Successful clean up of sewage damaged structures and personal property requires that restoration professionals adhere to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration (IICRC S500 Standard).

The IICRC S500 Standard assures all parties of thorough, cost effective and expeditious restoration services and provides a fast technically accurate set of procedures in response to public health concerns. Thus enabled, technicians proficient in dehumidification theory limit property damage while effectively addressing health and safety issues. Clean up proceeds smoothly and costs are controlled.

Accurate categorization of the water’s contamination level is as important as a timely response. The IICRC S500 Standard classifies water sources into sanitary and unsanitary categories. Category 3 spills always contain pathogenic agents. Also referred to as “black water”, Category 3 sources include municipal sewage lines, sea and ground surface water, and rising from rivers and streams. Some of these spills are biohazards and must be handled with specific procedures which include HEPA filtration equipment to control airborne contamination. Property Physicians technicians are trained and equipped to contain and clean up “Category 3” spills.”

HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Health and safety issues are of utmost concern to restoration professionals. Contaminated water damaged structures contain bio-pollutants such as bacteria and viruses. These bio-pollutants can affect people through ingestion, skin contact or inhalation. The consequences of human exposure include cholera, gastroenteritis, dermatitis, infectious hepatitis, Shigellosis, Legionaries disease, Pontiac fever, tuberculosis, salmonellosis, hypersensitivity pnuemonitis, histoplasmosis, conjunctivitis, rhinitis, E. coli infection and asthma.

Click here to link to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Flood Clean Up Fact Sheet