Great educational video! Would a small one time leak from a shower waste and overflow / shower valve that leaked to downstairs ceiling be considered a catagory 3?
Obviously, there are a lot of other factors we can’t be aware of on this particular project, however, generally speaking, no, this would not rise the level of a category three. This will be a category 2 loss normally.
If a category 3 and the contaminants hit the upper and lower cabinets (not just the bottom) and they are wood/particleboard, must they be removed? Is a laundry chute and furnace hit by the contaminants still usable?
Thank you for your question. Of course, we have not seen the particular jobsite you are referring to and these comments are general in nature. We will be referencing the ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration (S500). There are a few things to consider here. When you say “hit” the cabinets, if it touches the surfaced of finished wood, that could typically be cleaned. I sense there is more going on here. Let’s break it down a bit: If Category 2 or Category 3 water gets behind cabinets, they will need to be removed to clean and dry behind them. (S500) “12.3 Remediation Procedures for Category 2 or 3 12.3.7 Pockets of Saturation Restorers should open assemblies (e.g., walls, stairs, flooring, wall base areas, voids, built-ins) to access pockets of saturation and remove unrestorable contaminated materials and components…” Solid wood can typically be cleaned after Category 3 water damage, especially if it is finished. Not part of your question, but plywood subfloors, Douglas fir wood framing, etc. would also not generally need to be replaced from Category 3 water damage. However, if the cabinets are made of particleboard and have been affected with Category 3 water, they would likely need to be removed. S500 “16.2.2.1 Remove and replace in Category 2 or 3 intrusion Following a Category 2 or 3 water intrusion, affected materials or assemblies that should be removed and replaced include, but are not limited to: … • particleboard or MDF; …” As far as the laundry chute, that depends on what it is made of, if it is sealed, and if it is accessible for cleaning. If it is made of something non-porouse (e.g., sheet metal, melamine), and the corners are sealed, it could be cleaned. Otherwise, it may need to be removed. We would need additional information. Regarding the furnace, any insulated duct board, or insulation on the inside or outside of the ducting would need to be removed and discarded. A specialized expert qualified and properly licensed in HVAC systems would need to assess the system to determine what needs to be repaired or replaced. Additional information on this could be found in the current edition of the NADCA ACR and/or the ANSI/IICRC S590 (2023) Standard for Assessing HVAC Systems Following a Water, Fire, or Mold Damage Event
Great information. Is there a map that shows which shows which properties have been affected by certain categories of water? Or does each property need to be investigated and inspected to determine which category it falls under?
If a property has a water loss, the category of water should have been determined and documented by the restoration company. If you're property has a water loss, it will need to be inspected and the category determined. Since categories of water can vary from project to project, and the documentation of a water loss is not public information, there is no map that shows which properties have had a water loss. If you're purchasing a property, the water loss is disclosed, and you can then locate the documentation of the water loss and see what category was determined.
Aquariums often pretty clean, but that depends. A fish keeper would cat 3 a goldfish tank but maybe not a discus (fresh) or reef (salt). The later might even use UV sterilizer and must be clean or fish won’t live. But the Mulm on the bottom, if it cracked all the way, yeah call that a 3.
Nice
Great educational video! Would a small one time leak from a shower waste and overflow / shower valve that leaked to downstairs ceiling be considered a catagory 3?
Obviously, there are a lot of other factors we can’t be aware of on this particular project, however, generally speaking, no, this would not rise the level of a category three. This will be a category 2 loss normally.
If a category 3 and the contaminants hit the upper and lower cabinets (not just the bottom) and they are wood/particleboard, must they be removed? Is a laundry chute and furnace hit by the contaminants still usable?
Thank you for your question. Of course, we have not seen the particular jobsite you are referring to and these comments are general in nature. We will be referencing the ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration (S500).
There are a few things to consider here. When you say “hit” the cabinets, if it touches the surfaced of finished wood, that could typically be cleaned. I sense there is more going on here. Let’s break it down a bit:
If Category 2 or Category 3 water gets behind cabinets, they will need to be removed to clean and dry behind them.
(S500) “12.3 Remediation Procedures for Category 2 or 3
12.3.7 Pockets of Saturation
Restorers should open assemblies (e.g., walls, stairs, flooring, wall base areas, voids, built-ins) to access pockets of saturation and remove unrestorable contaminated materials and components…”
Solid wood can typically be cleaned after Category 3 water damage, especially if it is finished. Not part of your question, but plywood subfloors, Douglas fir wood framing, etc. would also not generally need to be replaced from Category 3 water damage.
However, if the cabinets are made of particleboard and have been affected with Category 3 water, they would likely need to be removed.
S500 “16.2.2.1 Remove and replace in Category 2 or 3 intrusion
Following a Category 2 or 3 water intrusion, affected materials or assemblies that should be removed and replaced include, but are not limited to:
…
• particleboard or MDF; …”
As far as the laundry chute, that depends on what it is made of, if it is sealed, and if it is accessible for cleaning. If it is made of something non-porouse (e.g., sheet metal, melamine), and the corners are sealed, it could be cleaned. Otherwise, it may need to be removed. We would need additional information.
Regarding the furnace, any insulated duct board, or insulation on the inside or outside of the ducting would need to be removed and discarded. A specialized expert qualified and properly licensed in HVAC systems would need to assess the system to determine what needs to be repaired or replaced. Additional information on this could be found in the current edition of the NADCA ACR and/or the ANSI/IICRC S590 (2023) Standard for Assessing HVAC Systems Following a Water, Fire, or Mold Damage Event
Great information. Is there a map that shows which shows which properties have been affected by certain categories of water? Or does each property need to be investigated and inspected to determine which category it falls under?
If a property has a water loss, the category of water should have been determined and documented by the restoration company. If you're property has a water loss, it will need to be inspected and the category determined. Since categories of water can vary from project to project, and the documentation of a water loss is not public information, there is no map that shows which properties have had a water loss. If you're purchasing a property, the water loss is disclosed, and you can then locate the documentation of the water loss and see what category was determined.
Aquariums often pretty clean, but that depends. A fish keeper would cat 3 a goldfish tank but maybe not a discus (fresh) or reef (salt). The later might even use UV sterilizer and must be clean or fish won’t live. But the Mulm on the bottom, if it cracked all the way, yeah call that a 3.
is this a wrt class
This is not a WRT class, it is a webinar on the Categories of Water Damage, However, this topic is also covered in the WRT class.