Post-Fire Assessment
If your home or office has been damaged by a wildfire or structural fire, the restoration process is just one part of recovery. Fires and smoke can leave behind hidden combustion by-product hazards, including exposure to harmful toxins created by burned materials, such as industrial products or household items. These dangers are often overlooked if the property isn’t thoroughly assessed after the fire, potentially posing long-term risks to you and others.
MACS Solution
Material Analysis Consulting Service (MACS) tests a variety of materials that are present in post-fire situations. The identification of these materials is critical not only for health and safety, but also because understanding the nature of an exposure can help guide the cleaning process and decrease the overall cost of renovation.
MACS’ post-fire testing procedure identifies the presence of combustion by-products on building components, as well as on the furniture, clothing and other soft elements affected by fire and smoke. These components may contain high amounts of ash, soot and char material embedded within clothing and furniture fibers. In addition, the air inside a burned structure may contain high levels of volatile organic compounds, asbestos, and other respiratory irritants and toxins. MACS conducts air sampling inside burned areas to identify any immediate danger to individuals who enter the burned site.
When combined, these analytical tools are indispensable in understanding post fire exposure, and in determining a cost-effective course of action for restoration and renovation.
Initial Survey & Report
MACS’s fire impact analysis includes the following:
1. Visual Assessment: MACS’ visual assessment identifies the presence of ash, soot, and charred materials (char) within fire-impacted areas. The presence of these materials is documented and then used to develop a sampling plan for combustion by-products.
2. Tape Lift Samples: MACS collects tape-lift samples for the analysis of combustion by-products. The location of these samples is determined by the visual assessment and is intended to help cleaning and remediation companies identify which areas are a priority during the post-fire cleanup.
3. Micro-vac Samples: MACS collects micro-vac samples on porous surfaces. The location of these samples is determined by the visual assessment and is intended to help the cleaning company identify what furniture, clothing and other soft materials may undergo a cleaning process, as well as identifying any materials that will be thrown away.
4. Wipe Samples: Wipe samples are collected to analyze potential contaminants and toxins present in settled dust and particulate matter. Samples are collected on a case-by-case basis, according to the needs of the client and the nature of the fire. MACS collects samples for the following toxins and contaminants:
Asbestos wipe samples may be an important part of the investigation in situations where there have been structural fires, particularly in buildings constructed prior to 1980 when the use of asbestos in building materials was more common.
Heavy Metals wipe samples may also be an important part of the investigation in situations where there have been structural fires where large amounts of metal from structural beams, cars, etc. There are 17 regulated metals in California, including lead. This analysis targets the presence of these regulated metals.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are present in both wildfires and structural fires and are a common by-product of the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Studies have shown that PAHs are commonly present in household dust. There are various health complications or PAHs, as many are carcinogenic and contribute to cardiovascular disorders, and problems with fetal development.
Analysis for VOC’s and Lithium-ion debris are also available.
Comprehensive Clearance Surveys
MACS offers a comprehensive clearance survey when the cleaning and restoration process is complete. Clearance sampling is an important step in determining if the home or place of business is ready to be reinhabited. The clearance comes with a certificate that certifies the cleaning work has been completed according to specifications, and that all targeted contaminants are below regulatory limits and industry standards.
Professional Reporting
What sets MACS apart from our competitors is our responsive communication and same-day service options. We have the capability of expediting our services to get you results fast. This allows the cleaning and remediation company to begin the cleaning and renovation process in a timely manner. In addition, we have a qualified team of certified technicians who are trained to address the regulatory compliance issues that come with taking samples to respond to fire disturbance.