Protection from litigation
May 1st 2005

Insurers are set to benefit from greater protection from litigation thanks to a new set of cleanliness standards which are being introduced by disaster restoration specialists Rainbow International.

Until now insurers have been at risk from litigation following alleged infections, allergic reactions and poisoning by microbial toxins caused by the growth of bacteria and moulds in buildings which have suffered flood or fire damage.

These problems are particularly serious in the USA where scores of claims have been filed in respect of problems caused by ‘toxic moulds’, and settlements of millions of $US are the norm.

The difficulty facing insurers is proving that restored buildings have been cleared of all potentially dangerous micro-organisms and their by-products.Traditionally cleanliness has been judged on action taken and on the final appearance of the restored building.

Now after an extensive research and development programme carried out in conjunction with Dr David Webber, one of the UK’s leading microbiologists, Rainbow International has devised a method of establishing total cleanliness.

This new technology can now calculate exact bacterial and fungal viable counts present at any time during the cleaning and restoration process, by analysing surface and air samples, providing scientific evidence of cleanliness, thus reducing health hazards, providing guarantees for Insurers and peace of mind to their policyholders.

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