How to restore winter cheer following seasonal building damage
December 1st 2011

Alan Lewin, business development Director of ServiceMaster Clean provides advice about restoring buildings damaged by fire and flood.

Winter is here again, and with it we can expect the usual bad weather that we experience every year in the UK, including cold snaps, heavy rains and flooding.These harsh conditions put buildings at extra risk and can lead to disastrous consequences. So what can you do if your building is damaged by fire or from water, either from flooding or from a burst pipe? Trying to sort out a building which has been damaged after a fire or flood is an unappealing task.Always call in a professional restoration service which knows the right clean-up and restoration techniques. For instance, if there is a great deal of flood water, you may need professional pumping equipment or a suitably powerful water extraction machine. If a carpet has been directly subjected to flames it may be a right off, but for smoke damage and odours, a professional contract cleaning company that is trained in restoration can help.

Any company whose premises may need emergency restoration should take into consideration the points below: Act fast If you act quickly and use a professional restoration service, your building can be safely restored with minimum disruption caused.The longer you delay,the more costly it will become.Prompt action is required to reduce the disruption and inconvenience to your business because you need your company to return to normal as fast as possible.

Acting quickly can also reduce the health risks from damaged property. For instance, long after a fire is put out, the damage can continue from smoke damage and toxic smoke fumes. If materials have failed to dry out properly following water damage, this can lead to moisture induced growth of mould colonies which can propagate and release allergenic spores or toxic compounds into the air.

ServiceMaster Clean for example provides a specialist service, Restoration Response which guarantees fast response to a wide range of commercial organisations within a few hours of an emergency to start putting the property back to pre-damage condition. Registration is free, so that if an unexpected emergency occurs then help can be quickly provided.Customers registered to the scheme are guaranteed on-site service within 2-4 hours of an emergency.

Insurance Most losses caused by fire,water or flood damage will result in an insurance claim.The key benefits of using a specialist restoration service are there are no delays waiting for your insurers to appoint a supplier, whilst ensuring the restoration works are compatible with loss adjuster and insurer processes.

ServiceMaster Clean ensures that all parties involved, including the policy holder, are aware of the progress of the claim.We pay attention to detail and use state of the art central reporting and auditing systems, to make sure our clients' claims are dealt with as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Cleaning performance and protection It is important that the company you have entrusted to restore your building, uses the best products, procedures and tools available.You need to use a firm you can not only rely on but that also has the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with fire or water damage restoration.

Technicians should ensure the highest level of cleaning performance and protection for client's property and furnishings. If your building has been damaged by fire, flood or water technicians should be able to; restore carpet and upholstery,extract water, remove odour,dry and dehumidify buildings, remove spills,dry and recover documents and offer other related services that you may require.

British Damage Management Association (BDMA) So how do you know you can trust the company that you decide to use? Firstly you should look for a contractor which is a member of the British Damage Management Association (BDMA).This will indicate the provider adheres to professional standards of care and codes of practice, underpinned by technical and corporate training.

The formation of the British Damage Management Association (BDMA) marked a milestone in relations between the insurance industry and those who provide recovery and restoration services.

Prior to the existence of the BDMA, insurers and loss adjusters had no means of judging the competence and expertise of the recovery and restoration contractors they appointed.

ServiceMaster Clean is a founder member of the BDMA.

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