Small Amount of Commercial Fire Damage Leaves Huge Odors in Falmouth Office

10/20/2019 (Permalink)

We know that your Falmouth fire loss can put your business down completely, let us help.

SERVPRO will take care of your Falmouth business fire loss.

Microwaves are a common feature in most businesses and a cause of commercial fire damage. It is convenient for employees to heat meals, and the assumption is that everyone knows how to operate one. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, microwaves account for $31-million in direct property damage.

When commercial fire damage occurs in a Falmouth business, especially if the loss seems confined to a single space such as a breakroom, it may be tempting to self-clean the premises or have the regular janitorial staff take care of it. This decision is often a mistake and has the potential to spread soot throughout the property resulting in widespread odors. 

How Do You Know If the Area Requires More Cleanup?

Signs of inadequate fire loss cleanup include still smelling smoke odors days or weeks after the incident. Another frequent sign is finding residues on surfaces and in some cases, staining. 

How are Odors Removed?

The deep cleaning of smoke residues is the first layer of defense. SERVPRO technicians hand clean surfaces in the breakroom and scope the rest of the property to determine if other areas require any fire damage cleanup. The HVAC and ductwork receive an inspection and in many cases, also need cleaning due to the spread of odor-causing soot through the use of the HVAC. 

Halting the Spread of Odors

When mitigating the residual smoke damage, SERVPRO technicians contain the area to prevent any further spread of soot. Containment may consist of plastic barriers over doorways and vents, or the use of negative air chambers.

What About Painted Walls? 

During a fire, hot air expands and drives soot into surfaces, and painted walls are particularly susceptible. There are specialized cleaners for wet sponge cleaning that work to suspend and wipe away soot. However, for deeply embedded odors, the wall may require sealing, priming, and repainting. 

Top Layer of Odor Control 

In some cases, smoke odors require removal using equipment such as air scrubbers, which capture soot particles smaller than the human eye can see. Hydroxyl generators also eradicate airborne particles using UV rays safely. Thermal fogging is another frequently used method of deodorization that neutralizes smoke odors. 

Contact SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands at (508) 888-5985 when you need assistance with commercial fire damage. The technicians have extensive experience and specialized equipment to make the fire loss "Like it never even happened."

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