WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT WATER CAN LEAVE YOU LIABLE 

In elementary school, we’re taught water can exist in three states: liquid (drinking water), solid (ice), and gas (clouds or fog). Building owners and managers need have a greater understanding of water and to recognize that it comes in three categories in addition to the states of matter. These categories are defined by the Institute for Inspection and Cleaning Restoration Contractors (IICRC), and are the insurance industry — and liability — standard.

Category 1: Potable Water

Water that is clean and safe to drink is classified as potable. When potable water leaks from a faucet or supply pipe in your building, the cleanup method is simple and can be performed by building staff, provided they employ proper cautionary measures. If a category 1 water leak is ignored for 24 hours or longer, it can deteriorate into category 2 water.

Category 2: Gray Water

Category 2 water, sometimes called gray water, is water that was once potable, but now contains mild contaminants such as urine or bacteria growth. Like category 1 water, with the right techniques, a category 2 leak can be cleaned up by your building staff.

Category 3: Black Water

When water contains feces, pesticides, fertilizers, insect and animal parts, and other chemical or biological contaminates, it’s classified as category 3, or black water. Buildings have problems with black water after sewage overflows or when water is DRAWN blown inside during a storm. This usually occurs as flooding after heavy rains. Due to the dangerous nature of category 3 water, your average custodial staff should not be assigned cleanup.

Addressing black water requires a trained team using protective equipment and specialized cleaning methods. When property management directs a building’s engineers or custodians to take care of black water problems, they are putting their team at a tremendous health risk. Such carelessness can leave management and the building owner liable for any adverse health reactions. To avoid THIS such liability, property managers should look into specialized training for Water Restoration Technicians (WRT). WRT training teaches your staff how to determine the moisture content of wet materials, use moisture meters, quickly dry flooded areas, and the important safety and health issues involving water spills.

Water can be a problem in any building. Visit the IICRC website at iicrc.org to find local WRT training to make sure your team is ready to safely clean up any mess.