1.1 WATER DAMAGE LIMITATION

Question 1

Triage assessment - what 3 things to consider?

Answer 1

1. Items requiring urgent attention to prevent secondary damage
2. Items beyond BER
3. Items not at risk of further damage.

Question 2

Water trapped behind panelling or boarding? How can this be considered?

Answer 2

• Investigate areas where you think water could be trapped behind panelling or pipe boxing

Question 3

Water trapped in floor insulation? How can this be considered?

Answer 3

• How is floor constructed?
• Is there insulation? Could it be trapped there?

Question 4

Carpet grippers? How can this be considered?

Answer 4

• Water may be trapped here
• Need thorough moisture meter reading

Question 5

Classification of water damage - Clean water?

Answer 5

• Directly from plumbing or appliances

Question 6

Classification of water damage - Grey water?

Answer 6

• Some level of contamination may be present
• EG EOW from washing machine, fish tank etc.

Question 7

Classification of water damage - black water?

Answer 7

• Water may be contaminated w unknown material eg sewage or storm water

Question 8

Classification of water damage - red water?

Answer 8

• External flood water, contaminated w known hazardous substance eg fuel oil or agricultural chemicals
• May need specialist contractor to deal with

Question 9

Why is care required when cleaning black or red contaminated water?

Answer 9

• Prevent risk of infection
• prevent risk from other contamination whilst cleaning is carried out

Question 10

In aged incidents, clear or grey water may transform to black water, why?

Answer 10

Microbial growth

Question 11

Do you need investigations when dealing with vertical leaks and why?

Answer 11

• Yes
• It can travel in routes not expected
• Need to investigate to ensure affected areas are located

Question 12

Why is determining the age of incidents important?

Answer 12

• PB could be wet & mould growth could have occurred on the other side
• Bacteria can reproduce very quickly

Question 13

What actions might you take after your RA for damage limitation? BUILDINGS(3)

Answer 13

1. Ensure electrical supply is safe, esp w vertical leaks
2. Release water in PB ceilings, puncturing small 10mm holes to release water
3. Extract or pump water from property

Question 14

What actions might you take after your RA for damage limitation? CONTENTS (7)

Answer 14

1. Place furniture on blocks that are at risk of absorbing moisture from flooring
2. Open doors & drawers of furniture to assist drying
3. Remove contents of secondary damage to dry environment
4. Remove saturated items
5. Control humidity
6. Docs/photos - polythene and freeze
7. Remove damp items from wood surfaces to prevent staining

Question 15

Water vapour moves through air in property and will move into unaffected rooms, what should you try and avoid for other unaffected rooms?

Answer 15

• Being cold and unventilated to prevent mould growth

Question 16

Once bulk of contamination has been removed, cleaning can start. What should be done? (4)

Answer 16

1. Flush surface w clean water and vacuum extract.
2. Apply alkaline detergent w further rinsing
3. Multiple applications of detergent & rinsing
4. QA results required to ensure done successfully

Question 17

Detergents can be effective if allowed what?

Answer 17

Time to do their job = dwell time.

Question 18

Why might a COSHH assessment be required? (2)

Answer 18

1. Company policy
2. Products are compatible w usage of the property

Question 19

How to control & reduce high humidity?

Answer 19

1.Ventilation to outside
2. Dehumidifiers
3. Heating and warmed low RH air

Question 20

Why should we be careful to use blowers w/o adequate humidity control, especially in the first hours/days

Answer 20

Can increase amount of airborne water causing secondary damage

Question 21

Lath & plaster ceilings, whats the risk? (2)

Answer 21

1. Can absorb large amounts of water
2. Can collapse due to this

Question 22

When does a water supply need to be isolated?

Answer 22

If damaged or if leaks haven’t been fixed

Question 23

Removal of skirtings & doorframes may be required, what should we ensure?

Answer 23

That we can’t decontaminate with jet washing instead

Question 24

What should we consider when removing wall render and plaster? (3)

Answer 24

1. Don’t take lightly
2. Increased costs of scope
3. Uninhabitable property - AA costs!

Question 25

Wall may be slow to dry because of permeance paint, what can you do with this? (3)

Answer 25

1. Puncture paint to allow moisture to leave more easily
2. Remove paint if practical
3. Use tented/envelope drying systems