Three Categories of Water Damage

6/8/2017 (Permalink)

A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage in an affected area. According to IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration, there are three categories of water that cause damage in buildings. They are summarized as Follows:

1. Category 1 Water: That which is clean at the releasing source and does not pose a hazard if consumed by humans. Category 1 Water may become progressively contaminated as it mixes with soils on or within floor coverings or building assemblies (walls, decking, and sub-flooring). Time and temperature, which promote the growth and amplification of microorganisms in water, can cause category 1 water to degrade. Some examples are burst water pipes, failed supply lines on appliances, vertically falling rainwater. 
2. Category 2 Water: That which begins with some degree of contamination and could cause sickness or discomfort if consumed by humans. As with category 1 water, time and temperature can cause category 2 water to become progressively more contaminated. 
3. Category 3 Water: That which is highly contaminated and could cause death or serious illness if consumed by humans. Examples: Sewage, rising flood water from rivers and streams, ground surface water flowing horizontally into homes. There are two ways in which water enters a building as a result of wind storm damage.