Smoke and Fire: Timeline Of How Fast Damage Occurs

2/6/2017 (Permalink)

Within minutes the acid soot residues created by a fire can cause your plastics to yellow and small appliances to discolor.

Talk to any fire professional and you’ll hear how important it is to handle fire and smoke damage quickly. When you prolong the restoration of your home or business, you extend the effects brought on by the smoke exposure.

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification’s (IICRC) mission is to establish and advance globally recognized standards and certifications for the inspection, cleaning, restoration, and installation industries. In other words, the IICRC sets and maintain high standards and educates the restoration industry that SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield is part of.  Here’s a timeline from the IICRC that shows the effects of fire and smoke on a home.

Within Minutes
Acid soot residues cause your plastics to yellow; small appliances located close to the source of combustion discolor; and highly porous materials (marble, alabaster) discolor permanently.

Smoke and Fire Damage? Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at 860.649.0836

Within Hours
Acid residues stain the grout in your bathrooms; your fiberglass bath fixtures may yellow; uncoated metals tarnish, counter tops may yellow; finishes on appliances, particularly refrigerators, may yellow; and furniture finishes may discolor.

Within Days
In time, acid residues cause painted walls in your home or business to yellow permanently. Metal corrodes, pits, and rusts. Any fire or smoke affected wood furniture will require refinishing. Your vinyl floors require refinishing or replace¬ment. Clothing in the affected home or business becomes soot stained and upholstery stains permanently.

Within Weeks
Restoration costs escalate greatly. Synthetic carpet fibers may yellow or discolor permanently; silver plate is corroded permanently; glass, crystal, china may require replacement due to severe etching and pitting caused by prolonged exposure to acid soot residues.

How This Destruction Occurs
During a fire, soot residue and volatile vapors are carried by rising and expanding air. Those vapors attach to surfaces throughout your business or home. This process occurs repeatedly until the fire is completely out. The soot residue builds up on surfaces layer by layer. By the time restoration technicians (like those from SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield) arrive, lacquer-like soot residue may be quite difficult to dissolve and remove.

Smoke and Fire Damage? Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield at 860.649.0836

We Have More Ways To Help You
The professionals at SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield are commercial property water damage restoration experts. We've served clients in
•    Andover
•    Bolton
•    Chestnut Hill
•    Columbia
•    Coventry
•    Ellington
•    Hebron
•    Hop River
•    Lebanon
•    Manchester
•    Mansfield
•    Mansfield Center
•    Somers
•    South Windham
•    Stafford
•    Vernon
•    Willington
•    Windham
•    Willimantic
And beyond

Call SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield (860.649.0836) anytime, 24/7.

SERVPRO of Manchester/Mansfield
540 N. Main Street
Manchester, CT 06042
Call 860.649.0836
24 hour emergency service