SERVPRO: Water damage losses that commercial properties face

6/17/2022 (Permalink)

Blog summary: The SERVPRO blog gives insight into the damages flooding can cause in a commercial building.  

The impact of water damage on commercial properties

In the event of flooding due to natural disasters or plumbing mishaps, commercial properties stand to lose a lot in terms of property as well as revenue. Additionally, a water damage event can also pose potential health issues to the occupants. SERVPRO, a commercial cleaning service, shares the various losses a business faces in case of a water damage event.

1. Property and Equipment Loss

Different types of businesses face different challenges and losses during water damage events. Here are the potential losses businesses face:

1. Damaged building parts such as drywall, ceiling, flooring, area dividers, or fixtures. 
2. Valuable electronic equipment meant for production processes or computer systems in the office can become erratic after coming in contact with water.
3. Custom workstations or specialized manufacturing equipment can get damaged and can be a limited version or very expensive to replace.
4. Raw materials and finished goods in storerooms can soak up the water and lose their value.   
5. Valuable documents including legal and financial papers are irreplaceable and a severe water damage may make the restoration of these documents impossible or very difficult.

2. Biohazard 

In commercial buildings, water damage can belong to different classes and categories which determine the risk it poses to the health of the inhabitants. 

The class of water damage indicates the area impacted by water and the amount of moisture that has been absorbed by the contents and the structure. 

The categories of water damage include clean, gray, and black water, which indicate the level of contamination in the water and its source. Gray and black water can pose some potential health risks to the occupants of the building. This water may contain bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and pathogens making the immediate evacuation of occupants necessary. 

It is the responsibility of the building manager or business owner to keep the occupants of the building safe from these risks. Therefore, awareness of these matters is crucial.

3. HVAC System Contaminations

Moisture in the HVAC systems can heighten the risk of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms circulating in the air, infecting everyone in the building. Stagnant water unaddressed for over 48 hours can lead to the growth of mold that can worsen the air quality and cause some potential health effects. The HVAC and ductwork must be inspected by a certified HVAC expert after the water damage event. 

4. Safety hazards

After the flooding, besides structural and electrical damage, the risk of fire hazards, gas leaks, pest infestation, and mold are also increased. All these potential risks must be investigated after the water damage to prevent further loss. 

In the event of water damage in a commercial building, business owners must contact an experienced water damage restoration expert such as SERVPRO for water removal and restoration at the earliest to prevent further damage to the property and decreased productivity due to the event. 

Why SERVPRO?

Established in 1967, SERVPRO is a renowned and trusted brand that uses state-of-the-art equipment and the most updated technologies to restore properties to their preloss state. With over 19,00, strategically-located franchises across US and Canada, SERVPRO offers 24x7 emergency support to its clients anywhere, anytime. SERVPRO of Grapevine/NE Tarrant County’s highly trained technicians serve clients in Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, and surrounding areas efficiently and swiftly. Always striving to maintain stellar customer service, SERVPRO constantly invests in upgrading their  IICRC-certified technicians’ skills at the corporate training facility. 

For commercial restoration services, contact Team Shaw of SERVPRO of Grapevine / NE Tarrant County today at (817) 595-2506 or e-mail at office@SERVPROheb.com