Increased incidences of flooding, combined with the effects of other extreme weather events on pipes and building fabric, means restoration of water-damaged properties is in the spotlight.

While builders will come across problems related to water damage on a regular basis, the importance of applying specific procedures when dealing with leakage, flood damage and residual damp is not always understood.

A professional approach to drying out properties affected by water ingress is essential if secondary damage and subsequent side effects are to be avoided.  As a high proportion of water damage is dealt with under an insurance claim, insurers are looking to ensure contractors are properly qualified to deliver appropriate and cost effective results.

Insurers now recognise the benefits of professional damage management and understand that recovery and restoration services, particularly in relation to water and fire damaged properties, should not be undertaken without appropriate knowledge and expertise.    

Any contractor offering this type of service should be aware of the need to acquire specialist training and professional qualifications before undertaking restoration of both water and fire damaged properties.  Some insurers already require proof of expertise in this area and, as efforts are made to establish clear protocols for responding effectively to surge events such as major flooding, the demand for professional expertise and minimum standards will increase.

OLD HABITS DIE HARD
‘Stripping out’ is a practice that has been hotly debated over the past couple of years and is now acknowledged as unnecessary and inadvisable in the majority of water damage cases.  It has been argued that ripping out plaster, and the ensuing reinstatement process, is less costly than applying the latest advanced drying techniques.  However, this is a misleading assumption, especially bearing in mind the insurers’ objectives of keeping the overall claims cost as low as possible, while achieving increased customer satisfaction.

The fact is that a modern scientific approach to drying out results in overall savings, with property owners returning to their homes or businesses within a much shorter period of time.  An example of work carried out after the recent flooding in Cumbria confirms this principle.

Through a combination of flood resilient restoration put in place after the 2005 floods and the use of the advanced drying systems, elderly residents of a housing association complex in Keswick were back in their homes after 21 days, in spite of experiencing over a metre of flood water.  All the properties had suffered a similar incident in 2005 but on that occasion the residents had been in alternative accommodation for 9 months.

In terms of the overall claims cost therefore it is necessary to look at more than just the direct cost of the contractor element of the damage management process.  Massive savings can be achieved on alternative accommodation, loss of rent, business interruption, etc., combined with a greatly improved customer experience, which more than justify the potentially higher unit cost of a more scientific approach to drying out.

In order to fully understand the advances in moisture measurement and drying technology, many insurers and loss adjusters are now undergoing damage management training to assist them in identifying industry best practice and enabling them to challenge inappropriate procedures, including unnecessary stripping out.

DO THEY MEAN ME?
Dealing with water and fire damage has always required specialist knowledge but, at a time when dialogue between contractors and the wider insurance industry is leading to a better understanding of recovery and restoration processes, it is more important than ever for contractors to prove they are competent and qualified to deliver effective and appropriate solutions.

So, if you have worked on buildings that have been damaged by fire or water, there are some questions you might want to consider.  Have you been trained to carry out this type of work?  Do you understand the scientific and technical principles that should be applied from the start?  Are you working to damage management industry best practice?  Since the insurance industry is continually striving to improve service delivery, and available technology is regularly tested and reviewed, it is essential that contractors are able to respond professionally and meet current expectations.

Many building contractors are now realising they need to develop additional skills if they are to undertake this type of recovery and restoration work with confidence.  As recognition of the damage management sector grows and new processes are developed, should you be taking fire and water damage more seriously?

Claire Johnson, Editor of ‘RECOVERY’, the Damage Management Magazine. 

Further information and a free copy of Recovery Magazine can be requested via the British Damage Management Association (BDMA) website at www.bdma.org.uk or by email to info@bdma.org.uk