Sponsored By:
Join
RIA in Denver, CO for the 2006 Environmental & Restoration
Conferences and Exhibition!
 Executive Report
Play With the Winners
As the restoration industry association, over the last 15
years, RIA has hosted the Restoration Conference (RC), where
technology and business issues are explored in-depth. As a special
bonus, this year for the first time, the RC will be paired with the
RIA Environmental Council’s first annual Environmental
Conference.
Calling these meetings “conferences” seems an injustice. What
do you call an event where the most respected business and technical
leaders in restoration and environmental services come together to
share their knowledge and vision of the industry?
What do you call a meeting where you will be examining
cutting-edge environmental and restoration methodologies? Is there a
way of closing a mold remediation job to ensure payment? The
Environmental Council’s evolving clearance protocol is designed for
that purpose, and you can learn the details at the EC. RC attendees
will be among the first to hear the opening salvo in a controversial
and exciting disaster/drying cost estimating debate. The outcome
could change the way restorers compete for work in the disaster
market.
And speaking of drying, which technology really is the
best. The first RIA Drying Technology ‘shoot-out’ will feature
passionate advocates from every system in the market today…and allow
you, the participant, to vote on the winner!
For the attendees who are interested in growing their
businesses, the event features the most respected consultants and
business systems developers in the industry bringing you the
successful methods that place them at the top of the industry. Even
you can be a star of the industry in the optional Marketing
Secrets Workshop, and you will leave this session with 20 actionable
tools. (I know, you’re wondering why your colleagues would tell
you their marketing secrets. It’s easy: you will be providing
one of your best marketing ideas as your admission ticket to this
limited enrollment workshop!)
Some people say that business is a game. Well, the one thing I
know about games is that playing with the best strengthens our
abilities. At both of RIA’s Conferences, Environmental on November
1 and Restoration on November 2 - 4, you will get to learn from the
best.
Don Manger
Executive Director
RIA NEWS
Breaking
News
RIA Briefs
Toolbox
Tips
Marketing Savvy
Product
Spotlight
On Press
Now
INDUSTRY NEWS
"Radiant
Heating: The Invisible Profit Maker"
"Indoor Air
Quality Improves With Modern HVAC Systems"
"Red Tape Slows
Katrina Clean-Up"
"The Benefits of
Green Carpeting, in Any Color"
"EcoWellness:
Mold a Mushrooming Problem?"
"Hurricane Liddy
Stalls Over D.C."
"The Olefin
Cleaning Challenge"
"Louisiana
Katrina P-C Claims Total $14.5 Billion"
"Environmental
Liability"
"Flood Program
Approved for Overhaul"
"The Evaporation
Calculation"
"La. Supreme
Court Upholds Katrina, Rita Insurance Claims Period"
"Old Urine Stain
May Be Job For A Professional"
"Today's
Adhesives Developed for New Flooring Types"
"Mold Myth: Old
Sites Get Rap, But New Buildings Also Have Risk"
"EPA to Expand
Energy Star for Builders to Improve Indoor Air Quality"
"Fire? Water
Damage? No Problem"
"Without a
Trace"
RIA NEWS
Breaking News
VOCs May be Scrubbed from AirRising alarm over the
impact of indoor air pollution on Australians’ health and rate of
lung disease has sparked a national research effort to develop new
ways to remove toxic substances from the air of homes, offices and
factories. Researchers at Curtin University of Technology are
now using nanotechnology to develop two world-first methods of
filtering cancer- and disease-causing substances out of indoor
air. "Indoor air quality is attracting greater public
attention due to its impact on health, which is estimated to cost
Australia about $12 billion (AUS) annually," project leader
professor Moses Tadé says. "Air toxics consist mainly of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs), gas-like pollutants that can leak from
sources such as paints, glues, coatings, pesticides, carpets,
plastics, cleaning fluids and office equipment." Long-term
exposure to VOCs causes sick building syndrome (SBS), in which the
building's occupants experience rising levels of eye, nose and
throat irritation, headache, allergic reactions, breathing
difficulties, nausea, nosebleeds, vomiting, fatigue and dizziness.
This presents problems for Australians who typically spend about 90%
of their time indoors. The new technologies could be
incorporated into existing air conditioning systems or included as
new catalytic or photolytic reaction modules in building
design. Source: The Cleanzine, http://www.thecleanzine.com/
AIA President Outlines Cat Ideas
American Insurance Association (AIA) President Marc
Racicot believes that American policymakers need to take a more
forward-thinking view when it comes to natural catastrophe risk.
Racicot unveiled a series of proposals the AIA believes are
necessary to better protect homeowners from natural catastrophe
risks and improve assistance to them in the aftermath of a major
hurricane.
Among the measures being proposed by
the AIA are:
· stricter building codes that
are strongly enforced,
· the inclusion of hurricane
risk in land use planning,
· increased use of actual
risk-based pricing, and
· the use of computer modeling in the rate
setting process.
Racicot said the National Flood Insurance Program is
being “bailed out by taxpayers across the country.” Such bailouts,
he said, have led to an increased appetite in Congress for reforming
the NFIP, and more can be done.
Additionally, Racicot called for changes in the legal
environment to ensure that insurers are only obligated to pay for
what is covered, which has become an important issue as the
post-Katrina debate over the application of homeowner policy flood
exclusion language plays out in the court system.
“Insurance policies actually are contracts with very
specific terms and provisions,” he said. “If they can be rewritten
after the fact, then all business contracts are at risk.”
Hurricane Forecast Revised…Again
Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University now predict
this year’s hurricane activity "will be slightly below the
long-term," according to a recently revised forecast.
The September forecast calls for 13 named Atlantic and Gulf
Coast storms, five of which are projected to grow into hurricanes.
That’s a drop from the Aug. 3 forecast of 15 named storms—seven of
which would develop into hurricanes.
"We now expect that the 2006 hurricane season will have
slightly less hurricane activity than the long-term average," the
team announced. "This is due to an unexpected increase in tropic
Atlantic mid-level dryness (with large amounts of African dust) and
a continued trend towards El Niño-like conditions in the eastern and
central Pacific."
The forecast called the team’s August prediction "a bust and
not typical of our previous six August-only forecasts for
2000-2005."
Insurers Criticize Calif. Punitive Damages
Bill
The California insurance industry is crying foul over a bill
passed by the legislature late yesterday that would give the state
75% off the top of punitive damage awards.
Sam Sorich, president of the Association of California
Insurance Companies, responded by saying that the industry plans to
ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto the bill when it reaches his
desk. Under state law, the governor has until Sept. 30 to act on the
bill.
From a legal perspective, the industry’s concern is that
the bill would encourage exorbitant punitive damage awards.
“Although the bill prohibits a jury from being informed
that any portion of a punitive damage award will be paid to the
state, this information would be widely known by the public,” Mr.
Sorich said. “Jurors in California are well versed as to what is
going on around them.”
The bill, S.B. 382, was passed by the state Senate 24-14
on the last day of its current session, just hours after the state
Assembly approved it. Written in broad terms, it is unclear
what governmental functions could be funded from this source.
Large Insurers Slam CAT Insurance
Program
A group comprising large insurers pushing for a
federal-state catastrophe insurance program criticized a proposal by
the American Insurance Association (AIA), an insurers’ trade
group.
ProtectingAmerica.org, a coalition of insurance
companies, first responders, homeowners’ disaster recovery experts,
and small and large businesses said that “by failing to include a
privately financed catastrophe fund, the AIA plan endorses the risky
status quo and depends upon a system of year-to-year reinsurance
contracts at ever-escalating prices with no lasting or accumulated
protection for homeowners.”
Major support and funding for ProtectingAmerica.org comes
from Allstate Insurance, which sustained more than $1 billion in
recent hurricane losses. The Property Casualty Insurers Association
of America, which initially supported the advocacy group resigned
from it earlier this week, citing differences with the federal
fund.
If accepted, the proposal would make private insurance
company contributions to catastrophe funds tax-exempt, as well as
the funds’ earnings. They would compound annually, like personal
retirement accounts, and be tapped only in the event that a
catastrophe overwhelms the capacity of the private market.
Compiled from staff and wire reports.
RIA Briefs
RIA Hires Director of Education
Cynthia Mullaly is RIA’s new Director of Education. She comes
to RIA with 20 years of experience within the association industry,
most recently as the vice president of Association Services
Corporation (ASC), a Columbia, Maryland-based association management
firm. ASC specialized in the management of footwear-related
associations, with clients such as the National Shoe Retailers
Association, Pedorthic Footwear Association, the Board for
Certification in Pedorthics, the World Shoe Travelers Association,
and the Pedorthic Footwear Foundation.
As an active member of ASC’s management team focusing on human
resource management and operations, Cindi held dual positions within
the client associations including: director of communications for
all ASC clients, deputy executive director for Pedorthic Footwear
Association, and most recently ASC’s Director of Education.
Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, she holds double degrees
in marketing and organizational management, with a minor in
journalism. You can reach her at cindim@RIA.org.
Advanced Upholstery Class Exceeds Expectations
RIA’s new advanced upholstery and leather seminar included
attendees from as far away as Ireland for the 3-day course held last
week in Philadelphia, Pa. The tours of two different mills provided
students with a unique, behind-the-scenes look at how textiles are
manufactured and afforded them the opportunity to see materials
coming literally out of production.
Led by Patrick Dorgan from The Leather Institute, Marty Gurian
of DesignTex, Inc. and RIA’s Technical Advisor, Dr. Steve Spivak,
the amount of practical, technical hands-on information presented
was almost overwhelming. “Each time I come to a class like this, I
realize how much I still don’t know,” said one student.
Look for a more in-depth report on the course in the November
issue of Cleaning & Restoration.
Conference Update
You won’t want to miss RIA’s Environmental and Restoration
Conferences scheduled for early November in Denver, Colorado.
The Environmental Conference will be held on Nov. 1 and begins
with an in-depth report from members of the RIA/ORNL team that
traveled to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. You’ll hear what
they found, what they learned and how to be better prepared for the
next big storm. The conference will also feature sessions on meth
lab cleanups, handling lead paint removal claims, obtaining and
managing large-scale remediation projects, and a recommended quality
control protocol for mold remediation.
The Environmental Conference ends with a joint exhibition that
will kick off RIA’s Restoration Conference, Weathering the Storm 2:
Survival, Prosperity & Market Leadership.
The two-day core conference on Nov. 2-3, examines expansion
options in a shrinking restoration market; looks at evaluating
drying options and how to create a balance between effectiveness and
cost; addresses the science of fire restoration with a look at the
use of ozone, corrosive residues and their effects on materials;
takes a creative approach to restoration by combining standard
methodologies with outside of the box thinking; and looks at
business management systems as well as effective strategies for
dealing with the people in your company.
On Saturday, Nov. 4, there will be two optional sessions, one
focused on marketing with a unique idea exchange session that is
open only to RIA members, and an interactive presentation on
Xactimate 24.
Don’t forget to make your flight and hotel arrangements for
both conferences, which will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Denver,
Colorado. Hotel reservations can be made online at http://www.granddenver.hyatt.com/groupbooking/RIA
or by calling (303) 295-1234 or (800) 233-1234.
Toolbox Tips
Know Your Steel Wools
By Martin L. King, CR, ASA
Steel wool is a
valuable product in restoration, provided it’s used properly. It
provides a consistent, measurable degree of abrasion, can remove
rust from metal, stubborn smoke from a drawer interior, finish from
a log home and it can polish a tabletop.
In order to effectively use steel wool, we have to understand
its range of coarseness. Using the wrong steel wool can be
disastrous. Steel wool ranges from extra coarse to extremely fine.
The sequence of coarseness is:
#4-Extra coarse,
#3-Coarse,
#2-Medium coarse,
#1-Medium,
0-Medium fine,
00-Fine,
000-Extra fine, and
0000-Finest.
Number 4 through #2 might be useful for cleaning corrosion or
stripping paint. 0 and 00 are usually good for removing smoke
residue from unfinished drawer interiors or general purpose
cleaning. 000 and 0000 are used with waxes and polishes to impart a
high sheen. Beyond that we get into the realm of wet-dry sanding
sheets.
Martin L. King, CR, ASA, is an RIA technical
advisor.
Marketing Savvy
When it comes to marketing, it’s consistency that counts. Here
are some practical ways to maximize your marketing
message:
- Develop a brochure of services
- Take your business cards out of the box and pass them out.
Give prospects two at a time – one to keep and one to pass along.
- Print a slogan or one-sentence description of your business on
your letterhead, fax cover sheets and invoices.
- Create a signature file for all of your e-mail messages. It
should include your contact information, website address and key
facts about the company to encourage the reader to contact you.
- Include testimonials from customers in your literature and on
your website.
- For a higher opening ratio, inkjet address names directly onto
envelopes containing marketing information instead of using
labels.
- Offer a free service or special discount in your direct
response pieces.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration Return to
Headlines
Product Spotlight
E-Z Answer Guide
This compact flipchart provides spot and stain removal
guidelines for 38 common spills, including various foods, drinks and
household products. Your employees can easily provide customers with
step-by-step stain removal solutions and techniques for spills on
carpet, upholstery and drapery fabrics.
Members: $35 each
Non-members: $55 each
Call (443)
878-1000 for pricing on larger quantities
Ready Reference Upholstery Cleaning Guide
A
convenient, portable tool for professional cleaners. The flipchart
format contains over 35 fabric swatches with specific information on
identifying and cleaning a wide variety of upholstery fabrics. Bound
in a sturdy, vinyl binder, it serves as a practical tool for
everyone involved in the cleaning operation of your business.
Members: $125 each
Nonmembers: $155 each
Ready Reference Drapery Cleaning Guide
A convenient
guide for professionals, this portable flipchart provides over 30
fabric swatches, along with information on identifying and cleaning
a wide range of drapery and lining fabrics. This guide will further
expand your knowledge of drapery cleaning and enhance your cleaning
skills.
Members: $125 each
Nonmembers: $155 each
Ready Reference Carpet Care Guide
Detailed
illustrations, some sample swatches and concise text explain many
facets of the fibers and constructions found in modern floor
coverings. This handy flipchart allows you to better select the most
efficient methods for carpet and rug maintenance and cleaning. Bound
in a vinyl binder, it is convenient for on-the-job reference and a
useful training aid.
Members: $125 each
Nonmembers: $155 each
Carpet Swatch Set
This reference set contains a
wealth of information as well as visual elements, which help you
identify various carpet constructions. The Carpet Swatch Set has 20
samples exhibiting major elements of carpet construction, texture,
style, face and backing fiber, and surface coloration.
Members: $100 each — Carpet Swatch Set & Ready Reference
Carpet Care Guide: $190
Nonmembers: $150 each — Carpet Swatch Set
& Ready Reference Carpet Care Guide: $280
Return to
Headlines
On Press Now
Here’s what’s on press for the October issue of Cleaning
& Restoration
How Science Fiction Resulted in Better Carpet
Extractors
By Robert Kravitz
It began with a fascination with Buck Rogers, but for Lloyd
Starks of Dalton, Ga., his interests have led him to design
technology that is used not only by NASA, but also by the carpet
cleaning industry as well. Find out what XRF technology is and how
it can benefit your business.
pH and Alkalinity – Kemistry Kan be Kool
By Duncan Bennett
While chemistry may not have been the highlight of your high
school years, it does play an important role in the carpet cleaning
industry. Put aside your fear of science and step back into the
classroom to learn what potential hydrogen, acids and alkalis really
mean.
The Fluorochemical Dilemma: What the PFOS/PFOA Fuss is all
About
By Aziz Ullah, Ph.D., MBA
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and related perfluoronated
compounds (PFHS, PFBS, PFOA) have received world-wide attention in
the last three years. These compounds repel water and oil, and
reduce surface tension and are used in many consumer products. What
should carpet cleaners know about these compounds and how can they
educate their customers?
Differential (Negative) Pressure
By Neil McManus, CIH, ROH, CSP
Enclosures and the use of exhaust systems are widely applied
strategies for containment during building restoration. The concept
involves the use of temporary structures, usually constructed from
sheet poly, and one or more negative air movers located inside. See
how one company created a unique containment system for a school
gymnasium.
Can Ethics Pay?
By Keith E. Desserich
From free lunches to elaborate golf outings, the “perks” of
doing business with some companies may seem endless. But is that the
best way to build your business? As new ethics regulations become a
part of most insurance company’s employee handbooks, there may be
better ways to approach your insurance accounts while preserving
your ethical reputation.
Columns
Commentary
Anniversaries
Technical Topics
That’s My Color? Part 1 – Yes it Does Match, it Just Looks
Different!
Restoration Corner
When Persuasion Fails: Appraisal
Environmental Matters
States Define Methamphetamine Cleanup Operations
Legal Briefs
Supreme Court Expands Definition of Actionable “Retaliation” in
the Workplace
Marketing Notes
Branding: Mask or Reality?
Business Briefs
Why are You Doing Work Without Getting 10 & 10?
Return
to Headlines
INDUSTRY NEWS
"Radiant Heating: The Invisible Profit
Maker"
Floor Covering News (09/11/06) Vol. 21, No. 13, P. 14;
Iannaco, Louis
Remodelers and other contractors are eager to offer radiant
heating or electric floor systems because they are profitable, and
satisfied homeowners help generate business through referrals. There
are several types of heating systems used under natural stone or
tile, and salespeople need to determine whether the client wants to
heat the floors or a particular space. Customers may also be
concerned about operational costs, but Kevin McElroy of NuHeat notes
that electric floors consume the same amount of energy as light
bulbs. Additionally, salespeople should assure customers that many
of the systems come with programmable thermostats so the floors do
not get too hot. The cost of radiant heating systems range from $300
to $2,500, depending on the size of the room.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Indoor Air Quality Improves With Modern HVAC
Systems"
Austin Business Journal (09/07/06) Beyer, Pat
Indoor air quality in the home and office has been pushed to the
forefront in recent years due to concerns about mold, asthma, and
allergies. Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC)
companies can take air samples and formulate a plan to minimize
indoor pollutants, which include mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke,
and nitrogen dioxide from fuel-burning appliances. HVAC systems need
to be properly maintained, and air-conditioning filters need to be
changed regularly. Home and business owners should also consider
High Efficiency Particle Arrest (HEPA) filters and more
sophisticated HVAC systems that use ionizers or ultraviolet light to
remove chemicals and destroy micro-organisms.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Red Tape Slows Katrina Clean-Up"
MSNBC
(09/05/06) Cohn, Scott
Subcontractors involved in cleaning up from Hurricane Katrina say
they have not received payment for their work. The money
subcontractors are supposed to receive from the Army Corp of
Engineers must go through several other contractors first.
Florida-based subcontractor Rob Willis is going home after working
in New Orleans for eight months. Willis is contracted to receive $13
per yard for debris removal, but he only gets about $4 per yard.
Sen. Susan Collins, who heads the Homeland Security Committee, has
penned legislation that would require contractors to rely less on
subcontractors and handle more work themselves.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"The Benefits of Green Carpeting, in Any
Color"
Seattle Times (09/02/06) P. I12; Watson, Tom
Research indicates that carpets can contribute to poor indoor air
quality in that most are made from petroleum-based fibers and use
backing, adhesives, and pads comprising volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) and other chemicals. Consumers can reduce the level of
chemicals released into their homes by requesting that carpets be
aired out 72 hours prior to installation. They can also look for
products labeled green by the Carpet and Rug Institute, though there
is no guarantee that such carpets are completely safe. While more
expensive at upwards of $76 per square yard, consumers might want to
opt for carpets made of wool. Other options include carpet tiles,
which can be replaced in pieces, or polyester carpets made from
recycled plastic soda bottles. Finally, consumers would be wise to
keep carpets out of laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and other
mold-prone rooms.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"EcoWellness: Mold a Mushrooming
Problem?"
United Press International (08/30/06) Dell'Amore,
Christine
It is believed that dust and mold are responsible for the upper
respiratory problems plaguing many survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Mold is being discovered in a growing number of structures across
the country. According to RTK Environmental Group certified indoor
air quality manager Ron Gallo, "(Katrina) is definitely an extreme
example of what we're finding everywhere else." Joe Ponessa of
Rutgers Cooperative Extension says people with weakened immune
systems or those exposed to moldy buildings for a prolonged period
of time are more likely to become sick. Many of the symptoms are
similar to colds and allergies, but Dr. Jonathan Bernstein of the
University of Cincinnati says an indoor pollutant is probably
responsible if the symptoms go away when the person leaves the
building. Rather than try to wash mold off the walls, owners of
flood-ravaged homes in New Orleans should replace them altogether.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Hurricane Liddy Stalls Over
D.C."
Crain's Chicago Business (09/04/06) Vol. 29, No. 36, P.
1; Merrion, Paul
A House bill creating a backstop for natural disasters, or
reinsurance fund, has not garnered as much support as Allstate Chief
Executive Edward Liddy had hoped. Allstate has campaigned for the
bill's passage, which it claims would reduce reinsurance costs, but
other insurers have contended that reducing homeowners' premiums
through the reinsurance program could give many along coastlines a
false sense of security. This sense of security could then incite
them to further buildup property along the coastlines, and when
disaster struck, economies would be crippled. Moreover, other
insurance companies have stated that a national fund will not be any
more cost-effective than private reinsurance. Also critics question
Allstate's motives given that the firm has remained profitable in
spite of its hefty 2005 hurricane losses.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"The Olefin Cleaning Challenge"
Cleaning
& Maintenance Management (08/06) Cross, Jeff
Olefin carpets should not be installed in kitchens and other
areas where they are likely to come into contact with oil, which
complicates the cleaning process. Cleaners should use
olefin-specific preconditioners to remove the oil. Rather than use a
standard bleach to eliminate oil tracking, cleaners should apply
liquid peroxide or sodium percarbonate. Olefin fibers can stand up
to nearly any chemical. This fact, coupled with its
water-resistance, makes such carpets ideal for use near pools and
laundry rooms.
(Web
Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Louisiana Katrina P-C Claims Total $14.5
Billion"
National Underwriter (Property & Casualty - Risk
& Benefits Management Edition) (08/28/06)
The Louisiana Department of Insurance reported that property
insurers have already paid out $14.5 billion in claims related to
Hurricane Katrina, and that figure does not include funds paid out
by the National Flood Insurance Program. Over 700,000 claims were
filed in the state, and a majority of claims came from Jefferson
Parish, which has received about $4.4 billion of the money paid out
by insurers. The department reported that multi-peril and commercial
claims payments were the highest, averaging a little over $85,000
per claim.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Environmental Liability"
Rough Notes
(08/06) Vol. 149, No. 8, P. 72; Pillsbury, Dennis H.
The environmental liability insurance market is still spooked by
hefty asbestos and Superfund losses, and Zurich North America
Commercial points out that oftentimes, the object feared most, is
not the object that ends up causing the insurer trouble. For
example, Zurich insured an asbestos removal contractor, and though
no claims were filed in relation to asbestos exposure, the carrier
ended up paying for mold claims. Insurers note that not only are
environmental disasters a worry, but so too are past owner claims,
and many businesses entering a particular community have to be
concerned because their loans are held by banks. However, the
environmental insurance market has growth potential given the
brownfields movement in which businesses buy lands and clean them up
for future use. Meanwhile, mold issues are management issues,
according to Zurich, and businesses have to understand what
contaminations can be cleaned up and which will require the business
to be torn down and rebuilt. Experts note that changes are on the
horizon for the environmental liability sector as FIN 47 is
implemented, which requires firms to show estimated future
environmental liabilities on their balance sheets.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Flood Program Approved for
Overhaul"
Claims (08/06) Vol. 54, No. 8,
The House recently approved legislation to revamp the National
Flood Insurance Program. The amount the Federal Emergency Management
Agency can borrow from the Treasury to pay claims and program
expenses was increased 20 percent to $25 billion under the Flood
Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2006. Additionally, FEMA
must phase in flood insurance premiums for commercial properties and
vacation homes. The legislation also hikes the cap on yearly premium
increases to 15 percent and gives FEMA the power to add new coverage
types and boost coverage limits.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"The Evaporation Calculation"
Cleanfax
(08/06) Reets, Jeremy
Water damage restoration experts must take evaporation into
consideration in their line of work. They must know the air
temperature, the relative humidity, and the wet-surface temperature
in order to calculate evaporation potential and formulate an
equipment plan. Varying airspeeds make it impossible to precisely
figure the rate of evaporation. Evaporation occurs more quickly when
surface vapor pressure is high and air vapor pressure is low.
Cleaners need to heat the wet surface in order to boost vapor
pressure.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"La. Supreme Court Upholds Katrina, Rita
Insurance Claims Period"
USA Today (08/25/06)
The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled that two laws giving
policyholders a longer claims filing period as constitutional. Under
the legislation, policyholders will have more time to sue their
insurance carriers or file claims over damages related to Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita. Allstate Insurance and others contended that the
laws sent the wrong message to the business community about the role
of state governments in business markets. The insurer noted that the
legislation could leave businesses open to other liabilities if
state governments were allowed to interfere in business contracts at
will, which could ultimately hinder business growth in the region.
The court ruled that the changes made to the insurance contracts
were not significant enough to satisfy the industry's claims that
the state was interfering with established contracts and the
operations of the industry. In fact, the court ruled that the minor
changes rightfully improved the public welfare after a devastating
catastrophe.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Old Urine Stain May Be Job For A
Professional"
Chicago Tribune (08/20/06) Breckenridge, Mary
Beth
The best way to remove a urine stain is to have the fabric
removed and taken to a dry cleaner by an upholsterer, says
Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration technical
adviser A. Martin King. Another option is to hire a professional
upholstery cleaner to do the job. King recommends using white
vinegar, ammonia, and a sponge as a good do-it-yourself method, but
he warns against using ammonia on wool. If the stain persists, King
suggests using hydrogen peroxide to bleach it, then touch up the
spot with fabric markers.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Today's Adhesives Developed for New Flooring
Types"
Floor Covering News (08/14/06) Vol. 21, No. 11, P. 1;
Iannaco, Louis
Wally Giambastiani of ParaChem says there are numerous
environmentally-friendly flooring products and adhesives presently
on the market. "The environmental changes have caused some major
reformulations to take out all the hazardous solvents and other
chemicals that were part of the formula," says Giambastiani. There
are different types of adhesives for different types of floors,
explains DriTac marketing manager John Lio, whose company
manufactures pressure sensitive, polymeric resin, moisture-cure
urethane, and "green" wood flooring adhesives. When a number of
adhesives would work with a particular flooring material, W.F.
Taylor Co. President and CEO Jack Raidy Jr. says ease-of-use,
safety, and cost should be taken into account. "The day of the
'multipurpose adhesive' has long since gone," according to Advanced
Adhesive Technology President Benny Wood.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Mold Myth: Old Sites Get Rap, But New
Buildings Also Have Risk"
Business Journal of the Greater
Triad Area (08/14/06) Chavers, Mikel
Mold continues to be viewed as more of an issue for older
buildings, but it can also pop up in new commercial structures.
Water intrusion is the cause of most mold infestations, resulting
from problems with the ventilation system, roof or plumbing leaks,
or the use of wet materials during the construction process.
According to Servpro of Greensboro North President Bret Holcomb,
builders are paying more attention to mold due to concerns about
million-dollar lawsuits. To safeguard against mold, experts
recommend that indoor humidity be kept in the 30- to 60-percent
range, wet building materials be dried out, and leaks be repaired
right away. A growing number of companies are turning to mold
prevention specialists which offer anti-microbial protective
coatings and other such products.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"EPA to Expand Energy Star for Builders to
Improve Indoor Air Quality"
Clean Air Report (08/10/2006)
Vol. 17, No. 16,
A pilot program to add indoor air quality ratings to its Energy
Star program has been launched in Denver by the Environmental
Protection Agency. Over 70 home design and construction features
have been tacked onto the existing program, but the list could be
shortened as a result of the pilot project. The first indoor air
quality certifications will be handed out over the next few months,
and another test program could be undertaken in California.
Return to
Headlines
"Fire? Water Damage? No
Problem"
Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA) (08/07/06) P. F7;
Childers, Doug
Rob White, president of the Richmond, Va.-based Rainbow
International Restoration and Cleaning franchise, says his company
aims to minimize damage caused by water, smoke, and fire. Much of
the work he performs involves fixing leaky or broken pipes and
drying things out to prevent mold. White undertook several projects
in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. "Our services save
insurance companies money in the long run because the home or
business doesn't have long-term damage," he explains. "It maintains
the integrity of the building." Referrals from insurance companies,
plumbers, and contractors account for much of the company's
business. Rainbow charges upwards of $2,000 to repair water damage
and $10,000 to clean up after fires, with most of the costs covered
by insurance.
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
"Without a Trace"
Houston Press
(08/03/06) Plocek, Keith
Death cleaners or trauma cleanup services have a morbid and messy
job that even morticians and coroners will not do. These
professionals must wear latex gloves and hazmat suits, use biohazard
tape to cordon off contaminated areas, and employ an eclectic set of
disinfectants and atomizers. They must contend with the bodily
fluids that are expelled after death, as well as flies and the
micro-organisms that are released when bodies decompose. Screws,
nails, and other debris can also be a problem when saturated items
are improperly thrown out. Experts note that linoleum, wood,
Sheetrock, metal, plastic, and other surfaces must be cleaned
differently. Additionally, these professionals have to be
blood-borne-pathogen certified in order to clean up bodily fluids,
making them better equipped than families, landlords, and hotel
housekeepers to clean up crime or trauma scenes. Cleaners in Texas
are concerned that a lack of state regulations regarding biohazard
cleanup could lead to the spread of disease. According to Michael
Tillman of Irving-based Amdecon, "I can take a mattress that's
totally saturated in blood and set it out on the curb for trash
pickup, and it's perfectly legal."
(Web Link)
Return to
Headlines
© Copyright 2006 INFORMATION,
INC.
NewsBreak is another valuable service of RIA
International.
Masthead photos courtesy of
VanDam & Krusinga and Insurance Restoration Services.
|
