space like an attic, in the ceiling, or in another conceals space. However, these fires accounted for 13% of the direct property damage.

Containment & Putting it Out

• 4 out of 5 fires were confined to the room of origin.
• 90% of fires were large enough to activate sprinklers, which were effective 88% of the time.
• Deaths per 1,000 stores were 62% lower in offices equipped with sprinklers compared to those without.

Industrial/Manufacturing Facility Fires

The NFPA also has statistics specific to manufacturing facilities. According to their research, there are about 37,000 fires at industrial or manufacturing facilities each year, resulting in 18 deaths, 279 injuries, and $1 billion in property damage. Heating equipment and stop tools were the leading cause – sparking 28 percent of the fires. Mechanical failure or malfunction caused 24 percent of the fires.

Planning for the Worst

As part of your emergency preparation plan, be sure to have a local, reputable restoration company – like SERVPRO– on speed dial. The sooner you get the professionals in cleaning up after the disaster, the sooner you can get back to business!

Commercial Restoration Services

9/14/2022 (Permalink)

A commercial property is always at risk of being damaged by natural elements. If your business gets hit by a disaster, you’ll need a commercial restoration company with real-world experience and the resources to return your property to its normal state. SERVPRO Restoration has over years of experience in residential and commercial restoration services. Our team of experts offers:

• Commercial water damage restoration
• Commercial fire damage restoration
• Commercial mold damage restoration
• Commercial storm damage restoration

Our professionals have the training and equipment needed to restore your business after common issues with minimal interruption to your daily operations. SERVPRO also provides disaster planning to ensure that your property fortified in case future damage strikes.

At SERVPRO, we offer 24/7 commercial restoration and reconstruction services for damage caused by water, fire, smoke, mold, storms, and other disasters.

Why SERVPRO Commercial Restoration?

What makes SERVPRO Restoration different from other commercial restoration services? We offer multiple services through one point of contact. This means you only need one number to reach our reconstruction, emergency services mitigation, contents cleaning, training, insurance claims assistance, and disaster planning teams. You can depend on us for additional commercial damage services like cost savings, streamlined catastrophe planning, and minimized disruption.

SERVPRO has a longstanding heritage dedicated to innovation, resourcefulness, empathy, and outstanding customer service. Our franchise organization is proud to provide fast, high-quality cleanup and restoration services to both commercial and residential properties. We always put your property first at SERVPRO.

Different Causes of Commercial Water Losses

8/31/2022 (Permalink)

When business owners visualize water damage, they often picture a massive storm wiping out power lines, flooding offices, and shutting down businesses for days at a time. It is true that commercial water damage is often the result of floods and water that stems from weather events and storms. 
 
However, many entrepreneurs and business space renters forget that storms and severe weather aren't the only causes of floods and water damage. Here are some of the typical causes of water damage to commercial buildings. 
 
1. Malfunctioning sprinkler systems 
Some older office and retail buildings still have outdated sprinkler systems that work in conjunction with fire protection systems. While such sprinklers can come in handy during a fire emergency, they can also cause commercial flood damage if they are faulty or in need of replacement. This could easily damage inventory and business assets.

2. Damaged appliances and equipment 
This cause of commercial flood damage is more common in restaurants and catering facilities, as well as any business that has appliances and equipment that make use of water. If the appliance fails and sends water across your building, especially during late hours when no one is around, you may come back to work and face a water emergency. 
 
3. Broken pipes and plumbing 
Just like in a residence, if the plumbing system in your workplace fails water damage could be the result. 
 
4. Backed up sewer lines 
This is another cause of commercial water damage that often catches business owners by surprise. Should the sewer line to your building back up or become damaged, realize the potential dangers of contaminated Black Water which can cause health effects and ruin products and office furnishings. 
 
If your business has suffered commercial water damage, SERVPRO of Oconee/South Anderson/Pickens Counties will get you back up and running again "Like it never even happened".

Commercial Property Cleanup

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

You don’t have time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils your office. When grime, odor and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, call in SERVPRO. Whether it’s removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can rely on SERVPRO to make your workspace look its very best.  SERVPRO will get the job done right and get it done quickly, because the SERVPRO Advantage includes these benefits:  The state-of-the-art SERVPRO National Training Center teaches restoration and mitigation skills to Franchise Owners, SERVPRO’s Corporate employees and insurance industry employees. It is one of the few facilities in the country that has been recognized as a state-approved continuing education course location and IICRC approved training facility.  SERVPRO Franchise Professionals offer cleaning services ranging from cleaning restaurant hoods to removing bio-hazard contaminants. We have the specialized training and products to get your property back to business. Their cleaning services include the following:

- Air Ducts and HVAC

- Biohazard

- Carpet and Upholstery

- Ceilings, Floors, and Walls

- Drapes and Blinds

- Odor Removal

- Sewage

- Trauma and Crime Scene

- Vandalism

Award-Winning Training Nearly 50 Years of Experience Exclusive Cleaning Products

SPECIALTY CLEANING SERVICES TRAINING EXCELLENCE

SERVPRO Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are prequalified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any-size disaster. Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation.

The SERVPRO Advantage is our ability to dispatch trained production professionals and cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor.

COMMERCIAL LARGE LOSS DIVISION

1,700+ FRANCHISES

Property Management Hospitality Facilities

Healthcare Facilities Food Service Facilities

Education Facilities

Retail Facilities

NO JOB IS TOO LARGE

The SERVPRO® Emergency Ready Plan

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Find the App on Your Google or Apple Store

When disaster strikes your business, having a plan in place ahead of time for what you will do can make all the difference in whether your business survives the event. The majority of businesses that come out stronger on the other side of an emergency are the ones that pre-planned for one. That’s where SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan (ERP) can help give you, your employees and customers peace of mind. You can trust that whatever might happen to disrupt daily business will only be temporary. With our Emergency Ready Plan, your business will be able to minimize interruption because you’ll know what to do and what to expect if any-sized disaster strikes. This is important to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.

Why Use the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Plan?

• A no-cost assessment of your facility: This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost.

• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency: It takes just a short time to complete the profile but could save long hours of time and effort if ever needed.

• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster: Having an immediate plan of action can help minimize the downtime to your business in an emergency.

• Establishes your local SERVPRO as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider: You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and is close by.

• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin: You can save time and money as we begin the work of mitigating the damage.

• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information: You’ll have a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call ahead of an emergency so you are “Ready for whatever happens.”

• Easier insurance claims process: SERVPRO will help you navigate the insurance claims process and coordinate the necessary paperwork for a quicker, easier experience.

Use Our Emergency Ready Plan Mobile App

You can download the “SERVPRO Ready Plan” mobile app on your iPhone or Android device from the respective App Store. You may also sign up online to create your Emergency Ready Plan, or contact your local SERVPRO to begin creating ERP’s for all your properties.

New to the Emergency Ready Plan? Begin setting up your Emergency Ready Plan by following the link below. You’ll need to give details such as full name, mobile number, email address and set up a password for your profile.

www.ready.SERVPRO.com/Account/Register