Water Damage & Flooded Basement Restoration Services

Office Building Fire Damage Recovery

By the RestorationSOS Educational Staff

When fire sweeps through an office building or any structure, it is always important to begin the repair and restoration process as soon as possible following the event. Making the correct decisions in the immediate hours following an office building fire is imperative if the restoration process is to succeed.

Assessing the damage first begins with inspection of the structure as a whole and determining if and when it is safe to re-enter the property. Fires in office buildings may encompass a number of suites and floors, so it is likely that you will have to wait until the entire building is cleared for occupancy before you are allowed to go back in. In some cases the building may be written off at this point, too damaged by the fire and weakened considerably by the flames and heat.

In addition, contents of the business that survived the initial blaze may still become damaged in the aftermath of a fire due to contamination by smoke, soot, and toxic fumes produced as a result of the fire as well as water damage caused by extinguishing the fire.

A professional restoration provider should be hired to conduct fire damage assessments, because most of the time, fire damage goes beyond the surface. They will be able to determine what can be saved, what can be repaired, and what should be discarded. Professional providers can also determine the best course of action regarding the restoration process.

The company's insurance provider should be notified as soon as possible following the blaze, and the company should have a detailed inventory of all items on the business property. This will prove invaluable when it comes to proper compensation.

Movement should be kept to a minimum and HVAC filters replaced often as they will quickly become clogged with soot and other particles lingering in the air. Placing cheesecloth over air filters will also help remove soot from the air.

Electrical appliances and switches should be avoided, since there is serious risk of electrical shock, as well as the ignition of any leaking gas fumes.

Restoration specialists employ the most cutting edge tools and procedures when it comes to commercial fire damage repair, so be sure to secure the talents of a local, certified, insured restoration company.

Recommended Reading
Consequences of Fire Damage in Office Buildings
Office Building Fire Damage Preparedness and Education