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Drying Tips Page 1

7.0) Water (drying): (page 1 of 5)

7.1) Objective: The objective when performing emergency mitigation services after a water loss would be to stop the water source, contain water damage, dry the structure and contents, and prevent secondary damages.

Personnel should identify whether hazardous substances listed by the ATSDR are present, as further described in Section 7.5.

7.2) Water Loss - Site Assessment: Before drying services begin, the loss site should be evaluated, and the following, at minimum, should be determined:

  - Water source  (identify)
  - Is water source stopped?
  - Affected rooms (total count)
  - Approximate time loss happened
  - Identify possible hazardous substances
  - Square foot and cubic feet of affected rooms
  - Temperature, humidity and dew point readings
  - Is cause of loss due to product or service error? (subrogation)

After the aforementioned information is gathered, the p1m.com Critical Recovery Flow Chart - water losses, which provides a chronological order of mitigation events based on the four principles of drying; What Is Wet? - How Wet Is It? - Are We Drying? - Is It Dry? --- should be used as a guide during the loss site assessment, and the overall drying process.

7.2.a) Basic Drying Procedures: Water damage whether direct or incidental, could require the use of professional drying equipment when the interior atmospheric humidity exceeds 40%.  Or when the moisture content of building components or content items exceed the moisture levels found in Table 7-B.

When equilibrium between the interior and exterior humidity  exists, a closed drying process should be performed.

The following procedures should apply when drying a structure:

Electrical power should be turned off before persons attempt to remove electrical appliances or equipment in standing or  runoff water. 

Standing and runoff water should be extracted, mopped or drained.

Contents should be moved to a dry location or placed on foam blocks or protector pads.

Slippery when wet signs should be posted.

Loose plaster and drywall on ceilings should be secured or posted as dangers.

Access holes as described in Section 7.24 could be made to relieve water or access hidden damages.

High moisture (humidity) areas should be isolated from the balance of the structure to prevent secondary damages and reduce drying time.

Extracted wastewater should be disposed per local, regional and national ordnances. 

Drying equipment left for extended (overnight) period of time should be inspected at least once in a 24-hour period.

Temperature, humidity, and dew point readings should be taken, and every effort should be made to prevent secondary damages. 

7.3) Work Authorization: Before the emergency mitigation process begins, contractors should have an emergency work authorization signed by the property owner or policy owner.  The emergency work authorization should not include permission to perform restoration or reconstruction procedures.  The processes of restoration or reconstruction should be awarded under a separate contract.

7.4) Safety: Contractors should have a safety program in place, highlighting and pertaining to water loss mishaps and mold as described in Section 3.0. 

MSDS sheets for all chemicals and materials should be on-site at all times. 

7.4.a) Safety Equipment: The  equipment described in Section 3.2 and Section 4.5 should apply when performing water loss mitigation services.       

7.4.b) Electrical Hazard: To prevent electrical shock or electrocution, electrical power should be turned off at the breaker panel or fuse box before persons attempt to remove electrical equipment, appliances, etc. in standing or runoff water.

Equipment should be plugged into GFCI breakers.  When equipment and extension cords are equipped with a three-prong plug and the ground prong is missing, they should not be used. 

Lockout and tagging procedures for electrical power should conform to OSHA regulations.

7.5) Health: Water loss sites should be considered a health hazard until the water source, category or situation has been determined and classified. (ref. Sections 7.8 and 7.9)

The ATSDR Emergency Response Department should be contacted when water has been exposed to the hazardous substances listed in the Finalized Toxicological Profile developed by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

When mold (fungi) formation is discovered, the mold formation or room that contains the mold formation should be isolated from the balance of the structure to prevent cross contamination as described in Section 7.5.d.

7.5.a) Food: Food, when exposed to water hazards should not be consumed.  This should include foods that have been exposed through HVAC infiltration and cross contamination. 

When food items are contaminated, they should be inventoried before discarding.

7.5.b) Equipment Decontamination: Equipment and tooling used after water mitigation, mold remediation or sewage clean-ups should be decontaminated before being put-back in storage or re-used. (ref. 3.18)

7.5.c) Cross-Contamination: Every effort should be made to prevent cross-contamination during mitigation or remediation.

Already cleaned, disinfected and sanitized areas should be posted as cleaned and sanitized.

The prevention of cross-contamination should include persons (foot traffic), clothing, equipment, tooling, chemical, material packaging and air infiltration through HVAC systems.

7.5.d) Containment: When working in contaminated areas, the contaminated area should be closed (sealed) off by means of vapor barrier to limit the possibility of airborne contamination.  HVAC systems should be closed off or shut down from the balance of the structure until the mitigation or remediation process is completed.

7.5.e) Immunization: Persons working in water loss environments should be immunized against water related hazards as described in Section 3.1.

7.5.f) Skin Exposure: Persons with open cuts and sores should not be exposed to contaminated water or equipment.  Preferably, persons with open cuts and sores should not mitigate #3 Black Water or sewage losses until cuts and sores have healed.

7.5.g) Respiratory Exposure: Children, elderly and persons with respiratory complications should be warned of possible airborne contamination (hypersensitive lung disease) from Category #3 Black Water, or when mold (fungi) formation is discovered. (ref. 7.8, 7.8.c)

7.6) Time is of the Essence: Time is the enemy when  handling water losses. Like fire and smoke perils, surfaces will change from bad to worse over time.  However unlike fire and smoke losses, the cause (water) can transform into a biological nightmare if not treated in an expedient, proper and systematic fashion.

Within:

24 to 48 hours: Clean (potable) water could grow mold (fungi) and bacteria.  And porous materials will absorb moisture.

48 to 72 hours: Mold (fungi) could start feeding off organic materials.  Based on the temperature, molds can form and germinate, while porous materials could reach full absorption and secondary damages could occur.

72 to ? hours: Clean (potable) water could saturate and destroy building components and contents, while mold its associated musty odor could accelerate into all areas of the structure.

The aforementioned time frames are based on clean (potable) water.  In situations containing # 2 Gray Water or # 3 Black Water, the damages could intensify within the above time frames.

 

 7.7) Chemicals: The water category, surface types and post-condition of the structure and contents would determine the type and the quantity of chemicals needed. (ref. Sections 4.8, 4.8.a & 4.8.b)

Chemicals, paints, etc. should be secured or removed from the premises at the close of business daily as described in Section 3.8.

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7.7.a) Disinfectants and Sanitizers: Disinfectants are only effective after a surface has been thoroughly cleaned, and are best applied and most effective when sprayed.  Fine misting is not as affective as a thorough soaking, especially on porous surfaces.

Organic soils could neutralize disinfectants and jeopardize their productions; thus, the mop and bucket method of applying disinfectants should be avoided due to possible pre and post cross-contamination.  (ref. Sections 4.8, 4.8.a & 4.8.b)

Approved disinfectant should be applied to affected areas after a thorough cleaning, while an application of an approved disinfectant could be applied before cleanup begins to lower volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and curtail microbial growth.  Pre-disinfecting will not reduce contaminates to safe levels and all safety precautions should apply.

When using bleach as a disinfectant, bleaches should be diluted using clean water to achieve their highest pH reading possible. 

When cleaning with a pre-mix cleaner/disinfectant, a second application of the pre-mix cleaner/disinfectant could be required to produce positive results. 

Disinfectants should be allowed adequate time to infiltrate and destroy contaminates as described on their product label, while 10 minutes is the minimum recommended period for some disinfectants to react.  Moreover, when disinfecting surfaces, disinfectants should be applied at levels acceptable to public or private health officials.

When using disinfectants, the manufacturers’ mixing, use practices, safety precautions, and disposal recommendations should be followed. 

When handling, transporting and applying disinfectants, all compliance and safety precautions set forth by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) should apply.

7.8) Water Source Category: Water losses should be categorized into three categories:

    - Category # 1 Clean Water
    - Category # 2 Gray Water
    - Category # 3 Black Water

7.8.a) Category # 1 Clean Water: Category #1 Clean Water would be from a broken water (pipe) line, appliance water line, sink or tub overflow, broken toilet tank, rain water, etc. 

As clean water pass through or over building materials, its condition could change to a category #2 Gray Water or category #3 Black Water.

(Clean potable water poses no direct threat to humans)

7.8.b) Category # 2 Gray Water: Category #2 Gray Water would be from an aquarium, appliance waste line, waterbed, toilet bowl, etc.

Category #2 Gray Water can contain chemicals, contaminates or biopollutants such as; fungi, bacteria, viral and algae. 

Category #2 Gray Water should be treated as a contaminate since microorganisms can cause sickness and disease, while Category #2 Gray Water can turn into a Category #3 Black Water if not treated in a timely manner.

(Unsanitary, consumption can cause illness to humans)

7.8.c) Category # 3 Black Water: Category #3 Black Water would be from rainwater that has passed over a contaminate, sewage backup or floodwaters and can contain sewage, chemicals, algae, protein, etc.

Category #3 Black Water is highly unsanitary and can cause serious illness or death to humans.  When a category #3 Black Water contains sewage waste, it should be broken down into three classifying situations, as outlined in Section 7.9.

(Highly unsanitary, consumption can cause serious illness or death to humans)

7.9) Sewage Back-Flow by Situation Classification: Sewage is threatening to human health as illustrated in  the Disease-Causing Organisms in Sewage chart and Section 3.26, moreover, health complications can develop through transmissions; Inhalation, hand to mouth, open cuts, sores, etc. 

All water losses involving sewage should be of a serious concern to all involved and/or exposed. 

The amount of sewage, whether or not the affected area is confined, and the types of materials affected would determine the situation classification.

Situation #1: Would be from of a bathroom overflow that is confined (limited) to the bathroom, and the following should apply:

- Short (lapsed time) exposure period
- Affected structural components, would be solid
  (non-porous) surface
- Exhausting (fan) system is operable and the HVAC
  ventilating system has positive pressure

Situation #2: Would be from of a bathroom overflow containing sewage that went beyond the confines of the bathroom and affected an adjoining room, and the following should apply:

- Short (lapsed time) exposure period
- Affected structural components and contents would be both,
  solid (non-porous) surfaces and absorbent (porous) surfaces
- HVAC ventilating system is operating as positive and negative,
  possibly allowing some airborne contaminates to expose
  other areas of the structure

Situation # 3: Would be a sewage main (line) backup or overflow, that penetrated the indoor environment of a structure, saturating its components and contents, and the following should apply:

- Short (lapsed time) to moderate exposure
- Affected structural components and contents would be of
  both, solid (non porous) surfaces, and absorbent
  (porous) surfaces, and is widely spread
- HVAC ventilating system is operating as positive and
  negative, possibly allowing some airborne contaminates
  to expose other areas of the structure, and/or infiltrated
  with solid contaminates.

When performing remediation after a sewage back-flow, the EPA  working document --- "Suggested Guidelines for Remediation of Damage from Sewage Backflow into Buildings" should be followed.

7.10) Psychrometrics: Water loss sites have an extensive amount of variables and unknowns, and although it may be impossible to formulate an absolute perfect drying equation, a proper loss site assessment and psychrometric principals, when combined with drying experience, constant monitoring and changes as needed, will produce positive drying results.

Psychrometric principals are structured principals and are the relationship between - air, moisture, pressure and temperature:

Air: The mixture of an invisible, odorless, tasteless gases, containing; nitrogen, oxygen and other elements as measured in volume and weight.

Moisture: A liquid, diffused in smaller quantities, humidity, as measured in grains per pound.

Temperature: A degree of coldness or hotness, as measured on a definite scale. (ref 7.11.a)

Pressure: Vapor pressure is measured in pounds per square inch of mercury, while vapor pressure, grains of moisture and specific humidity are related in that their scales are constant with each other. (ref. 7.11.f)