Applied Structural Drying
vs.
Water Damage Restoration
In the 1970s and 1980s, water damage mitigation
consisted of vaccuming the wet carpet with a carpet cleaning
wand and then leaving a few fans behind for three
days.
The IICRC brought more professionalism to the
restoration industry by classifying water damage by the
cleanlines of the water and by the size of and scope of a
particular diaster. The IICRC approved courses and teachers to
make industry standards available for mitigation companies and
technicians. Individuals could take IICRC approved courses, and
upon proving their competence by lengthy written exams, become
certified.
Manufacturers developed modern blowers and
dehumidifiers that more effectively dried the structure. Over
the years, manufacturers have developed new equipment to
address special circumstances in Class 4 diasters.
Examples include drying out hardwood floors, drying behind and
under cabinets, and removing moisture from inaccessible
locations.
Even so, the IICRC felt a definite need for
advanced drying techniques. In addition, there was an obvious
need to teach the science behind the Applied Structural Drying
(ASD) methods so that reliable results could be consistently
reached.
The IICRC Water Damage Restoration course
is valuable basic training to the water damage technician.
All technicians wanting to take the Applied
Structural Drying (ASD) course must first take and pass
the Water Damage Restoration.
ASD takes the guess work out of water damage
restoration. It is based on science, and mathematical
formulas are used to determine exactly the type and knd of
equipment is needed for outstanding results. Special techniques
are learned that arm the technican to deal with more difficult
and out-of-the-ordinary situations.
One of the most important aspects of ASD is
daily monitoring and documentaion. This allows the technician
to
-
know what is wet
-
How wet is it (relative humidity, moisture content,
etc)
-
How well it is drying (measuring and adjusting for
optimal effectiveness)
-
When it is dry (calibrated meters do not guess)
Meters measure humidity
and moisture content to quantify wetness--no more guessing!
Documentation, which includes moisture maps and moisture
logs, allows the technician to adjust, add, or
remove equipment during the days drying occurs. This
assures that the structure is drying correctly and that
unnecessary equipment is removed (which saves the insurance
company money). Problems are addressed and corrected
immediately.
On the last day, the technicaian takes the
final moisture readings, which may be used in a court of law to
prove that the structure was adequately dry to prevent mold and
other secondary damage.
In addition to consistent drying results, ASD
imploys techniques that require little or no demolition.
Traditional water restoration techniques often required pulling
up (and often ruining) carpet, pulling off baseboards and
sheetrock, and often culd not save expensive items like
cabinets and hardwood flooring. Not only does this save money,
but the homeowner does not have to be constantly openning his
home to contractors and subcontractors who come to repair the
demolition.
Althouse Cleaning is proud to have six
technicians that are IICRC certified is Applied Structural
Drying. Outside of Althouse Cleaning there are only one or two
technicians with this certification in all of Las Cruces and El
Paso.
aaaaary level professional training
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