Projects

Continuing Care Retirement Community Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration

Background – Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Need

In November 2022, a fire broke out in a unit on the 5th floor of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Annapolis, Maryland. It was the first major event the property ever had in its 25-year history under its current property/facility management structure. Over 40 units were affected, to varying degrees, with both fire and smoke damage, as well as water damage from the sprinkler system being set off by the fire. The extensive damage affected both the interior and exterior of the senior living property.

There were several unique challenges faced by the URI Team of commercial restoration experts, including:

Location

Located directly on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis, MD, albeit picturesque, the area is subject to humidity and other environmental or weather-related conditions that needed to be considered during the project completion.

Additionally, the property’s location in Annapolis, MD finds itself very close to the United States Naval Academy Campus. Each Spring, the Blue Angels host an annual air show during Naval Academy Commissioning Week – And there is a great view for the show from the community’s campus. They invite residents, their families, and even the public to attend and watch the show from their campus. When the fire broke out on the 5th floor, lots of smoke from the balcony caused damage on the outside of the building and our client wanted to ensure they put their best foot forward for the annual event.

Displacement of Residents

Continuing Care Retirement Communities offer a full continuum of healthcare services to their residents, from physical and occupational therapy and on-site wellness services to assisted living to comprehensive skilled nursing. The URI Team was provided a priority list for the displaced residents based on factors like severity of damage to their unit, health concerns, and more. Client communication was critical to keep residents informed throughout the process, while also requiring an enhanced level of customer service throughout the management of the project to accommodate the needs of the senior residents.

Client-Preferred Sub-Contractors Requirement

A client benefit of partnering with a commercially focused, full-service restoration contractor is working with one point-of-contact (in this case URI) that serves as a general contractor vetting and managing any required sub-contractors or specialty trades partners. However, there are cases where a client may require the use of their internal teams and/or preferred existing vendor relationships. For this job, only internal employees of our client or their preferred sub-contractors were required to be used, which had to be navigated by the URI Team of commercial property restoration experts.

Process – Emergency Response through Full-Service Reconstruction for Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration

With over 40 units affected by fire, smoke, and water damage, Unlimited Restoration provided a full slate of property restoration services, including:

• Emergency Response and Site Stabilization
• Securing Damaged Property
• Selective Demolition and Removal of Debris
• Water Extraction
• Structural Drying
• Moisture Level Monitoring
• Structural Restoration
• Full-Service Reconstruction
• Cleaning and Deodorization

One of the services performed – ice blasting on the building’s exterior – is highlighted below in more detail, as it required a high level of expertise and coordination due to many intricate moving parts to this portion of the project.

Restoration Technique Highlight – Ice Blasting

Ice blasting, also known as dry ice blasting, is a cleaning process that utilizes solid carbon dioxide (CO2) pellets as a blasting medium. It is widely used in commercial property restoration, particularly for addressing fire and smoke damage.

The process involves using specialized ice blasting equipment that combines compressed air and dry ice pellets. Dry ice is formed by freezing carbon dioxide gas at extremely low temperatures, resulting in solid CO2. These dry ice pellets are then accelerated through a high-velocity air stream and propelled onto the surface being cleaned.

The key benefits of ice blasting in commercial property restoration are:

1. Non-abrasive: Ice blasting is a non-abrasive cleaning method, which means it does not damage the underlying surfaces. It removes contaminants, such as soot, smoke residue, and fire damage debris, without causing further harm to the property.
2. Non-conductive: Dry ice is electrically non-conductive, making ice blasting a safe method to use around electrical components and systems. This is particularly important in fire-damaged areas where electrical systems may be compromised.
3. Environmentally friendly: Ice blasting is an environmentally friendly cleaning method. Dry ice pellets sublimate upon contact with the surface being cleaned, transitioning directly from a solid to a gas. It does not produce secondary waste or harmful chemicals, making it a sustainable option for property restoration.
4. Thorough cleaning: The high-velocity impact of the dry ice pellets effectively dislodges and removes contaminants from various surfaces, including walls, ceilings, floors, and equipment. It can reach into cracks, crevices, and hard-to-reach areas, ensuring a thorough cleaning process.
5. Odor removal: Ice blasting helps eliminate unpleasant odors caused by smoke and fire damage. The process can remove odor-causing particles from surfaces, resulting in a fresh-smelling environment.
6. Time-efficient: Ice blasting can significantly reduce cleaning time compared to traditional cleaning methods. It allows for rapid removal of contaminants, enabling faster restoration and minimizing downtime for commercial properties.

Ice blasting is commonly used in commercial property restoration after fire and smoke damage because it provides an effective and efficient means of cleaning and restoring surfaces. By using dry ice pellets, it offers unique advantages over traditional cleaning techniques, making it a preferred method for professionals in the industry. Our team is properly trained in all safety regulations and requirements for specialty services involved in the commercial restoration space to ensure safe working environments for our team and our clients.

Conclusion – Minimizing Disruption for Continuing Care Retirement Community & Residents

While this large-scale project had its unique challenges, the URI Team provided exceptional project management, commercial expertise, and customer service to the Continuing Care Retirement Community and its residents from initial emergency response all the way through full-service reconstruction. By deploying both industry-leading techniques and extraordinary client communication, the URI team helped to minimize disruption and get the community back to normal fast.

Unlimited Restoration, Inc. has proudly served commercial property clients, including numerous continuing care retirement communities, senior living, and assisted living facilities, since 1996 for their property restoration needs.

Should your commercial, industrial, or multi-family residential property experience fire and smoke damage, you can rest assured with Unlimited Restoration: We’re On It! Call our 24/7 Emergency Response Hotline for immediate assistance.