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Flooding health risks

Flood & Water Damage

The uncontrolled escape of water or ingress through flooding can cause serious long term structural damage and affect occupant health.

It may be a surprise but it is well known that a flooded home generally wet for more than 3 days should only be entered wearing special breathing apparatus. This current advice was originally provided by the respected building research group CIRIA as far back as 2002 and can be found on their web site (CIRIA Link) and (specific link). The advice was intended for builders and their employers who have a legal duty to protect workers from health risks under various legislation. This key advice was accepted and published with support of the Association British Insurers and Environment Agancy but unfortunately employement legislation does not cover the homeowner or tenant.

Water is the single most important component of all life forms and will trigger dormant spores and amplify bacterial growth.

Floodwater must be assumed to be contaminated with industrial chemicals , farm fertilisers, sewage or general pathogens from soil and sewers and can be found to contain up to 1500 viral and 120 bacterial infections.

The principle consultant of Building Forensics Jeff Charlton who was founder chairman of the BDMA has been critical of flood and water damage restoration in the UK for over a decade. The concerns are raised from audits and various investigations into the flood contractors and indeed industry methods and protocols in water damage restoration.

Building Forensics have no hesitation in stating that during 10 years of industry and flood claim audit, contractors generally, have not in our opinion, been seen to provide adequate or meaningful decontamination protocols and or provide certification of saniation or drying which could be substantiated. See the "Claimtech" audits of flood contractor actions in Carlisle and Cockermouth. Building Forensics provide expert appraisal and supportive evidence for litigation in claims for personal injury and material damage. (Link to Claimtech audits)

Calcium Carbide to Measure Moisture Content of Walls

Calcium Carbide to Measure Moisture Content of Walls

When a building gets wet, the water will usually travel in liquid form both vertically, up and down and sideways. Where temperature or air movement creates drying through evaporation, the water will travel in all directions to cooler and dryer areas, following the laws of physics.

When drying is initiated the contamination and water vapour (humidity) will become airborne and travel to previously unaffected areas and pose a health threat or cause uneccessary secondary damage.

Health Hazards of Flooding

Asthma.
Flu like symptoms
Lethargy and depression.
Heart disease, excema, hepatitis, various cancers possible although low risk
Multiple chemical sensitivity

We identify the true level of damage

Although visual inspection is important damage can be hidden and emerge later. Any contractor should measure for all possible hazards or contamination and scope of damage but not all do and we provide your assurance that restoration will be or has been undertaken professionally.

We investigate or inspect

General scope of works for latent or future damage potential
Structural components for moisture content
Presence of both live and dead mould (dead mould is more allergenic)
Presence or levels of bacteria
Presence of chemical contamination
Potential health hazards
Asbestos contamination from uncontrolled removal of materials such as “Artex”
Quality and safety of post flood remediation