Patrick Moffett
Senior Environmental/Industrial Hygienist, Blue Sky Environmental Consulting
What do you consider the most important tools for fire and smoke damage restoration, and why? What advancements to fire and smoke damage restoration tools stand out in your mind, or would you like to see?
Q:
A:
I have had success using vapor steam cleaning (VSC) at 200F to 300F. VSC is able to collect and remove smoke film residue while neutralizing smoke odor compounds at the surface and in pores of painted drywall, for example. This process was highly successful in removing protein odors, such as from a kitchen stove fire or a smoldering fire. I discovered VSC is highly effective in removing smoke odors and smoke film from ceiling, wall and hard-surface flooring impacted by a wildfire.
Staying with equipment, using electrostatic sprayers that produce a molecular polarity charge or a positive electrostatic charge, of a cleaner, disinfectant or deodorizing chemical on surfaces.
Another advancement is in smoke odor deodorization chemicals, where chlorine dioxide (ClO2) was successful in neutralizing (oxidizing) compounds that make up smoke. ClO2 can be used in a gas or a liquid. I find it most useful inside attics, crawlspaces, garages and neutralizing chemical odors inside interstitial spaces.
About Patrick
Patrick Moffett is an Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) instructor for water damage restoration, fire and smoke odor remediation, and applied microbial remediation. He is also a master restorer in water and fire. Moffett has authored five books, and hundreds of technical articles and white papers. He specializes in complicated small and large losses involving schools, hospitals, shopping centers and high-rise buildings; industrial commercial properties and factory losses; and catastrophic losses related to whole communities and cities. Moffett has experience as a member of AIHA, RIA, IICRC, AIA, AIQA and EIA. His credentials include but are not limited to: California Licensed General Contractor, Environmental/ Industrial Hygienist, OSHA Compliance Safety Trainer and Certified Master Restorer.