How Smoke and Fire Damage Can Affect Your Commercial Property

Running a business is challenging enough, but when an unexpected fire strikes your property and you’re faced with commercial fire damage, it can quickly become overwhelming. From that moment, it’s a race against time to restore your property whilst minimising business interruption and preventing financial loss.

Fire is an incredibly destructive force, leaving behind catastrophic damage when it rips through a business. From damaged contents, to walls enveloped with soot and unsafe structures, the impact can be widespread and extremely costly to restore.

Maintaining business continuity after such devastation is often crucial for a company’s survival. According to statistics from The Cheshire Fire Service, 25% of businesses never reopen following a severe fire and of the remaining companies, 80% are likely to go out of business if they take longer than a month to recover.

Professionally led commercial fire damage restoration is absolutely vital to restore your business to normal operations both quickly and efficiently. Smoke and fire damage can leave extensive and long lasting damage to your commercial property and knowing what to expect in the coming days and weeks can help you to manage the fallout.

Our experts are giving you a helping hand by outlining exactly what can and should happen when commercial fire damage has occurred. Here we will outline:

• Types of Commercial Smoke and Fire Damage
• Timeline of Smoke and Fire Damage To Your Commercial Property
• Effects Of Smoke and Fire Damage To Your Commercial Property
  • 1. Smoke Inhalation
  • 2. Invalid Insurance Claim
  • 3. Business Operation
  • 4. Damage To The Stock And Property
• How To Clean Up Smoke and Fire Damage To Your Commercial Property
• How To Prevent Commercial Property Fires
  • 1. Reduce Fire Hazards
  • 2. Install Safety Equipment
  • 3. Install Sprinklers
  • 4. Ensure Dust Extractors Are Maintained And Cleaned
• Does Liability Insurance Cover Fire Damage?
• How Rainbow Restoration Can Help

Types of Commercial Smoke and Fire Damage

The types of smoke and fire damage that occurs within your building depends on what types of items and materials burned in the fire.

The more common types of smoke and fire damage found in commercial buildings are:

• Protein smoke
• Dry smoke
• Wet smoke
• Fuel smoke

Knowing what material has burned in the fire is important in supporting the restoration process, as smoke and soot cleaning can be a complex and arduous process to get right.

Protein smoke is most commonly produced in cooking accidents in kitchens and creates greasy and difficult-to-see smoke and soot particles. The signs of it include discolouration and a strong smoke smell, as the result of organic material burning in a low-heat fire.

Dry smoke is powdery in texture, rather than greasy and doesn’t smell as much as other types of smoke either. It is produced by fast-burning, high-temperature fires that are usually caused by wood or paper materials.

Because of its powdery texture, dry smoke gets into all types of nooks and crannies and its acidic nature is known to damage electrical goods.

Wet smoke is produced by low-heat and slow-burning fires from materials such as rubber and plastic damage and is greasy, thick, black and incredibly strong in odour. It’s very difficult to clean and will leave rust and corrosion behind if not dealt with properly.

Fuel smoke is self-explanatory and comes from burnt fuels such as oil, petrol or kerosene. Fuel smoke is characterised by the thick and sticky residue that harbours a pungent smell and is known to ruin almost anything it touches if not removed quickly.

If your business’ commercial building houses these types of fuels, there should be strict fire prevention measures already in place.

The Timeline of Damage to a Commercial Property

It is crucial to swiftly begin the restoration process after the fire is extinguished. Smoke and fire damage can quickly worsen over time if not addressed promptly, leading to more extensive and costly repairs.

In the first few minutes, the fire and smoke will cause discolouration of any remaining materials. Damage will be caused to anything in close proximity to the burnt elements that will have been consumed by the flames.

As the hour’s pass, the stains will become more pronounced and smoke particles will begin to settle into any porous materials left in the building. Metals will tarnish whilst appliances and furniture may also become discoloured.

In the upcoming days, it is essential to have professionals handle the aftermath. Smoke and soot can permanently discolour any walls and ceilings affected, rust will begin to build up and the scent of smoke and burning will start to permanently set in.

Effects of Smoke and Fire Damage on your Commercial Property

The effects of smoke and fire damage to your commercial property can vary depending on the type of smoke damage and the types of materials that are burnt.

The effects of commercial fire damage will still be devastating if not handled correctly and can impact your business severely, regardless of the type of smoke and fire. Overall, smoke is acidic and the resulting damage will slowly corrode the building, damage electrical appliances and a strong scent will set into the remains.

These types of issues can take a long time to resolve if they’re not handled by a professional, so get in touch with Rainbow Restoration today if you need support.

Smoke Inhalation

Smoke inhalation isn’t just about having a cough or a tight chest for a few weeks. Smoke from any fire is made up of toxic materials that can be hazardous to both our health and the building itself.

These chemicals can have painful and often long-lasting negative health consequences, including:

Irritation

Your skin and eyes are the barriers to the inside of your body and will often be the first thing that smoke and soot interact with on your body. The chemical compounds that make up smoke can irritate your skin and eyes, leading you to develop rashes or even more severe eye issues in the future.

Breathing Problems

If you’re directly near a burning fire or you enter a fire-damaged building without professional equipment you will be likely to breathe in smoke and soot particles.

These toxic chemicals will irritate your respiratory system, from your nose to your lungs, causing a burning sensation and persistent coughing. If left untreated, this irritation can worsen, potentially leading to more severe and complex health issues over time.

Invalid Insurance Claim

Documenting evidence of the smoke and fire damage across the entire commercial property is so important to avoid an invalid insurance claim.

Commercial fire damage restoration and smoke cleaning can be very expensive due to the size of business properties and the contents within them.

To be able to maximise your chances of a full insurance pay out, begin documenting evidence where you can. Only approach what is safe to do so and take detailed pictures – instruct a professional to take pictures for evidence in the areas that you cannot reach.

It’s important to read your policy documents thoroughly to understand your coverage and be fully aware of potential issues that could arise from underinsurance.

Business Operation

Operations will also struggle to continue if you only use your commercial building to conduct business and have no other premises. If this is the case, carefully document times that you were not able to operate within, then make all of the necessary communications to suppliers, contractors and customers to set a date of return.

All of these measures will immediately relieve you of unnecessary stress and also provide you with a stronger standing if you’d like to claim back any profit loss from stalled business operations.

Damage to the Stock and Property

The effects of commercial fire damage also extend to the stock and property owned by your business.

Content restoration is an important part of any kind of commercial fire damage restoration process as a business’ value is often directly tied to the stock and property they own. Professional restoration experts will remove any undamaged contents for safe storage elsewhere and will then proceed with the removal and restoration of the remaining damaged stock and property.

From here, they will make every effort to clean up any smoke and fire damage to ensure a safe to return to the building. Food and drink products are not safe to be restored if they have been contaminated by smoke and fire and will likely be disposed of.

How to Clean Commercial Fire and Smoke Damage

Cleaning up smoke and fire damage in a commercial property is often a lengthy and complex process, but there are strategies to speed it up while ensuring optimal results.

Hiring professionals experienced in commercial fire damage restoration will save you time and money while helping prevent long-term health risks. By managing the restoration process efficiently, they allow you to solely focus on running your business, helping to reduce both costs and downtime.

Restoration experts would typically start by encouraging air circulation within the property to reduce the smell of smoke. Doors and windows will be opened to introduce airflow and high-powered, industrial fans will be used to assist the process.

From here, air ducts will be inspected to spot any signs of smoke and soot particles that may be stuck to its walls. Air filters will also be cleaned and replaced and air sanitiser will be sprayed to further reduce the odour and initiate the cleaning process.

Clean-up efforts will then commence, with unsalvageable items – such as parts of the building, furniture, stock and materials – disposed of carefully. Any remaining contents that is able to be restored will be taken away from the building to address once the property is safe to enter.

Cleaning up smoke and soot can be an extensive process, often requiring a variety of techniques for different materials and surfaces. Painted surfaces will be sealed, appliances will be reviewed, restored and PAT tested and all remaining evidence of the fire will be thoroughly scrubbed.

How to Prevent Commercial Property Fires

Prevention of commercial fire damage is essential if you’re to avoid disruption to your business, costly restoration services and unnecessary stress.

You can lessen the chances of a fire occurring within your commercial property by implementing the following expert advice:

1. Reduce Fire Hazards

The first step may sound obvious but it is essential – often being missed by people who may not be aware of the different fire hazards.

Reducing fire hazards includes minimising and taking safety precautions with the following:

• Arson
• Cooking
• Smoking materials
• Open flames (candles/incense/fire pits)
• Electrical hazards (wiring, appliances and equipment)
• Residential furnishings
• Accumulation of combustible materials
• Improper handling and storage of combustible/flammable liquids
• Use of halogen lamps
• Space heaters
• Hot work hazards (cutting, welding)

2. Install Safety Equipment

Safety equipment should always be easily accessible in any workplace. This includes apparatus such as fire extinguishers for the different types of fire, fire blankets and fire buckets.

However, simply having this equipment on site is not enough to avoid damage. Anyone present in the building should know where the nearest safety equipment is, the safe way to use it and the steps they should take once the fire has been extinguished.

3. Install Sprinklers

Sprinklers can be an expensive addition to a property, but they can stop a fire from spreading from room to room. This will save you money from damaged building elements and stocks, but most importantly, sprinklers can save lives.

4. Ensure Dust Extractors are Maintained and Cleaned

Dust extractors are a great way to ensure your workplace is clean and sanitary, providing a better work environment for your employees. They’re especially important if your business is using commercial property to manufacture products where dust and particles are often released into the air.

However, dust can act as fuel when left to build up inside of dust extractors, a simple ignition can cause a huge fire that will burn hot and quick. Cleaning ducts regularly and having strict maintenance schedules will avoid this build-up and lessen the chances of a fire.

Does Liability Insurance Cover Fire Damage?

Whether your insurance covers fire damage due to liability depends entirely on the specifics of your insurance policy.

Insurance policies have their limitations and exclusions, so it’s crucial to understand the details of yours. Knowing how these factors impact your pay out is essential for making informed decisions following the damage.

How Rainbow Restoration Can Help

Rainbow Restoration’s team has decades of experience handling commercial fire damage restoration.

Supporting businesses during these challenging and stressful times is a key part of our job. It’s crucial that you trust the individuals handling the restoration of your property, and ensuring that trust is of utmost importance to us.

Our experts have all of the professional equipment and technical knowledge needed to swiftly restore the property and spot any potential problems that you could be facing down the line.

For premium results, protection against costly future damage and the confidence that your business can resume operations smoothly, Rainbow Restoration is the service you need.

Get In Touch With Rainbow Restoration For Expert Help!

Our team of experts understand how important your business is to you and how speed is of the essence so you can get back to regular operations. They’ll be ready to tackle any type of fire damage and smoke restoration and will support you throughout the entire process.

For more information on the prevention of property fires, be sure to check our dedicated resource ‘Be Fire Ready‘.  If your commercial property has been unfortunate enough to have been effected by a fire – our national helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year, so please do not hesitate to contact us on 01623 422488.