Commercial Fire & Smoke Damage

9/3/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage is just the beginning when your commercial or office building catches fire. Smoke and fire do more damage than most people realize. More often than not, it is unsafe to enter your place of business even after a fire has been put out, because there could be major structural damage. It is crucial for smoke and fire damage to be mitigated as soon as possible in order for the building to be returned to its safe, pre-fire condition.

Smoke Damage

The types of materials that are burned in a commercial fire leave behind powerful odors. Electronics, carpets, plastic, metals, and engineered-wood furniture are all burned and create odors and ash that can corrode, etch and discolor as well as cling to the remaining structure. These types of fumes from fire seep into the walls and floors and may contaminate the indoor air much later if they are not removed. These cannot be removed with a typical cleaner. It takes special equipment and the expertise of professionals to mitigate smoke damage, so the building is odor-free.

The different types of damage include:

• Metals that tarnish or corrode
• Plastics that melt and change color
• Fiberglass that cracks
• Wood that may need refinishing/replacing  
• Finishes on appliances that turn yellow

The situation worsens the longer you wait to call a professional mitigation contractor. After the fire is out, the smoke and ash remain. It is also more cost-effective to get the repair started as soon as possible. Even if the fire damage is contained in a small part of your commercial building or office space, smoke damage can permeate a greater area.

Getting Smoke Damage Cleaned

Smoke and heat will distribute ash through the home and it can remain in cracks and crevices. One of the best ways to remove smoke odor is through thermal fogging. This technique opens the pores in the walls and floors to neutralize the odor from the smoke that has entered deep into them. Then, use dehumidifiers and high-powered fans to thoroughly dry the water damage cause from putting out the fire.

Professionals Know the Job

The best fire-damage professionals are expertly trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). They take extensive coursework to get their certification. They will identify all the affected materials in your home and find the source of any odors. Experts know what can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded. They use specialized detergents that have been designed to treat specific types of odor.

Professionals can also increase the possibility of saving property rather than needing to replace it, and they can clean out your vents and ducts. Some of the services offered are:

• Removal of smoke and odor
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Professional deodorization
• Temporary protection of surfaces already cleaned
• Removal of carpets and pads if required

Fire damage is devastating, but it is not over when the fire is out. To get your business back to pre-damaged condition, professional fire and smoke mitigation is essential.

SERVPRO of Barrie is proud to serve Simcoe County and surrounding area. Based out of Barrie and with the full backing of our corporate partners, we are always 'Faster to Any Size Disaster'.

Our fully certified, expert staff can perform a complete damage assessment to your commercial building, warehouse or office area, and implement top-industry standards to get your workspace restored to its original state, ‘Like It Never Even Happened’.

SERVPRO of Barrie is a 24/7 emergency restoration, repair and cleaning company. Our technicians are highly trained and experienced with every fire and water damage situation; from water leakage to total flooding, fire, smoke and mould damage, and catastrophic events cleanup and restoration.