Smoke Residue in Electronics

1/6/2022 (Permalink)

Electronics Smoke Remainder

A commercial fire in Folcroft, PA, might have a number of invisible effects that you or your staff wouldn’t ordinarily consider. Review the following safety and maintenance tips in order to prevent unnecessary additional property damage such as an electrical fire.

1. The Effects of Smoke

While the damage may not be obvious initially, electronics can suffer from a number of different malfunctions as a result of smoke damage. The soot and residues that accumulate on conductive materials such as copper or circuit boards can cause shorts if the airborne contaminants from the fire were themselves electrically conductive. Acids in the soot can degrade metal contact points over time, even if there was no initial loss in functionality. Perhaps most importantly, an insulating layer of smoke can cause heat retention in some devices, resulting in a potential electrical fire.

2. Initial Steps

The best preventative measures you can take after a fire event are related to data and documentation rather than restoration. Make an inventory of all affected devices for insurance purposes. If the device was involved in handling information, such as a computer, make any necessary data backups on a separate hard drive or another form of non-volatile memory. Every device that is not absolutely essential to business operations should be disconnected to await computer cleanup.

3. Professional Help

Do not attempt to clean or repair any electronic devices yourself. Contact a qualified fire restoration service to begin the removal of smoke from your sensitive equipment. This is especially true of larger appliances, as these can present a safety hazard when opened. A professional service can mitigate these risks and is more likely to be able to repair your electronics, which will save your business money in the long run.

The modern business requires a number of different electronic devices to stay functional. Prevent an electrical fire or other catastrophe by having a plan to restore or replace the necessary parts of your infrastructure.