Had a Fire or Smoke Damage?

Depending on the source, the extent of the damage and how the fire was extinguished a comprehensive mould assessment for hidden mould growth as well as remaining airborne mould spores may be an important step to ensuring the building is safe for resuming occupancy.

Smoke, fire as well as restoration can lead to airborne dust and particulate.  A clearance test should provide information that airborne particles are at normal levels prior to occupancy.

A comprehensive clearance test must include an analysis of particulates for the presence of combustion byproducts such as soot, char and ash.  Should these remain indoors and become part of your indoor air quality, even at low levels, this can have significant and long term health effects.  Testing for dioxins and metals such as lead, mercury, chromium and lithium may also be needed depending on the fire the building sustained.

A proper clearance test, whether there is an odour or not, should include VOC analysis concentrating on burned materials such as vinyl, rubber, paints, adhesives, plastic and other synthetic materials.

Ozone can lead to a whole other problem with indoor VOC's or chemical off gassing of synthetic materials.  Byproducts of ozonation can be methyl bromide, ketones and vinyl chloride to name a few.  These pose a serious health threat if not properly remediated.

In some cases there can be smoke damage only.  Protein fires from something left on the stove where no fire resulted can be just as damaging.  This can leave protein residue beyond the kitchen leading to strong and noticeable odours.  Surface and air testing is a must.

Had a fire and or smoke damage and the insurance company claims its fully restored?  Need a forensic assessment to prove the home or office still has smoke damage?  Call us to discuss.