Resource Guide
Not all water is the same.
The restoration industry uses two scales from the IICRC S500 standard. Category describes how clean or contaminated the water is. Class describes how much water there is and how hard it will be to dry.
Categories: how contaminated is it?
Examples: Broken supply line, overflowing sink, rain through a window
Low risk. Most materials can be dried in place if handled quickly.
Examples: Dishwasher or washing machine overflow, toilet overflow with urine only, aquarium leak
Contains contaminants that can cause illness. Carpet pad is usually removed; surfaces are cleaned and treated.
Examples: Sewage, toilet overflow with waste, rising floodwater from rivers or groundwater
Grossly contaminated. Porous materials that touched it are removed; everything else is disinfected.
Water gets worse over time. Clean water left sitting for a couple of days, or water that passes through dirty materials, can become Category 2 or 3.
Classes: how much water, and how hard to dry?
Class 1
Small area, little absorption. Part of a room, mostly hard surfaces.
Class 2
A whole room or more. Carpet and pad wet, water wicked up walls less than 24 inches.
Class 3
The most water. Often from overhead; ceilings, walls, insulation, and floors all saturated.
Class 4
Specialty drying. Hardwood, plaster, concrete, or other dense materials that hold water deep.
We identify both on the first visit, and they shape your drying plan, your timeline, and what your insurance estimate includes.
Not sure what category your loss is?
Call us. Inspections are free for homeowners.
Call (206) 928-2937