Categories of Water Damage; Clean Water Sourced Water Damages Are Often More Dirty Than You Think

The IICRC S500 defines Category 1 water damage as water that “originates from a sanitary water source and does not pose a substantial risk from dermal, ingestion, or inhalation exposure.” The keywords here are “sanitary water source” and “does not pose a substantial risk”. That is why this water is considered “clean”. It is also why a restoration contractor like Tri State Restorations can theoretically salvage and dry affected building materials. Wet drywall, carpet, pad, hardwood flooring, and more can and are oftentimes dried and salvaged on Category 1 water damage incidents. While Category 1 is classified by the IICRC as “Clean Water,” it’s important to know that this classification is only specific to the water source, (i.e.: Water Supply Line), and not the affected building materials it has migrated through. This is where a true professional comes in. While the water source is “clean”, the affected materials it touches and migrates through include: carpet & padding, lead paint, asbestos containing materials & mastic, plus many other miscellaneous building materials. You also need to keep in mind that water is also migrating through contaminants within your building materials, including Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and organic agents (pet dander, urine, etc.). Certain materials such as concrete, plaster, ceramic tile and brick may even require specialty equipment and drying methods to properly mitigate damages.