How Do I Keep My Building Secure After a Fire?

10/5/2022 (Permalink)

Board up all entrances and exits to the building, including windows and doors.

How Do I Keep My Building Safe Following a Fire?

When a building in Sharon Hill, PA is damaged by fire, there are many things that have to be done. First, the building needs to be assessed for safety, and then it should be repaired. It is also important to keep your building secure after a fire because you don’t want people entering it without permission. Here are some ways that you can keep your building secure after a fire:

Board Up All Openings in the Building

• Board up all entrances and exits to the building, including windows and doors.
• Board up all windows with boards that are at least 3/4 inch thick and use nails or screws at least 1 inch long to secure them tightly against the frame of each window. This is especially important if the glass has been broken during a fire.
• Board up all doors to your facility with plywood or other solid material, making sure that you cover any holes in your walls as well as doorways so there's no way an intruder can slip through unnoticed. If possible, replace damaged or missing door locks before boarding up these entrances.

Hire Security For the Building

Hiring security to guard your building can help deter criminals from breaking into it. Having a security guard on duty during the day and at night can also deter criminals. It’s also helpful to hire security for weekends, holidays, and any other time when employees are not there to watch over the premises.

Some types of buildings will be more secure than others, depending on their location and layout. For example:

• A store with an open floor plan may be easier for burglars to access than a store with offices in the back of the main room (where only employees have access).
• If your business is located in an area that doesn't see many police officers patrolling by regularly, hiring private security might be necessary because they'll be able to respond faster than the police would if something happened while they were away from their station house.

Install Video Cameras Inside and Outside the Building

Once you've got the fire under control and you're sure there are no other fires, it's time to secure your building. One of the most important steps in that process is installing video cameras inside and outside your building. Video cameras can help prevent theft, identify looters, identify people who are breaking into the building, and even identify people who are trying to help out but aren't authorized to be there. There are many different types of security cameras available on the market today, so it’s best to consult an expert if you have any questions about which one would be best suited for your needs.

It Is Important to Keep Your Building Secure After a Fire, Even if it has Been Damaged by the Fire

It is important to keep your building secure after a fire, even if it has been damaged by the fire. Fire damage can attract looters looking to steal from or destroy your building. 

Looters can endanger people inside the building, and they may be dangerous themselves. There are many ways you can protect yourself and make sure that you stay safe while protecting your property in this situation.

You should look into hiring an alarm company or security service to monitor the building for signs of break-ins, as well as any other threats such as vandalism or theft by employees. They will notify local authorities if anyone tries to enter without permission, so someone can intervene immediately before something bad happens to anyone inside during those few minutes before police arrive on the scene.

The Wide-Ranging Consequences of a Business Fire

8/15/2022 (Permalink)

Severe commercial fire damage in Southwest Philadelphia, PA.

The Wide-Ranging Consequences of a Business Fire

A business fire has the potential to cause significant harm to many areas of a company. These impacts often come in phases or waves. First, it is the property damage of a fire. Each year, U.S. businesses face more than $2 billion in damages due to fires. Then comes the hit to revenue if a company in Southwest Philadelphia, PA, is shut down for a period of time. A strong interruption insurance policy is designed to reduce this impact. This policy, usually added to the main policy as a rider or add-on, pays some or all of the company expenses while repairs to the building are being made.

The Necessity of a Rapid Fire Restoration
It always benefits a company's bottom line to hire a franchise experienced in emergency restoration services. A highly-trained crew that is certified by industry leaders can minimize the duration of a business interruption. They will work rapidly by following a proven process:

• Building inspection and assessment
• Action plan
• Water removal and drying
• Soot and smoke damage cleanup
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Structural repairs
  
  

While this is going on, interruption insurance will help pay the bills. Quick action and strong insurance can make the difference between a company surviving a fire or going out of business.

The Need for a Fire Prevention Plan
A fire is a potent adversary for any business. It can wreak havoc in many ways. A thorough fire prevention plan consists of many parts. The main goal is to prevent a fire from happening in the first place. If a fire does occur, it is important to minimize its impacts as much as possible. This is where fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems come into play. All of these precautions can reduce the severity of a fire.
Interruption insurance becomes a necessity in a large business fire. It allows a company to pay the bills until it gets back on its feet again.

How To Cover Commercial Flood Damage Costs

6/1/2022 (Permalink)

Flood insurance is especially helpful for property owners located within the flood zones indicated on FEMA maps.

How To Cover Flood Damage Costs In A Commercial Setting

Commercial building owners frequently fail to plan ahead for flooding. General commercial insurance policies that cover property damage often exclude floods and sewer backups.

Additional coverage through a supplementary policy or rider is necessary to cover damage resulting from these incidents at properties in Darby Township, PA.

Maintain Flood Insurance

The expenses of cleaning up flood damage and replacing property destroyed by contaminated water can rapidly rise to thousands of dollars. Any of the following measures may need to be taken:

• Extracting standing water
• Tearing out damaged materials
• Cleaning and disinfecting

Damage caused by flood water is excluded from most primary commercial property policies. It is necessary to have a separate flood policy through the FEMA-related National Flood Insurance Program or arrange with a private insurer to cover the cost of flood cleanup.

Carry Interruption Coverage

Neither general commercial insurance nor flood insurance policies will cover ongoing expenses or offset revenue lost during the period after a flood in which businesses may not be able to operate. An interruption insurance endorsement, rider or an additional policy may be necessary to keep affected operations afloat.

Make a Flood Claim

In the event that flooding damages a building, a property owner should make a flood claim. It is important to note that the NFIP typically has a 30-day waiting period for policies to go into effect. For this reason, it is a good idea to get flood insurance for a commercial property in an area that has an elevated risk of flooding sooner rather than later.

Building owners may want to obtain coverage through the NFIP or private insurers. Flood insurance is particularly helpful for owners of properties located within flood zones indicated on FEMA maps of Darby Township, PA. General commercial insurance property policies are also crucial. Supplementary sewer damage coverage can also help to ensure water damage from any source is covered.

Essential Tips To Prevent Business Fires

5/9/2022 (Permalink)

One of the leading causes of office fires is electrical malfunctions, but these can be prevented with heightened awareness and appropriate action.

Tips For Preventing Business Fires. 

An unexpected fire can be disastrous for any business, especially if you are not adequately prepared for one. Reduce your risk of emergency and keep your Collingdale, PA, business safe with these essential tips for fire prevention and damage reduction.

Stock Up On Business Fire Essentials

No matter what type of commercial space you're dealing with, never overlook stocking it with the necessary fire safety equipment. The right equipment can extinguish small fires before they develop into damaging conflagrations and reduce overall fire damage, which if severe enough, requires professional building restoration services. Having proper safety equipment can speed up the emergency response time as well.
Invest in keeping the following in your building at all times:

• Fire extinguishers, at least one per floor
  
• Smoke detectors
  
• Fire alarm system to notify personnel to evacuate in case a fire does break out
• Automated ceiling sprinklers

Determine Potential Causes

Fire prevention doesn't stop with having smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. It requires being consistently proactive in keeping the office space safe. Consider every factor that may lead to combustion, from electrical wiring to the use of flammable liquids or even a stray cigarette.
Once you've determined all potential causes, establish protocols to reduce the chance of flames breaking out. This may include replacing wiring, storing liquids in safe spaces and creating a designated smoking area with proper receptacles.

Be Aware of All Things Electric

One of the leading causes of office fires is electrical malfunctions, but these can be prevented with heightened awareness and appropriate action. Be mindful of the electronic and electrical equipment in your surroundings and note any hazards you see, such as a damaged outlet or an overheated appliance. Noticing these concerns early and taking measures to fix them can lower the risk of an electrical fire.

Don't let your business go up smoke by ignoring these important fire prevention measures. Protect your space with the proper emergency equipment, be attentive to electrical hazards and identify solutions for all potential causes.

3 Commercial Liability Risks Associated With Mold

4/1/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO to help you with the proper mold remediation by using specified equipment and antimicrobial chemicals to prevent any more growth.

Mold Poses Three Commercial Liability Risks

If you own or manage a commercial building or multifamily dwelling, you may want to know more about your potential liability for mold. Structures with numerous occupants who could be exposed to black mold or any other species have different levels of liability based on usage. Here are three potential liability risks that could be relevant for a building located in Essington, PA.

1. Failure To Inspect and Address the Problem

A landlord who refuses to respond to tenant reports of water damage or mold in a timely manner may be held liable for mold damage and exposure. Multifamily residential buildings often have more implications in terms of liability than commercial leases. The terms of a commercial property lease may assign liability for water damage caused by fixtures or structural systems and any secondary mold damage.

2. Negligence In Property Maintenance

Failure on the part of a building owner or manager to maintain a property may increase liability. Depending on the terms of a lease, structural systems such as plumbing may be the responsibility of owners, whereas lessees may be liable for damage inside a property.

3. Refusal To Remediate Mold Damage

Visible mold or hidden growth discovered during an independent inspection could be held against a property owner who refuses to pay for mold remediation. The degree of liability depends on the extent of an infestation and the type of fungus. Mold that has spread throughout a structure or a toxigenic black mold infestation may prove more costly.

As soon as a commercial or residential tenant reports water damage at a building in Essington, PA, building maintenance should respond in a timely manner. Mold may start growing within just 48 to 72 hours after moisture levels rise. A lack of response and general negligence may make a property owner more liable for black mold or other potentially harmful fungus.

How To Know if Belongings Should Be Restored or Replaced

3/13/2022 (Permalink)

Restoring items is less expensive than replacing them. SERVPRO saves you money by repairing as many items as possible rather than replacing them.

How To Decide Whether To Restore Or Replace Your Belongings

If your business in Folcroft, PA, has suffered from water or fire damage, you may be struggling to figure out what items should be replaced and what items should be restored. It can be difficult to figure out which option will be more cost effective. SERVPRO's pretesting methods can help determine what can be restored to keep your insurance claim as low as possible.

Restoration

This water and fire restoration service can repair many different types of items, including:

• Upholstered furniture
• Photos and documents
• Fabric
• Electronics
• Carpet and rugs

They are able to clean soot off of surfaces, sanitize items, freeze dry documents, prevent mold growth and more.

Pretests

Insurance companies tend to prefer restoring items as opposed to replacing them. SERVPRO performs pretesting on items before attempting to restore them. This testing allows them to determine if an item can be restored before spending any time or money on efforts to restore the item. If they are able to restore an item, they will. If an item cannot be restored, they will recommend replacing it instead.

Insurance

Restoring belongings is generally less expensive than replacing them. SERVPRO of South Philadelphia, saves you money by repairing as many items as possible, so you don't have to replace them. Testing belongings before restoring them also allows you to create a more accurate list of the costs associated with damages for your insurance agent. It also lowers your insurance claim by avoiding unnecessary restoration costs.

If your belongings have been damaged by water or fire, a restoration service that pretests damaged items can help. Pretesting is an important part of the restoration process. It allows the restoration service to determine what belongings can be restored before attempting to repair anything. This maximizes the number of items that are restored and minimizes costs associated with replacing items and unnecessary restoration attempts. Keeping those costs down lowers your insurance claim.

3 Ways To Limit Secondary Damage

3/8/2022 (Permalink)

Mitigating water damage and acting quickly to dry and restore a commercial structure can help prevent mold and other secondary damage.

3 Methods For Reducing Secondary Damage

Secondary damage may occur any time primary damage goes untreated. If water damage has recently occurred at a building in Collingdale, PA, black mold and other secondary consequences could result without timely restoration. Here are three ways to limit the severity of primary damage caused by water.

1. Mitigate Primary Damage

Mitigation is the most time-sensitive step toward stopping an incident from causing additional damage. In the event of water damage from a pipe break, these measures include collecting as much water as possible to keep porous building materials such as carpet or drywall from becoming saturated. Extracting standing water with a mop and bucket or wet/dry vac can also be effective for controlling primary damage.

2. Dry Water Damage

If water damage saturates any porous materials, fast drying is essential. Porous carpet or drywall that become soaked with category 1 clean water may remain intact as long as drying occurs within hours of primary damage. Restoration professionals often recommend the use of air movers, fans or dehumidifiers. Any absorbent materials that remain wet for longer than 48 to 72 hours or are located in areas where high humidity levels persist after damage are more likely to suffer further damage, such as black mold.

3. Restore Primary Damage

Primary water damage that is not properly restored can lead to further damage. This is particularly the case if the water that caused damage is category 2 gray water or category 3 water. These types of contaminated water may contain microbes or other substances that could make a mold problem more likely.

Mitigating water damage and taking timely measures toward drying and restoration can go a long way toward preventing black mold or other secondary damage at a commercial structure. Contact a plumber and have water damage dried, cleaned or disinfected by experts at a restoration company located in Collingdale, PA.