Evaluations of Smoke Impacted Residences

Details:

Our methods combine structured recordings of observations and sampling with the principles of exposure banding.  Although the evaluation and assessment of impacted residences is an art and a science, investigations follow protocols, questionnaires, and checklists to accomplish the following:

Key elements of the investigation / evaluation:

• Conduct structured, logical, consistent, and largely objective evaluations of residences impacted by smoke and products of combustion.
• Combine observations and sampling results into a coherent method of describing the impacts that the subject property has undergone. 
• Reproducibility select the appropriate impact category according to our defined requirements for collecting offsite and onsite information, observations, and data.
• Determine appropriate contaminate screening levels to interpret the results from sampling.
• Use impact categories to objectively link the level of contamination impact found to a minimum set of required remediation and restoration requirements needed to return the affected residence back to a habitable condition. (We have identified authoritative screening guidelines and, in some cases, created scales from our own experience to ensure that any value obtained from our recommended sampling protocol can be appropriately interpreted and applied.)

Evaluation report:

The report should include off site research, onsite observations and results of sampling. It should combine observations and sampling results into a coherent method of describing the impacts that the subject property has undergone.

The evaluation and assessment report produced by the investigator should provide the necessary information to categorize the extent of impacts from fire-borne contaminants and thus be able to provide a basis for the public adjuster’s loss estimates.  The level of detail should be sufficient to assist with the remediation and restoration contractor’s efforts to create a comprehensive remediation / restoration plan.

The use of objective observational requirements and screening values for the results of sampling contaminants will provide needed criteria for supporting the determination of the impact category. These maybe used to objectively link the level of contamination impact found to a minimum set of required remediation and restoration requirements needed to return the affected residence back to a habitable condition.

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