Recovery without smoke or mirrors
December 1st 2007 The Christmas period tends to increase fire incidences. Chemspec Europe says it has the products and expertise to deliver a rapid recovery
At Christmas time and early in the New Year, Fire Brigades are usually seriously stretched as the incidence of fires increases significantly. Is it simply the greater use of candles and decorative lighting or is increased kitchen activity to blame? Does the absence of basic precautions like smoke alarms or the neglect of battery replacement contribute or is it the greater incidence of 'seasonally impaired' faculties that causes the growth in the numbers of accidental fires? Whatever the cause, the resulting fires can have fatal consequences or, at the very least, cause significant damage and inconvenience for the occupants of fire damaged properties.
Even a small fire can create major problems and an urgent need for cleaning expertise and the appropriate equipment and chemicals.
Fortunately there are many cleaning businesses well trained and experienced in the art of fire and flood restoration. These are often part of the major franchise groups that are able to offer insurance companies a wide coverage of resources over national and even international geographic territories. Currently there are also a growing number of independent operators who are trained, equipped and able to offer local restoration cover for the smaller tasks.
The extent of the damage and the degree of difficulty encountered can vary greatly. In a fire, for example, the level of oxygen present, the surfaces affected and the nature of the material burnt can require a wide variety of specific treatments. Fortunately a number of suppliers have developed the products and know-how to deal with most situations.
One such supplier is Chemspec-Europe, with a complete range of treatments to cover virtually all restoration requirements. One of its best selling fire restoration products is Liquid Wall Cleaner, effective on a wide variety of fire types. Time is an important element of smoke contamination removal and the use of a rapidly effective wall cleaner can make a big difference to the cost of the restoration task.
Another new product, Grip Soot, will greatly assist in the removal of soot from porous surfaces like wooden beams, stone lintels and mullion windows. Grip Soot is a two part latex product that is applied to the contaminated surface with a brush, left to dry and then peeled off, taking the contamination with it. The results are dramatic, according to Chemspec, and the avoidance of damage associated with high pressure water jetting and invasive brushing lends itself to the cleaning of valuable architectural structures.
Even after effective cleaning and deodourising, it is often necessary to apply a suitable sealer to 'lock in'odour molecules trapped in porous or absorbent surfaces and to hide water marks and stains prior to the application of finish coats of paint.
Training is an important part of Chemspec Europe's support to users and distributors,with the emphasis on approach and techniques using generic solutions without directly promoting the Chemspec range. Courses involve hands-on experience as well as technical understanding and can be regionally based or arranged to suit the specific needs of an organisation or group. The Chemspec Fire and Flood Restoration Academy provides specialised training and hands-on experience of equipment such as wet and thermal foggers.
With IICRC qualification, Chemspec says technical support is always available and provided in a friendly and helpful way. More articles from Chemspec Europe Ltd: | 
