Smoke Damage and How it Affects Your Commercial Building

6/4/2021 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO help you when it comes to commercial fire loss

If you have had a fire in your building then you will likely be dealing with some serious damage. While you are probably most concerned with the effects that the flames have had on your property, you should not discount the severity of smoke damage. This can often be overlooked, but smoke and soot are capable of causing secondary damage in a variety of ways. The following are some things that may be affected.

1. Surfaces
Because smoke travels further than flames, it can cause soot damage throughout the building, even if the fire was contained in one area. Soot carried by smoke contains acidic elements that can damage surfaces. It can cause rusting and deterioration of certain building materials and can also cause discoloration to walls, floors, and other items.

2. Electronics
Even if your computers and other electronic devices are not touched by the fire, they might be in danger of smoke damage. Smoke can easily fill small spaces in these objects, and you may not be able to tell immediately whether or not they were affected. Because of this, you should wait to use your electronics until they have been inspected by a professional. Turning them on can cause any smoke inside to spread and carry soot throughout their various components, leading to permanent damage.

3. The Air
Something else that you might not consider is how smoke and soot affect the air in your building. These particles can remain suspended in the air for an extended period of time, creating an unpleasant environment for you, your employees and anyone else who must spend time in the building. It can also cause lingering odors. Using a filtration system for additional smoke cleaning can reduce this.

After a fire, it is best to have a fire damage remediation company like SERVPRO of Clovis come in and perform smoke damage cleanup.