As part of the ANSI 45-day public review period all comments must be submitted using the online comment form no later than September 11, 2023. 

The IICRC S700 Standard describes the principles, processes, and procedures for assessing the presence, intensity of impact and boundaries of fire residues and odors affecting a building, building systems (e.g., Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)), and contents after a fire event. Fire events can occur within buildings, adjoining building(s), or building(s) in the vicinity impacted by an external or internal fire, other than wildfires. This Standard also describes the practical principles, methods, and processes including equipment, tools, and materials, for the restoration cleaning and fire odor management of buildings and contents. This Standard also addresses contractor qualifications, administrative requirements, procedures, development of the Restoration Work Plan (RWP), documentation of project-related events, and compliance with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). 

For more information on other Certification programs and Standards offered by the IICRC, visit www.iicrc.org. To purchase a copy of IICRC Standards, please visit http://webstore.iicrc.org. 

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It has become relatively clear that, for now, the supply chain issues brought on by COVID-19 have largely passed. That said, it could be argued that we are entering a new age of scarcity. Dwindling resources, population growth, labor shortages, global conflict, and the proliferation of catastrophic events have all converged to create the perfect storm currently making landfall on our supply chain. It is possible, even likely, that in the future, what you need may not always be readily available.

As we all learn to live differently, you, as a contractor or remediation specialist, must also learn how to do more with less. It isn’t always raw materials; it could also be equipment or personnel. It takes creative problem-solving to do this job and to do it well.

The first installment of this series primarily covered the “why” of using containments. This article is designed to provide the reader with an explanation of developing your containment options. This will represent a combination of tried-and-true approaches that many professionals in the asbestos, lead, mold, blood-borne pathogen, and drug lab cleanup industries already use, along with techniques that must be integrated into various industries. In short, the readers will leave with at least one new takeaway or be reminded of the importance of some technique that may still be useful but has fallen out of favor. We present the information here in ascending order, from the most common containment-building methods to the more innovative ones.

Plastic affixed to surfaces with poles, spray adhesive, and tape

An example of a decon chamber.

Since the purpose of containments is to control contaminants and often to withstand the rigors of negative pressure, the barrier must be impermeable, fire retardant, and strong/durable. Afterward come things like ease of use/setup, light transmission, price, and availability. It depends on the application, but if you are setting up negative air, then the choice is clear; no less than four mil thickness on the plastic will likely survive the intense demands of this environment. More importantly, that minimum is required by various federal and state regulations related to asbestos and lead abatement.

The latest guidance regarding mold remediation includes another encouragement to move up to heavier plastic. According to the current ANSI IICRC S520 2015 edition, “containment systems normally consist of 6-mil polyethylene sheeting.” In high-risk situations where redundancy is required, it may be recommended that double-layered plastic be utilized. One layer is theoretically just as effective as two. However, one critical difference is that a single tear or puncture can compromise single-layer plastic containment.

With space in the truck already at a premium, how many types of plastic do you carry, and how much? When dealing with others to choose supplies, the decision is sometimes more complex than one would think.

When, where, and how to use poles as your basic framework can also be daunting. The larger the piece of hanging plastic, the more critical it is to have some structural support such as poles or framing. When to use the specialized aluminum extendable poles (often with spring-loaded tops to facilitate secure placement) can often be as simple as whether you have enough of them and if they are bent, broken, or missing critical parts. Poles also make the most sense when timber, steel, or inflatable barriers are in short supply.

Another consideration when using poles is whether negative pressure will be employed.

The critical distinction that must be kept in mind is that dust control is not the same as negative pressure containment. Because there is not as much stress on the barriers, poles are better suited to the lower standard of dust control. Another evaluation tool to decide on the use of poles is when the speed of set up and short duration of the barrier are key factors. It is also important to remember that a bit more training is required for crews that will construct wood or steel for plastic barriers.

Plastic affixed to sliding steel or temporary wooden framing for a compression fit

Sometimes you have to tape the containment to the wall.

Strictly speaking, both techniques are similar to compression poles. Temporary compression steel framing is typically constructed out of steel wall framing studs. Wooden framing, usually built from 2-x-2 inch or 2-x-4 inch lumber, can be screwed, nailed, or held in place with special corner brackets. Overall, such products provide a solid framework that takes most of the stress away from the attachments of small areas or adhesives and spreads it more evenly throughout the structure.

With proper thought and implementation, little to no additional damage will be caused, but some assembly is required. Think of these methods as the Ikea of containment without the super easy-to-understand instructions. Because all jobs are unique, these contaminants do not come in “kits.” You will have to shop for and stock volumes of materials or take the necessary time to identify the needed sections and custom shop for each containment setup.

Fewer professionals in the restoration industry are familiar with the techniques of setting up steel support structures. They are most useful when carpentry tools, the skill to use them, or the timber is in short supply. There are unique advantages of using metal wall studs, with one of the most important being that the process does not require measuring in the traditional way. Instead, the remediation technicians cut two pieces of steel studs that equal the gap they are trying to fill, plus an additional 15% to 20% per piece. Cutting the extra length will ensure sufficient overlap between the two pieces and allow enough material for screws to lock it together.

When setting up steel isolation barriers as vertical supports, nest the two pieces of steel stud to fit together like two letter “Cs.” Once nested, put them in place and slide them apart such that they push against the top plate and sill plate. Once the initial expansion of the steel assembly is set, move them aside and then slide the two pieces just slightly so that they are longer than they were. Now with a 1/8 inch or so extra, screw them together in that position and then push or tap them back into place. The extra “slide” that you affected will have made them just a bit too long for the gap, thus creating tension.

Doing the same thing with wood requires precise, oversized measurements, but not too oversized. And if you cut it too short, you will have to shim it or possibly try to use the beam in another part of the structure. All the rest is similar to compression poles or wood. One distinct advantage, however, is that, unlike poles and lumber, magnets are easily integrated to connect the plastic to the framework. Furthermore, although tape, foam, spray adhesive, etc., are all still often necessary, steel does offer some distinct advantages. Strength, cleanability, reusability, low weight compared with green studs, and magnetism are some of them.

Reusable inflatable modular barriers

Relatively new to the industry are modular inflatable barriers. Like all the other options, these come with advantages and disadvantages. Some apparent disadvantages are up-front costs and the 10-foot ceiling height limit. However, any containment constructed over 10 feet tall will require special care and consideration to ensure that it is sturdy enough, even when it is only serving as a simple dust barrier.

An example of venting contaminants out of a window.

One of the significant advantages of reusable inflatable modular barriers is the savings on consumables. While this may seem like a fake benefit to many in the United States today, look around the other areas of the globe where single-use plastic for everything from water bottles to sheet plastic for barriers is being curtailed for environmental or cost control reasons. Inflatable modular barriers can also be an economical alternative because of the savings in the far more impactful labor category. Labor is the highest single cost for any business, but the skillset of your crew is critical. It doesn’t matter how much it costs to build if you don’t have someone that has the time and skill to build it.

Reusable inflatable modular barriers provide a stark comparison with everything that preceded them. Unlike all other options for structural support discussed previously, it is an all-inclusive solution to containment. That is because the structure is combined with the actual barrier and is “kittified” to adapt to different heights and widths of openings that need to be sealed. Fully formed five-foot sections of containment stored and transported in small duffel bags, such as those made by AIRWALLS, allows the contractor to quickly construct isolation barriers in various settings without resupplying or stocking any consumables.

Because the inflatable barrier is actually four layers of protection, it far exceeds the isolation requirements of some protocols, even for highly sensitized individuals. The four barrier layers also provide sound-reducing properties and thermal resistance of R20 for unmatched insulating properties. They move far beyond dust control into the realm of complete environmental control.

As one of the newer containment techniques introduced to the restoration and abatement industries, many professionals need to become more familiar with their advantages. Modular inflatable barriers are easily set up with little instruction and no specialized training. They will not cause collateral damage to the building and do not require any consumables associated with the standard forms of containment, like tape, plastic, spray adhesive, and assorted hardware. They have few parts and go up fast and effectively. Most importantly, using inflatable barriers eliminates the single failure points plaguing traditional containment.

Additional tips and tricks

To finish this section, here are several additional ideas to assist with reconstructing containments, presented in no specific order.

A properly sized containment will help maintain effective negative air.

Make your own double-stick tape. Roll off two-three feet of tape, but do not tear it yet, let the roll hang there. Hold the end of the tape, sticky side away from you, in your left hand, with your index, middle, ring finger, and thumb. Your thumb will be pointing away from your body. Press your thumb toward your middle finger, grasp the rest of the roll with your other hand, and spin it. That’s it, double-stick tape.

Use spring poles to aid with the setup of stud framework. Especially when setting up sliding steel or wood containment, use the compression poles to hold your top plate and sill plate in place to get your measurements and place the vertical members.

Filtering replacement air and regulating negative air, with this simple technique. Tape a pleated filter to the plastic sheeting’s outside (clean) side, 12-x-12 inch minimum. Once secured, step inside the containment and cut a U-shaped flap approximately one inch smaller on the other side of the filter. You can adjust the negative pressure and airflow by taping the plastic flap to cover more or less of the filter. Inflatable modular barriers have this as standard equipment.

Cover critical barriers with speed and ease. For electrical outlets and switches, remove the cover plate, place an oversized piece of plastic over the outlet or switch, then replace the cover plate with the original screws. You may also choose to tape the edges of the plastic. Do not use this technique if the wall plates are otherwise sealed to the wall; instead, just tape over the surface of the wall plate, outlet, and switch.

Many other materials, such as prefabricated wall sections with adjustable top pieces, can be used for temporary containments. Regardless of the materials, the key is ensuring the containment barriers are secure and decently airtight. The third part of this series will focus on using temporary containments to minimize cross-contamination.

Mark Cornelius has been in the restoration industry for more than 38 years. He is president of Disaster Recovery Industries Inc. and owns Emergency Mitigation Technician Academy.

Keith Gangitano co-founded Zeppelin, a company with restoration containment solutions.

Michael Pinto serves as the CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental and has more than 45 years of experience in the industry.

The post The Components of Temporary Containments appeared first on Cleanfax.

Cleanfax recently sat down with Tim Fagan, president of Blue Kangaroo Packoutz, to learn what restoration contractors need to know to successfully deal with fire, smoke, and content loss challenges.

Overall, just how profitable is fire and smoke work?

Fires generally require medium to heavy cleaning depending on the source, combustion type, heat, proximity to the source, and the material affected. Other billable add-ons may include additional labor, specialized chemicals, and deodorization techniques. Contents inventory and determination of salvageable, unsalvageable, or economic salvageability are also billable and necessary functions. In addition, there may be additional profit in the restoration of wood furniture, upholstery, textiles, electronics, etc., if needed.

To answer your question, the profit depends on many factors, as you can see. Without knowledge of what you are doing, there is a great probability that you could lose your shirt handling contents.

When it comes to fire and smoke restoration work, what are some of the more common hidden issues technicians discover and must deal with?

First, a technician may have to deal with cause and origin-investigation restrictions from accessing areas. Other delays can include hazardous environments from combustion, water damage and potential for microbial growth from firefighting, corrosion and staining issues from soot acidity, and electronics-fire residue impacting internal components.

Something that is very important but also time-consuming and challenging is the identifcation of the total lost items and salvaging what you can. A home or business owner’s belongings can have personal, sentimental, and special value to them. Do not underestimate the real and perceived value of sentimental items.

Also, it is possible that the emotional and psychological impact on a homeowner (phantom smoke smells or psychosomatic symptoms) could be something that must be dealt with.

What are some important safety considerations when doing this type of work?

The scene of a fire can be a hazardous place. Every caution should be taken. Is the scene boarded up for security? Has evidence been preserved?

Ensure the structure is stable and utility-related hazards, such as power, gas, etc., have been shut off. Look for and avoid anything dangerous in the environment, like trip hazards, broken glass, and other sharp objects.

We must also consider our personal health. Use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for hazardous and noxious atmospheres, wearing a respirator for PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) from incomplete combustion. It’s possible that lead- or asbestos-contaminated materials have been disturbed or damaged by fire and firefighting measures and have released particles. Even the smell of a dead animal can make us ill.

What are some best practices for removing odors from fire jobs?

Ventilation of the structure is key. Open the windows and use HEPA air scrubbers in the affected area. Start with cleaning. Clean affected contents, HEPA vacuuming surfaces as you go. Test clean, determining what is salvageable/cleanable (e.g., porosity, staining of plastics, textiles, etc.). Remove non-salvageable charred/contaminated contents.

Next, seal the contaminated structures, such as ceiling and wall joists and furniture, including the drawers, inside the back panel, etc. Use ozone, hydroxyl, and other pairing or masking agents for odor removal.

And don’t forget the emotional and psychological impact on the owners that was discussed earlier. Take the time to educate them on “psychological odor.”

Talk about the HVAC system. What are some good practices for ductwork and air systems?

If it’s still operating, shut down the HVAC system or at least block return air in the source area. Spend time cleaning the ducts, filters, blowers, etc., of the HVAC system. Don’t forget to clean the vent hoods and exhaust fans too.

Is it common for restoration companies who do fire or smoke work to subcontract out the contents portion?

We hope so. Specialized critical and detailed cleaning with proper chemicals and application of a variety of deodorizing methods (combined masking and pairing agents) are usually beyond the expertise of most restoration companies.

Structure cleaning using chem/soot sponges, HEPA vacuuming, and wet cleaning with alkaline-based cleaner or degreaser (protein) are usually needed. And areas like textiles and electronics require specialized equipment and training.

If contractors subcontract, can they still turn a profit when subcontracting? Please explain any subcontracting strategies if applicable.

It can still be profitable. Mark up for job coordination, profit, and overhead.

Contractors will generally charge a referral fee to the subcontractor. A 5–10% fee is customary.

The post Fire, Smoke, and Contents appeared first on Cleanfax.

The IICRC S590 Standard describes the procedures to perform HVAC assessments and create a written report and remediation work plan for residential, commercial, institutional, and healthcare buildings. The document lists methods and procedures to determine visual deposition and odor retention. The revised draft is available for review and comment as part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) 30-day public review period until July 30.

Download the revised draft and submit your comments online here.

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What does the February report on the discovery of ancient Roman ruins in Germany have to do with an article about temporary containments used in many areas of cleaning and restoration? The archaeological report reminds us that different forms of containment have been used continuously, dating back thousands of years, to protect people from threats both inside and outside the containment. Whether it is wooden stakes positioned to protect an encampment from invaders or the bars and razor wire used in prisons, the concept of containments has been with us since ancient times.

For the sake of relevance, this discussion will focus on threats that are decidedly smaller than a barbarian horde or a carefully planned jailbreak. The threats we will cover here are spores, asbestos fibers, lead dust, volatile organic compounds, fire residue, biological pathogens like the COVID virus, or any other contaminant that is likely to be or become airborne.

By minimizing the movement of harmful agents from a contaminated area to adjacent spaces, temporary barriers contain the problem in order to protect human health. These agents range from things like mold and asbestos that represent a health risk, to things like fentanyl and biological weapons that represent a clear and present danger. The former is defined as something that may or may not cause illness now or in the future, an unfortunate feature that tends to engender complacency. Whereas the latter is something that will definitely kill you and everyone around you, a truly unfortunate feature that limits complacency to one and done.

‘Tough guy’ syndrome

We are all guilty of “holding our breath” while creating a temporarily unsafe environment like spraying some chemical for a couple of seconds, and have come away mostly unscathed but have you ever skipped the respirator in an attic because you are going to be “in and out,” only to spend the next several hours coughing? There is a lot of machismo and denialism (ostrich syndrome) in this industry. The ultimate bandage after all is duct tape and a new glove but that kind of thinking is just dead wrong!

One of the forgotten aspects of many cleaning and restoration projects is the repetitive nature of the tasks, and potential exposures! The exposures of many dangerous substances can be cumulative. Lead dust is a good example; as the material collects in the blood, then the soft tissues, and eventually the bones. One well-documented pathway to lead poisoning (as well as asbestos and silica, among other contaminants) is from dust being brought home on the clothes of the worker. A child doesn’t care that their parent is a self-styled tough guy when they are exposing them and their family to dangerous levels of contaminants.

Tripping over a dollar just to save a quarter

So many people skip solid containment, or containment at all even on mold jobs, because they are expensive to execute well (labor and materials) but then they end up cleaning the whole house. Not only is that ultimately more expensive but it’s bad for business. If the TV in the master bedroom, upstairs, down the hall and behind a closed door is covered in drywall dust then that is just shameful. It is downright unprofessional and entirely unnecessary. That doesn’t even account for the guilty conscience, liability, and potential lawsuits when someone gets sick.

Another reason to skip containment is that the contractor may not actually have people that know how to do it.  One way to avoid this conundrum is to pay wages above the bare minimum. This all too rare approach increases the retention of experienced, skilled individuals. Employee retention and recruitment is a well documented problem that plagues the industry. The irony is that if you fix the first problem you also solve the second. When you fix both problems then everything gets better. If the job you offer isn’t easily replaced then you won’t just get good containments, you’ll get loyal people that protect your reputation and your bottom line.

The mammalian response or dive reflex

This industry is, by its very nature, reactive. After all, the next event is only ever a phone call or weather forecast away. This reality, as well as limited staff, makes it tough to be proactive. But just like the diving reflex will cause a baby to hold its breath when submerged in water, only to quickly drown because it can’t actually swim, so too will an untrained worker muddle through the first days, weeks, or months only to sink to the bottom and quit or get fired.

Early, continuous and advanced training is the best way to be proactive and stop this cycle. Everyone on the team should know the why, not just the what, and if they don’t know then teach them. Teach them also that they can be vigilant without being paranoid. Going back to the swimming analogy, by teaching someone to swim they will respect not fear the water and if the conditions are right they could learn to like it, or even love it.

When you teach someone something new then you begin to have depth on your bench that is so often lacking, and you have more eyes on your jobs. These trained eyes can often spot two things, potential problems and greater opportunities. It’s always the experienced tech that load tests the breaker with the microwave, while all of the equipment is running and before leaving for the night, and can legitimately turn a $1500 appetizer into a $5000 main course. Well paid, experienced techs also know that the containments, PPE and well established procedures aren’t there just for theater.

It is your job as the leader, or even as a coworker, not to minimize a thing and/or make it all about speed or the money. It is the job of everyone to stay alert and feel empowered, compelled even, to bring attention to incorrect applications of tools or techniques and most importantly to point out conditions that could threaten life and limb. The only way this works is if everyone is well trained to the level of their work requirements and cross trained through knowledge transfer so that, even at a basic level, everyone knows why, for example, the containment is so important and how to use it effectively.

We further must internalize the belief in a higher purpose. If it is clear to all that this work is valued, important and that the people that do it are unique, highly trained specialists and not just unskilled cleaners in bunny suits and a respirator, then everyone will begin to identify their work in restoration as a membership in an exclusive club. This club does not accept all applicants, not everyone is cut out for this type of work.

Everyone needs to keep learning. As the science supporting the mold remediation industry has advanced, we now know that for some people exposure to even small amounts of mold can cause significant health problems. Sadly, the people who are most susceptible to potential mold exposures often do not know that they are at greater risk until after the exposure has damaged them. With individuals at risk from mold potentially making up 25% of the population, why would a contractor take a chance of exposing them to elevated spore levels by skipping the use of temporary containments? Such an approach is even more short-sighted given the evolving standard of care that continually upgrades the importance of isolating the work area with temporary containments.

When in doubt, use containment

Regardless of the potential contaminant, temporary containments (particularly when matched with other engineering controls that will be discussed in later parts of this series) provide real protection for occupants, workers, and the general public. Using such protection, and doing so efficiently, can literally be a life-or-death decision. With so much riding on that choice, using protective barriers should be the default position, not an afterthought.

Michael A. Pinto serves as the CEO of Wonder Makers Environmental and has more than 45 years of experience in the industry.

Keith Gangitano is a co-founder of Zeppelin, a company with restoration containment solutions.

The post Temporary Containments appeared first on Cleanfax.

Restorers must approach each project with a flexible, adaptable mindset as information materializes, often after already committing to a project. This nature, however, presents significant risk on many fronts, especially when contingencies for key potential variables are not considered by the contractor ahead of time.

Although the sources of risk and related variables vary greatly, one contributor is significant for restoration contractors to consider proactively: Project size and complexity. More extensive projects tend to multiply risk factors, in some cases, by order of magnitude. Depending upon the project type, the nature of insurance can be dramatically different, regulatory requirements can become more challenging, environmental control can be substantially more complex, and even primary customer drivers and objectives can substantially change how decisions should be made.

Understanding if a restoration firm is truly prepared to expand from a position of single-family residential restoration to tackle larger and more complex projects must begin with an assessment of the organization’s acumen for these additional challenges. This is best approached by separating and defining the exact types of larger projects the organization is targeting.

No two projects are the same. This is especially true when considering large restoration projects. Responding to a significant property loss event in a hospital, for example, is markedly different than dealing with a similar size loss in a commercial warehouse. It is often not the size of the project that is used to define large or complex projects, but rather the complexity of the structure, ownership, and even the diversity of other materially interested parties.

The best approach for a restoration firm when considering growth through project size is to make an honest assessment of the company’s strengths and weaknesses in several key areas. Taking on large, complex projects without first considering these factors can lead to disaster:

• Project management expertise
• Financial reserves
• Equipment and tools
• Documentation instruments
• Business management systems
• Knowledge in related fields.

The management of large restoration projects will require a more complex and involved resource. The extent of this expertise will depend upon the structure type, scope of restoration, the scale of damage, and the nature of the financial and contractual conditions related to the property.  Learning to manage larger and more complex projects should begin with selective and measured decisions for the types of structures and damage sources that relate best to the organization’s current skillsets.

In addition, the organization should never overextend its financial reserves. A strong controller or financial resource is key to understanding the monetary exposure your organization can withstand. With an increase in the complexity of the project and materially interested parties, the volume and duration of accounts receivable can inflate substantially.

Equipment and tools used in varying structure types are also often different, with higher demands for systems with greater capacity. Additionally, resources for safe power and energy management are often required, which are not typically necessary for smaller projects.

Greater diversity in materially interested parties will necessitate changes to the type and structure of project documents and the number of parties that should be engaged in authorizations, communications, transaction instruments, and signoffs.

These points all culminate in the need for solid business management systems to allow for the coordination of these assets and resources. The system should be scalable to allow for the tracking, allocation, and reporting against the scope of the types of projects your organization decides to tackle.

Finally, it is also important to consider the intellectual assets of your organization. Knowledge related to the industries and materially interested parties associated with the specific types of structures your organization will restore must be considered. These dynamics are unique between sectors such as manufacturing, retail, healthcare, housing, warehousing, government, and so on. Each sector brings with it unique challenges that, when proactively considered, can be accounted for.

Ultimately, the restoration industry will always throw unexpected twists and turns in many projects. However, with proper (and constant) assessments of our strengths and weaknesses, organizationally, we can be much more strategic and purposeful with the measured risk our organizations are willing and able to withstand. It is, after all, risk management, not risk elimination!

The post Making the Leap appeared first on Cleanfax.

Cleanfax surveyed leaders in the industry to capture a complete snapshot of operations, revenue, services offered, challenges faced, employee issues, and more. Sponsored by Legend Brands, this survey report is your annual inside look at the restoration industry.

Of interest in this year’s survey is how the top challenges mirror what was reported in 2022. Recruiting and retaining staff stays at the top, with many of you commenting that finding and keeping good workers is a challenging issue to figure out. Maintaining margins and profitability ranked second of the top challenges, with differentiating a company coming in third.

As for how restoration companies are getting work, referrals topped the list once again, followed by getting jobs from the insurance industry. Interestingly, social media advertising moved up the rankings, overtaking networking opportunities.

Insurance wait time saw a slight improvement from 2022, with those waiting 3–5 weeks dropping 10%. Companies participating in TPA programs continued to fall with 31% participating, down from 40% in 2022.

Water damage restoration continues to top the services offered category—and with good reason, as it also continues to rank as the most profitable service reported, followed by mold remediation, and then fire/smoke restoration.

Crossover from cleaning to restoration is common, and that is represented in the additional services offered category. Nearly 61% of those surveyed indicate they offer carpet or rug cleaning services.

These data points and more are available in the 2023 Restoration Benchmarking Survey Report. Cleanfax thanks all those who participated in the survey and helped create this valuable industry resource. Dig into the full report here.

About this report: The data recorded in this survey is based on results from restoration contractors responding to invitations to participate in the survey. Results are not necessarily based on audited financial statements.

The post The 2023 Restoration Benchmarking Survey Report appeared first on Cleanfax.

• Experiencing difficulties in dealing with adjusters on pricing
• Waiting too long to get paid
• Feeling frustrated that your marketing isn’t producing results
• Wondering why it feels like a battle

Then Restoration Strategies is the conference for you!

Get more info and register (click here)

Register with this PDF form (Restoration Strategies Form).

This two-day event is designed to offer invaluable insights into the restoration industry for business owners, managers, and marketing staff in the disaster restoration and building service contractor field.

Attendees will gain practical knowledge on acquiring restoration jobs from insurance agents, claims adjusters, property owners, and managers. The conference will feature a nationally recognized insurance claims adjuster who will share strategies for securing water damage restoration, fire and smoke restoration, mold remediation, and other types of work. Individuals considering entering the restoration industry will find this conference helpful in learning to overcome the challenging task of acquiring work.

The event will be a fast-paced learning opportunity for all participants. Rest assured that you will leave the conference with the knowledge to help you avoid the challenges associated with the restoration industry. Event pricing is reasonable, with $697 for ISSA members and $997 for non-members.

Don’t miss this strategic business and marketing event. Check out the video below:

The post Restoration Strategies Coming Up May 22-23 at Cleanfax HQ. Don’t Miss Out! appeared first on Cleanfax.

Starting up and growing a disaster restoration company is not for the faint of heart. It takes drive, determination, and an aggressive entrepreneurial spirit to make it all work. And, it takes knowledge of the tools of the trade and the available restoration technology to succeed.

The disaster restoration industry is innovative. When you visit an industry trade show, you can see it. It’s evident. The products, tools, and equipment that the modern restorer uses is always evolving and improving.

Cleanfax asked a select number of industry suppliers, experts, and consultants to share their thoughts on what a forward-thinking disaster restoration company should consider so they can succeed in a competitive marketplace.

Advancements of restoration technology

Technology in the industry is really starting to come together, according to Brandon Burton, the Standards Chair at the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), and the Senior Principal of Industry Relations at CoreLogic. “We are finally seeing ‘connected’ equipment in our industry on a path towards critical mass. This is the barrier that, once broken, will forever change the way restoration, specifically, drying, is performed,” he says. “The technology has, for a long time, been available. However, once most equipment is capable, the barriers to adopting and leveraging the value of connected data will begin to fall.”

Brendan Kimmel, an IICRC-approved instructor, and a technical training instructor with Legend Brands, values the advancements in technology and, like Burton, sees connected equipment and data as a critical component of successful restoration. “Sensor-driven LGR dehumidifier technology has significantly improved drying job efficiency in two ways,” he notes. “The first is through increased water removal, especially when dehumidifiers use sensors to optimize performance across the full range of conditions, and second, by allowing automated access to drying progress and job conditions both on screen and remotely.”

At the same time, Kimmel values input from those in homes and buildings who must deal with restoration equipment during the drying process. Equipment makes noise, there’s no doubt about it. Not every family leaves their home when they have water damage, and not every commercial building is occupant-free during restoration. “Quieter operations is something restoration contractors have long requested, so that occupants won’t be tempted to turn off equipment and slow the drying progress,” he says. “Some newer dehumidifiers, air scrubbers, and air movers produce sound frequencies that are much less annoying to occupants, while performing at the same or better levels than noisier models.”

Mark Cornelius is the president of a restoration and cleaning firm, an IICRC-approved instructor, and president of the Emergency Mitigation Technician Academy (EMTA). He values restoration technology but feels more should be considered. “Technology has changed drastically, but what has not changed is the human factor. For example, LGR dehumidifiers. Most people, including owners, do not understand that once it is over 90° F that the technology gain is lost,” he explains.

In addition, Cornelius sees thermal imaging as a huge advancement over the years and part of the tech tool kit restorers use to improve accuracy and speed of inspection. However, “most people receive little to no training on how to use and interpret that information.” He feels technology has its place but so does proper training.

Chuck Boutall is an international trainer for the disaster restoration industry, and the director of education with the Restoration Technical Institute (RTI). He sees software as an integral part of emerging restoration technology. “There is a plethora of new software systems to choose from,” he says, “and these can bring great efficacy to a business. But they must be properly implemented and used by everyone in the company.” He sees instruments and tracking systems, from inexpensive thermal imaging cameras to remote monitoring software, as another critical component of successful restoration. “There has been a massive improvement in moisture data tracking systems from our inspection instrument and equipment manufacturers.”

Burton is excited about how the industry is progressing and knows that technology will continue to drive the industry. “Dehumidification, air movement, air filtration, and heating systems have continued to develop over time,” he explains. “However, their development has not seen a transformational shift for some time. The real significant paradigm-changing technological leap is happening right before our eyes as connected devices become the norm in our space.”

Software and the restoration process

Bill Weigand is an IICRC-approved instructor and a technical training instructor with Legend Brands. He likes what he’s seen with software development over the years, yet with a caveat. “Estimating software’s evolution has produced more uniformity in pricing, so insurance carriers and insureds have a more consistent cost for services,” he explains. “But on the negative side, there’s now less of an incentive for restorers to be creative and advance new methods of restoration. Also, different restoration companies often have very different overhead costs that aren’t reflected in a uniform pricing system.”

Kimmel sees software as a viable solution but not as something you simply purchase and think it will run itself. “Business owners should adopt job management software that requires limited setup and administrative management, while being robust enough to integrate project setup and reporting, billing, inventory and maintenance management,” he says. “Finding the right balance between simplicity and full features isn’t easy — but well worth time invested in researching software options.”

Lisa Lavender is the COO of the Restoration Technical Institute (RTI) and has appreciated advancements in software and technology as well. “The software and application available to our industry is vast. Integrations and collaborations in the industry are becoming a way for companies to build unique systems that support their business model and approach,” she says. “Some standard big picture things that are important in evaluating your options are: Ease of use, training and support, and meaningful reporting systems that give information and tools to efficiently support your operation. You should select the tools that help your team and business meet your company objectives and support growth.”

She lists these items as some of the many features and systems available in the market today:

• Comprehensive restoration software systems
• Digital surveying and online review management
• Job file management
• Customer communications
• Sketching
• Estimating
• Monitoring: Bluetooth and remote
• Accounting
• Tracking and managing: Vehicles and equipment

There are many more features and functions available in the industry. Lavender encourages restorers to make their own list to evaluate and build the ecosystem that works for them.

Burton sees the most important system is one that properly integrates the various data.  “The full cycle should be connected,” he explains. “Schedules, clients, field data, subcontracts, estimates…straight through to invoicing and business analytics.” He says that if the system omits any of these, it is incomplete and requires double the work to maintain. “If it’s difficult and requires double work, then omissions and errors will yield unusable or inaccurate results.”

Remote monitoring

Burton is an advocate for remote monitoring and sees this type of technology as critical. “Remote sensing has always presented the barrier of being a ‘removed’ or ‘secondary’ technology,” he explains. “The technological barriers that came with a lack of full integration with the equipment and systems in a drying project made it expensive and cumbersome. Over the last few years, manufacturers are embracing the future of the ‘connected’ world.” As he says, this is beginning to allow restorers to leverage the benefits of remote sensing at a dramatically lower cost, while eliminating much of the technological barriers.

Kimmel feels the same way, that the industry has advanced in recent years and remote monitoring is a technology worth considering. “Using built-in wifi, our industry has truly leaped ahead to full remote monitoring and control of dehumidifiers and air scrubbers, including viewing and transmitting important drying data, and even allowing remote monitoring of airmover status and moisture detection,” he says. And with rising labor costs, remote monitoring can enable project managers to better prioritize and even skip some in-person job site visits while maintaining proper job management and company profits, Kimmel added.

On the flip side, Cornelius adds some cautions. “Remote monitoring has come a long way. However, it still has negatives such as connectivity and wifi issues,” he explains. “People also do not understand that it is a wonderful tool to increase accuracy and expedite monitoring of a project. Many people who come through my class think that they do not have to do daily site visits, and this also includes adjustors. Most people don’t understand that technology, for the most part, does not replace the site visit but makes it more productive.”

This doesn’t mean Cornelius isn’t a believer in remote monitoring technology. He explains that, instead of going to the project, collecting the data, interpreting the data, and then creating a course of action, with the proper use of remote technology, a tech can have an action plan in mind in advance. “That plan can then be confirmed at the arrival to the job site. Much like a fire fighter starts developing a plan of action from information given by dispatch prior to arrival on scene.”

He concludes: “However awesome remote monitoring is, and it is awesome, it is important as an aide to the job. It is another tool that can improve the accuracy of and quality of our jobs. It can provide real-time data which ultimately speeds up drying and should reduce cost and provide quicker drying results.”

3D imaging

One big advancement in technology the restoration industry is embracing is 3D imaging. Cornelius sees this as a game-changer. “This is literally an OMG moment,” he says. “I wish that we would have had this 30 years ago. For the most part, this has been the best thing since the invention of air,” he jokes. As Cornelius explains, the ability to do one inspection and then be able to do repeat site visits, as many as needed, from the comfort of your office is “a massive profit changer.” The ability to be able to see everything again that the camera saw in 360-degree 3D imaging basically “eliminates the ‘oh crap’ moment when you realize that you forgot to ‘get that angle.’”

Weigand values the impact of 3D imaging as well. “3D imaging is a huge time saver for companies, as it allows them to prepare a more accurate damage appraisal,” he explains. “3-D imaging automates the photo documentation process of structural dimensions, contents’ original condition and placement, and any pre-existing damage to structure or contents. It also improves transparency among the client, the insurance carrier, and the restoration contractor.”

Boutall is impressed with the advancement of 3D technology as well. “It’s handy for water losses, but fantastic for fire and mold, especially in commercial,” he explains. “The technology is awesome; I have used it over the years to map a complex loss due to its accuracy and detail. Now that the price is low per project, I highly recommend looking into these systems.” He notes that some 3D software companies are working on integration with remote monitoring systems, another game changer.

The air we breathe

David Hart is the founder and CEO of RamAir International and feels the restoration industry should also focus on the air we breathe, and the equipment affected during a loss. He explains: “The process of disaster and forensic restoration deals with structure, contents, and indoor air quality. Formerly often overlooked, the HVAC system falls under the categories of both structure and contents and has arguably the biggest influence on the quality and condition of the building’s indoor air.”

He notes that replacing HVAC systems has been a typical part of the restoration process, but with modern technology and HVAC and duct cleaning systems, restoration of those components should be considered. “A forced air HVAC system consists of return ducting, air handler(s), and supply ducting, which collectively, are both intricate and expensive to install and even more expensive to replace. With the design and evolution of more efficient cleaning equipment and the introduction of an effective decontamination system for HVAC, replacement is beginning to take a back seat to remediation,” Hart says. The solution? Look to add an HVAC decontamination system that can be used not just for routine cleaning, but for restoration as well.

The future of restoration and technology

Those who contributed to this article had final thoughts to share, looking at technology now and in the future. All are excited about the next chapter in restoration.

Burton: The future in one word? Data. As the world becomes more connected, data will drive advancements in the restoration space. This will include not only the efficacy of contractor work in the field, but also how manufacturers dial in and further specify the unique tools and technologies of the trade. The most critical element to today’s restoration firm is a solid paperless system. Hardware and physical tools are important to improve the work that you can perform but, honestly, I could mitigate and restore a structure even with tools that are a decade old. What I couldn’t do effectively while maintaining healthy business margins is manage training, compliance, documentation, reporting, collections, scheduling, resource coordination, and client relations. The technical and business demands of today’s market require a solid set of business systems.

Cornelius: For those who learn how to use technology and to use it correctly, it is limitless. In the end, our job is to provide a safe and healthy environment for our clients to go back to post-loss. My prediction is that some cleaning and restoration companies will understand this and provide a quicker and better result for the client. However, I watch most companies utilize the advances as purely crowbars to try and pry more money out of the system. In the end, the improvements and impacts depend on how we actually use the advances.

Lavender: We are often comfortable with our tools and proficient. Change is hard, and much of what we do in our work is habit. Habits are great until we want to change them.  In general, most of the innovative technology that I have seen is easy to learn when there is a baseline of skill, knowledge, and experience. The hard part is implementing the new technology organizationally.

Weigand: The cost and availability of labor will drive the adoption of technology, to levels that are difficult to imagine. Robotic extraction may become a reality, just as robotic cleaning machines have made some facilities’ cleaning processes more efficient. Also, at some point, we’re likely to be able to use lasers to remove fire residue from many surfaces.

Hart: The development of capable, affordable equipment has made possible the remediation of HVAC systems in situations that formerly required costly and time-consuming removal and replacement. The result is a substantial savings to the building owner, as well as a notable profit increase to the restoration company, especially if they opt to perform the service themselves rather than subcontract it out. Fire, mold, meth/fentanyl, crime scene, unattended death, and bioterrorism remediation of HVAC has become so in-demand, globally recognized organizations such as the IICRC and the Microbial Warrior Academy have recently made it a part of their disaster restoration and bioremediation training programs.

Kimmel: Virtual reality (VR) headset technology will impact best practice training for new technicians and project managers. It could also be used for virtual remote help and decision-making consultations to guide less experienced restoration contractors through setting up and managing jobs.

Boutall: The perfection of the remote monitoring systems and software integrations will continue to make more powerful platforms, resulting in more efficient operations, reducing the overhead in operations while delivering information to decision-makers faster, resulting in increased customer satisfaction.

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F500 RANK/ FRANCHISE NAME	DESCRIPTION	INITIAL INVESTMENT
United Water Restoration Group Request Info	Water, fire, and mold restoration	$122K – $508K
# 84 PuroClean Request Info	Property damage restoration and remediation	$89K – $232K
# 16 Servpro	Fire, water, and other damage cleanup, restoration, and reconstruction	$217K – $271K
# 84 PuroClean Request Info	Property damage restoration and remediation	$89K – $232K
# 94 ServiceMaster Restore	Commercial/residential disaster restoration	$253K – $359K
# 109 Paul Davis Restoration	Insurance restoration	$192K – $517K
# 132 Rainbow Restoration	Indoor cleaning and restoration	$157K – $261K
# 153 1-800 Water Damage	Property restoration	$51K – $295K
# 333 All Dry Services	Water and mold remediation and restoration	$87K – $212K
# 366 Rytech Restoration	Water, mold, fire, and smoke restoration; Covid-19 sanitation	$135K – $171K
# 444 AdvantaClean	Residential and commercial restoration services	$167K – $258K
# 467 Prism Specialties	Restoration of electronics, textiles, documents, and artwork	$167K – $552K

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