RESTORATION GLOSSARY

 A.

Antimicrobial Treatment A chemical application used to prevent or eliminate the growth of bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms on surfaces affected by water or moisture damage.

Air Mover An industrial fan used during the drying process to accelerate evaporation of moisture from floors, walls, and ceilings after water damage.

B.

Black Water Category 3 water damage involving highly contaminated water such as sewage, floodwater, or water containing harmful pathogens. Requires specialized protective equipment and disposal procedures.

Building Envelope The physical barrier between the interior and exterior of a structure including walls, roof, windows, and foundation. Restoration often involves assessing and repairing the building envelope after storm or water damage.

C.

Category 1 Water Damage Water damage from a clean source such as a broken supply line or overflowing sink. Considered the least hazardous category of water damage.

Category 2 Water Damage Also called grey water, this refers to water that contains some contamination such as water from a dishwasher, washing machine, or toilet overflow without solid waste.

Category 3 Water Damage The most severe category involving grossly contaminated water such as sewage backup or floodwater. Requires full protective equipment and specialized remediation procedures.

Content Pack-Out The process of removing, inventorying, and storing a homeowner’s personal belongings during restoration to protect them from further damage and allow full access to affected areas.

Containment A physical barrier typically made of plastic sheeting used to isolate a contaminated area such as a mold remediation zone to prevent cross contamination to unaffected areas of the home.

D.

Dehumidifier An industrial piece of equipment used to remove excess moisture from the air during the structural drying process after water damage.

Desiccant Drying A specialized drying method using silica gel or other desiccant materials to absorb moisture from the air in particularly difficult drying environments such as cold or damp spaces.

Documentation The process of photographing, measuring, and recording all damage to a property for the purpose of insurance claims and restoration planning.

E.

Encapsulation A mold remediation technique where mold affected surfaces are sealed with a specialized coating to prevent spores from becoming airborne after treatment. Also used in crawlspace waterproofing.

Extraction The process of physically removing standing water or moisture from a structure using industrial wet vacuums or truck mounted extraction units.

F.

Fire Damage Restoration The full process of cleaning, repairing, and restoring a property after a fire including smoke removal, soot cleanup, odor elimination, structural repairs, and reconstruction.

G.

Grey Water Category 2 water that contains some level of contamination and may cause sickness if ingested or exposed to. Requires protective measures during cleanup and disposal.

H.

HEPA Filtration High Efficiency Particulate Air filtration used in air scrubbers and vacuums during mold remediation and fire damage restoration to capture microscopic particles including mold spores and soot.

Hygroscopic Materials Building materials that readily absorb and retain moisture such as drywall, wood, and insulation. These materials often need to be removed and replaced after significant water damage.

I.

IICRC The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification. The leading standard setting and certification organization in the restoration industry. ARS technicians hold active IICRC certifications.

M.

Mitigation The emergency phase of restoration focused on stopping further damage from occurring. This includes water extraction, boarding up, tarping, and stabilizing a structure after damage.

Moisture Mapping The process of using moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to identify and document all areas of moisture intrusion within a structure including hidden moisture inside walls and under flooring.

Mold Remediation The process of identifying, containing, removing, and treating mold growth within a structure to restore safe indoor air quality and prevent recurrence.

O.

Odor Neutralization The process of eliminating odors caused by smoke, mold, sewage, or other contaminants using techniques such as thermal fogging, ozone treatment, or hydroxyl generation.

P.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Protective gear worn by restoration technicians during hazardous cleanup including respirators, Tyvek suits, gloves, and eye protection.

Pre-Loss Condition The state of a property before damage occurred. The goal of all restoration work is to return the property to its pre-loss condition.

R.

Reconstruction The rebuilding phase of restoration where damaged structural components such as framing, drywall, flooring, and finishes are repaired or replaced after mitigation is complete.

Restoration The complete process of returning a damaged property to its pre-loss condition including both mitigation and reconstruction phases.

S.

Soot Fine black particles produced by incomplete combustion during a fire. Soot is highly acidic and can cause permanent damage to surfaces if not cleaned quickly and properly.

Structural Drying The systematic process of removing moisture from a building structure using air movers, dehumidifiers, and monitoring equipment to return materials to acceptable moisture levels.

T.

Thermal Imaging The use of infrared cameras to detect temperature differences in building materials that indicate the presence of hidden moisture not visible to the naked eye.

Trauma Cleanup The specialized cleaning and decontamination of a property following an unattended death, crime, accident, or other traumatic event involving biological hazards.

W.

Water Damage Restoration The full process of extracting water, drying a structure, preventing mold growth, and restoring a property to pre-loss condition following flooding, leaks, or other water intrusion events.