Fire Loss
Thermal damage
Damage from elevated temperatures, direct flame or convection causing degradation and distortion of materials. Most thermal damage is visibly recognizable, however, for many critical electrical and electronic components, elevated temperatures can distort plastic housings and miniaturized circuitry which is not visibly observable. Observation of materials throughout a facility can establish a heat pattern throughout the building which can be used to determine the extent of damage to all types of equipment and MEP installations.
Non-Thermal Damage
(Acid Contamination)
Many types of materials decompose during a fire incident. Different materials produce varying gases during this process. Certain types of gases will interact with moisture in the environment to generate acidic solutions. These solutions can cause corrosion of exposed metal surfaces, and will typically continue to regenerate until properly neutralized. Continental Machinery has proven methods and neutralizing chemicals to properly restore equipment, contents and tooling from acidic contamination.
Moisture Exposure
(Sprinkler / Firefighting)
Direct water exposure from fire suppression systems and firefighting efforts can enter cracks and crevices of equipment. The full extent of this water distribution is necessary to determine the scope of repair for equipment and MEP installations. Moisture exposure from standing water and condensation inside facilities after a loss contribute to damage that will require assessment to determine the proper scope of repair. Moisture and condensation exposure are critical for electronic assemblies with environmental specifications warning against moisture levels exceeding certain parameters. Once condensation wets chemicals on equipment surfaces, the corrosion process can begin. In addition, as certain materials become wet, they can expand and deteriorate precision alignments and/or circuitry.
Soot / Char Contamination
Combustion by-products created during a fire will distribute and contaminate facilities and equipment. Air circulation will distribute soot and char throughout a facility and enter crevices and cracks. Proper analysis is required to determine the full extent of distribution throughout a facility. Tape lifts and microscopic analysis can be used with contouring software to identify this distribution. Proper removal and cleaning procedures are necessary to remove soot contamination from equipment due to its conductive and hygroscopic characteristics.