What is Fire Damage Restoration?
The purpose of fire damage restoration services is to recover and salvage damaged items and restore your home or property, so that it can be occupied safely from harmful smoke and soot.
Our staff are certified IICRC fire remediation and restoration experts. We work to the IICRC S700 standards.
Fire Remediation process:
- Assess the extent of the fire damage.
- Boarding or roof trap implemented.
- Water extraction.
- Pre-cleaning of smoke and soot damage to mitigate permanent damage.
- Stabilise, clean, and repair any structural damage.
- Removal of permanently damaged materials.
- Restoration and cleaning of damaged personal contents.
- Contents inventoried and stored.
- Restoration and cleaning of surfaces and objects affected by smoke & soot.
- Restoration of water damage due to extinguishing the fire.
- Removal and of smoke odours.
- De-Odorisation and preparation for any renovation works.
- Debris disposal.
Why use professional fire damage restoration services:
- Experienced fire and water remediation experts are quick responders. This quick response is essential to salvaging contents and mitigating further damage whilst ensuring the safety of the property and surrounding areas.
- Professional fire restoration companies use specialised equipment; PPE (personal protective equipment), and advanced cleaning products to remove soot and smoke damage, odours from surfaces, structural materials, household fittings and personal items.
- This specialised PPE equipment and advanced fire, soot and smoke cleaning products assist the restoration company during each stage of the fire restoration process and from the harmful carbon dioxide emissions.
- Fire restoration professionals also liaise closely with the home or property owner by assisting with decisions regarding the repair or replacement of certain components of their property, they can also assist with working with an insurer, if and when required.
- Choosing a reputable fire restoration company is recommended when dealing with the results of a fire, as they have knowledge of how to remediate various fire & water damaged items and materials that can cause toxins to be released.
Smoke & Soot Damage Remediation
An important factor of fire damage restoration is the removal of burned structural components such as walls, structural framing, ceilings, and floor coverings throughout the home, these need to be thoroughly inspected and replaced if any charring or warping is discovered.
If the structural components are salvageable, they are treated with deodorizers to remove any smoke odour.
Structural components that have been treated are then left to dry completely before they are sealed and covered with new plasterboard walls. It is important to remove the odour before installing new plasterboard, if not, the odour will continue to seep into the property.
Fire Damage Odour Removal
Deodorization is typically applied in the areas with the least damage first, progressing to the more damaged areas as the process continues.
It is best to have a specialised restoration professional carry out the deodorization to prevent health hazards or further damage to the property.
The property will be aired out during and after each phase of the restoration process to reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the new materials.
All removable personal items are often removed and stored safely off-site for when the property is ready to be occupied again.
Water Extraction & Remediation
Water is often present after a fire; this is common and normal.
Firefighters, sprinkler systems, burst water pipes or any first responders have likely left the property drenched with water after extinguishing the fire.
Extracting the water is important to prevent the growth of mould, bacteria and any further damage to the property.
Action plan following a fire
If your property has suffered damage due to a fire, we highly recommend that you do not enter the property until it is safe to do-so; this will depend on the severity of the fire.
If your property has been deemed unsafe to enter you may need to arrange temporary accommodation with friends or family or elsewhere read through the ‘what to do after fire’ checklist on the fire emergency New Zealand website.
How much does fire damage restoration cost?
Often a fire may start in one area of a property and may even be extinguished before the fire spreads elsewhere, however, soot and smoke odour can spread to other rooms and areas, which would then require remediation.
In other cases, the fire may spread rapidly to other areas and rooms prior to being extinguished. There are many variables to dealing with fire restoration that will affect the overall cost.
We recommend contacting a fire remediation company to discuss these costs and liaise with your insurer if you are insured.
Considering the above points, an initial survey is necessary before the fire remediation and restoration can be carried out.
Contact us with your fire remediation queries, we can help.
Fire Damage Remediation & Restoration FAQs
Can I do a DIY fire remediation?
DIY fire damage clean-up is not recommended, for various reasons.
Safety would be the first reason, as you could be exposed to dangerous toxins via soot or other fire-damaged materials, asbestos fibres could be present if there are asbestos-containing materials in the property.
Furthermore, special equipment is required for fire damage remediation, smoke & soot cleaning, such as PPE, RPE and other specialised cleaning products and deodorising products.
Items that are salvageable could be discarded or thrown away by mistake and the process may take much longer.
Is fire remediation covered by insurance?
The cost of fire remediation & restoration will depend on the coverage that is covered in the homeowner’s insurance policy. We recommend contacting your insurance provider in the event of a fire when fire remediation services are required.
Do you provide fire remediation for commercial properties?
Yes. We have remediated fire damage in large commercial buildings and properties. We have the right team and equipment to manage fire damage to any commercial property.
How do I secure my property and contents after a fire?
Fire restoration companies will often ‘board up’ window frames and fence off any other access points to prevent unwanted access or theft. We ensure this process is completed asap to ensure the safety of your property and salvageable items.
Do I really need professional fire remediation clean-up, even if the fire was small?
Safely cleaning the soot & smoke is often the most difficult part, even small fires can cause major damage and leave odours that linger if not cleaned up properly.
If you do not act quickly after the fire, soot and smoke can leave permanent damage. Fire restoration professionals have the equipment and knowledge to restore your home as fast as possible by mitigating further damage and loss.
Does NZRS work with Insurers for fire remediation and restoration?
Yes. We work closely with many New Zealand Insurers and are a preferred fire remediation service provider. We have worked on many remediation claims due to fire and know how to work effectively and thoroughly; we know the process of liaising together with the property owner and the insurer.
How long will the fire restoration take?
This all depends on the extent of the fire damage and scale of the remediation project. Professional fire restoration services are able to act quickly, and sufficiently whilst ensuring safety and standards are adhered to.
