Understanding Water Damage Classification

11/5/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage in a Montreat, NC retail store

How Water Damage May Be Assessed

Unexpected expenses are bound to pop up in any business. Water damage from a broken pipe or flooded home is one such expense. Water pipe repair, property repair and restoration by a professional restoration service in Asheville, NC, can all add up. Thankfully, hiring professionals who work with your insurance company can help reduce those costs. How much you spend on repairs can depend on the category and class of water damage, as well as other factors. Here is a brief introduction to how water damage may be assessed.

Categories
Water damage may be sorted into three different categories based on the water’s level of contamination and the risks created by how dirty it is:

• Category 1 damage is caused by "clean water," or water from a non-contaminated source that does not carry the potential to significantly harm human beings. "Clean" water sources include bathtubs, water supply lines, sinks, melted snow and rain.
• Category 2 damage may be attributed to "greywater." Water that is considered "grey" has a significant amount of contaminants like mold and bacteria that are capable of causing illness or discomfort in those who touch or swallow it. It has the potential to become Category 3 water and may come from washing machines, dishwaters and other dirty sources.
• Category 3 damage results from "black water," which is highly toxic and dangerous and flows from unsanitary sources like sewers or runoff contaminated floodwaters.
  

Classes
There are also four classes of damage based on the predicted rate of water evaporation: slow evaporation, fast evaporation, fastest evaporation and specialty situations.

Other Factors
Other factors that determine the level of water damage and how much you might pay for water pipe repair and other repairs include mold, the size of the affected area and location.
The level of water damage to your business plays a significant role in how much you will have to spend on expenses like water pipe repair, so it is important to have the damage assessed by professionals.