The 5 Principles of Drying

7/1/2021 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of West Seneca/Lancaster, we follow the IICRC’s S500 Water Damage Restoration Standard. Our IICRC-certified technicians follow this standard of care because it provides a roadmap for comprehensive, effective and timely restoration that makes our customers’ disasters “Like it never even happened.”

The S500 designates five principles of drying that we adhere to. Here’s what they are.

Principle 1: Provide for the Safety and Health of Workers and Occupants

Our first responsibility is to identify and eliminate safety hazards when we arrive on site. This goes for hazards that affect our team as well as any occupants.

Principle 2: Document and Inspect the Project

Next, we must evaluate how much the water has migrated through the structure and figure out how much moisture has been absorbed. This principle necessitates that we complete a thorough inspection that includes all areas where the moisture might have migrated, as well as ongoing and final inspections.

Principle 3: Mitigate Further Damage

After initial documentation and inspection, our priority is to mitigate any further damage. Without mitigation, water will continue to migrate, humidity and moisture levels may continue to rise, and there’s a distinct possibility that further secondary damage will occur.

This principle also covers the control of contaminants, like microbial growth. A quick response is vital for limiting this kind of secondary damage, since mold outbreaks can occur within as little as 24 hours after abnormal levels of moisture arise.

Principle 4: Clean and Dry Affected Areas

While some materials may need to be replaced after water damage, we make an effort to both clean and dry whatever we can, so long as it makes financial sense for all materially interested parties.

While we won’t get into the full potential scope of cleaning and drying here, suffice to say that there are many different techniques to employ, and many different variables to control, in order to make water damage “Like it never even happened.”

Principle 5: Complete the Restoration and Repairs

Our job does not end when everything is dry. Our job ends when we return your home to preloss condition. Whether this means re-installing baseboard or building you an entirely new house, we’re ready and prepared to do it all.

These five principles guide us on every single water job. If you’ve had water intrusion in your home, call 716-674-1103 – we’re here to help.