Yes. When smoke or fire-related contamination reaches a commercial HVAC system, components or ductwork may require professional evaluation and cleaning before the system returns to normal service. Because HVAC systems connect multiple areas of a facility, the concern can extend beyond the room where the fire occurred. For an engineering or facilities team, the key issue is not simply whether smoke is … [Read more...]
Can Smoke Damage a Commercial HVAC System?
What to Do After a Fire in a Commercial Building: A Facility Manager’s Guide
After a commercial building fire, the facility team's first responsibility is to follow emergency authorities' direction and keep people away from areas that have not been cleared for access. Once appropriate access is established, the focus shifts to securing the property, understanding the extent of damage, protecting critical assets, establishing operational priorities and developing a coordinated recovery … [Read more...]
Fire Sprinkler Water Damage: What Facility Managers Should Know
Fire sprinklers and firefighting operations play a critical life-safety role during a fire. After the incident, however, the water used to control the fire can become a second property-recovery challenge. Facility managers may need to address water affecting ceilings, walls, floors, contents and building systems, even in areas with little or no direct flame damage. That means commercial fire recovery often … [Read more...]
Fire Damage Goes Beyond the Burn Area: What Facility Managers Need to Know
The area visibly burned during a commercial fire does not necessarily define the full scope of the loss. Smoke and soot can reach adjoining spaces, firefighting and sprinkler water can affect building materials and contents, and interconnected building systems may require evaluation before normal operations resume. For facility managers, the important question is therefore not simply “What … [Read more...]
Holiday Fire Safety and Prevention
Fire Safety During the Holidays: Preventing and Handling Fire Damage The holidays are a time that we look forward to celebrating with family and friends. When you think of the holiday season, you probably think about eating good food, having lots of laughs and spending time with the ones you love. One thing that probably doesn’t come to the top of your mind is holiday fire safety. Fire safety should be something … [Read more...]
Common Fire Safety Violations in Commercial Buildings
Avoiding Disaster: Common Fire Safety Violations in Commercial Buildings Just like any other type of disaster – you cannot predict when or if a fire will breakout in your commercial building or property. That is why preparing your business for fire safety in buildings and facilities is key. Did you know that more than 100,000 fires occur annually? While the frequency of commercial fires has decreased slightly … [Read more...]
How to Remove Smoke Odor After a Fire
How to Remove Smoke Odor After Fire Fires are unpredictable and devastating. The safety of the home or facility’s occupants is the first priority, but the damage can cost a homeowner or an organization significantly. Even if your home isn’t directly affected by a fire, it can still remove smoke odor damage from a nearby fire. Before we can talk about how to get rid of it, let’s discuss the nature of the smell … [Read more...]
Wildfire Smoke Damage & Restoration
Restoring Your Property After Wildfire Smoke Damage Wildfires are a major risk for homeowners and business owners throughout the United States. The frequency, size and intensity of wildfires differs by year, but the most severe wildfires have occurred in the past decade. All 50 states have experienced wildfire damage at some point in the past 10 years, however wildfires are extremely common in the Central and … [Read more...]
Filing a Fire Commercial Insurance Claim | BMS CAT
Things to Consider When Filing Commercial Fire Damage Insurance Claim Fires are unpredictable and devastating. The safety of a building or facility’s occupants is the priority after commercial fire damage, but the damage can cost an organization significantly. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there has been a 22% increase in nonresidential building fires and losses for the 10-year period of 2011 to 2020. … [Read more...]
What Are the Health Risks of Living With Smoke Damage?
Living with smoke damage is not only uncomfortable but it can also pose risks to your health. Knowing what risks smoke damage in your home can pose to your health may be just the push you need to get your smoke damage cleaned up and taken care of. Respiratory Issues The first major health risk is problems with your breathing. Though the smoke is no longer present, the effects of the smoke linger in furniture, … [Read more...]
Learn How Puff Back Fires Originate And Tips For Reducing Your Potential Risk
Original post: 11/06/2013 If your home has an oil-burning furnace, there are several dangers to know. Any furnace can experience a puff back. While puff backs are more common with oil systems, a furnace puff back can also occur with forced air, gas, and hot water heating systems. A puff back in a furnace is a volatile explosion that occurs inside your furnace. The result of this explosion is fire and smoke being … [Read more...]
Things to Know Before Fire Damage Cleanup
There are fewer things more difficult to watch than flames cover your home or business. And after the fire trucks leave, there's still more destruction to face – your burnt structure and belongings, perhaps charred beyond repair. If you're lucky enough to escape with just minor damage, there may still be smoke and soot contamination and water damage from the firefighting efforts to deal with. Luckily, with the … [Read more...]