Water Damage Mitigation – University Building

Though critical for fire protection, sprinkler malfunctions account for 14% of commercial water damage loss annually, according to Chubb. Recently, a DMV-area university client of Unlimited Restoration, Inc. (URI) witnessed firsthand how quickly a sprinkler break can become a serious water damage event at a commercial property requiring immediate water damage mitigation. This water damage mitigation project highlights the importance of swift response and professional knowledge to mitigate further damage to the property and minimize disruption for students, faculty, and staff of the institution.

What is Water Damage Mitigation?

Water damage mitigation is the process of preventing further water damage to a property by removing water and drying out affected areas. The goal is to reduce property loss and minimize damage. Water mitigation is usually the first step to take after a water leak or flood. It’s important to act quickly because the longer water sits, the more damage it can cause.

Recent Water Damage Mitigation Project

Building Type: University Science Center

Location: Washington, DC

Situation | Water Damage

On a weeknight evening, URI was notified of a sprinkler break in a science center on a university client’s campus affecting at least three floors of the building. The affected areas of the building included laboratories, offices, classrooms, stairwells, and the basement. The university has classes currently in session, so immediate response was required to help mitigate further damage and get the building back to normal operations as soon as possible.

Response by URI | Water Damage Mitigation

The URI Team provided the following services as part of the water damage mitigation project:

24/7 Emergency Response – To mitigate further damage and minimize disruption for the students, faculty, and staff.
Water Extraction: To remove all of the water already present on the first, second, and third floors of the building.
Disposal of Affected Materials: To dispose of the affected ceiling tiles that would not be able to be restored.
Cleaning and Application of Disinfectant: Cleaning and application of disinfectant to the surfaces of desk, workstations, and lab equipment, as well as all affected flooring.
Structural Drying: Cove base was removed from affected sheetrock and casework. Access holes were installed into the sheetrock to introduce drying and identify if the walls were insulated and/or double layer sheetrock. Drying equipment was placed throughout the first through third floors.

In this incident, water ran behind the walls of the labs and office areas, causing water to be trapped inside the channel of studs and causing moisture to wick into the walls. The site continued to drain down as water was escaping from walls and cavities. This required the URI team to be diligent in their monitoring of moisture levels and adjusting as necessary, including adding additional drying equipment or extracting additional water.

Conclusion

URI was proud to provide these water damage mitigation services and will now move into the full-service restoration portion of the project, which will include selective demolition, reconstruction, and any other required services to return the property back to pre-loss condition.

When the unexpected occurs, you can rest assured with Unlimited Restoration – We’re On It! Call our 24/7 Emergency Response Hotline for immediate assistance: 888.327.9664.

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