Water Damage after a Fire

7/10/2020 (Permalink)

It is hard to know what to expect when walking into a commercial property after a fire. As an owner or manager, you likely expect significant equipment loss because of fire and smoke damage, but what about water? Expecting flood loss after a fire seems unusual. Ask any disaster restoration company and they will tell you water and fire damage go hand-in-hand. There are at least three causes of water damage during and after a commercial property fire.

1. Hoses
2. Suppression systems
3. Pipe damage
   
   

Hoses
The primary source of water loss during a fire rescue may come from a fire hose. These large-diameter, high-pressure hoses can expel hundreds of gallons of water per minute to flood and extinguish the flames. Unfortunately, the flooding of the blaze also floods your facility, and depending on the size and extent of the fire, you may have significant property loss.

Suppression Systems
Water-based suppression systems can also lead to extensive flooding. However, the extent of flooding caused by these systems depends on the type. Some systems do not use water. Other systems that use water may only release sprinklers in areas where fire damage is occurring, leaving other spaces dry.

Pipe Damage
Water damage can also occur because of damaged pipes. The temperatures in violent fires often reach the melting points of certain metals. If the fire reaches these temperatures, pipes may melt, warp or break. Since no one is in the facility, there is no way to shut off the water supply, meaning that water can flow freely from pipes until the system is shutdown.
Commercial property owners should have concerns over water and fire damage if such a disaster occurs. Knowing that one problem can lead to the other may allow you to better prepare for emergencies. Contact your local emergency services or fire restoration experts to discuss disaster planning and strategies.