Category 1 2 3 Water Damage

The 4 primary classifications of water damage.

Category 1 2 3 water damage.

Category 2 water or grey water that is not promptly removed from the structure and or have remained stagnant may be re classified as category 3 water. Category 3 black water this is the. There are significant health risks as well as a high chance of injury associated with the water damage restoration process there are also additional health risks including severe illness and death associated with improperly drying the structure as there is the potential for toxic mold to be left behind as well as structural instability. This category includes water sources from sewage seawater rising water from rivers or streams storm surge ground surface water or standing water.

Category 2 water damage could be the result of broken dishwashers or washing machines overflowing toilets with urine only sump pump failures fire protection sprinkler water and chilled or condensate water. Time and temperature can also affect the quality of water thereby changing its category. Refer to the iicrc s500 for complete definitions. In the s500 water is described relative to its degree of contamination in 3 categories.

If it is not cleaned quickly it can degrade into category 2 leading to health issues for those inhabiting the structure. Once microorganisms become wet from the water intrusion depending upon the length of time that they remain wet and the temperature they can begin to grow in numbers and can change the. There is a high risk of injury or death to people livestock and pets from flying. Category 2 grey water damage water damage from a category 2 classification is from sources that have a level of contaminants that may cause illness or.

Category 1 or 2 water can deteriorate to 2 or 3 respectively. Exposure to this type of water may cause discomfort and sickness. The current standard that addresses water damage restoration is the s500 standard and reference guide for professional water damage restoration s500. Water grossly contaminated with bacteria can be perfectly clear category 3 water formerly referred to as black water is rarely black and category 2 water formerly referred to as gray water might not be gray.

S500 then defines the conditions under which an originally category 1 water damage loss might be considered to have changed its category of water to 2 or 3. Image by diego cervo for shutterstock. Class 1 is the least amount of water absorption and evaporation. It affects only part of a room or area or larger areas containing materials that have.

This category may include discharged water from the washing machine broken aquariums and leaking water beds. 1 in 1994 the iicrc made the decision to eliminate the use of gray and black water references in the professional standard because color based descriptions of the water were not accurate. Although this water is clean it does not come without risks.