 |
|
Disaster Advice Glossary
|
|
|
Disaster recovery and restoration can be veiled in mystery to the many who have not undertaken specific training. This glossary explains technical terms to assist both report writing and the understanding of those technical terms so often misunderstood.
Definitions
| Accesible: |
In cleaning and mold remediation, that area which is easily accessed and is able to be cleaned or mold remediated. In repair and restoration that area which is easily removed, repaired, restored, replaced or serviced. |
| Access: |
In legal terms, the offers and acceptance to allow a person or contractor access to a building or property. The means of entry into a buiding area or room. |
| Access Door or Panel: |
An inspection, service or repair area usually concealed in a building in service areas. |
| Access Flooring: |
A raised area of a floor that has removable panels to allow access to the floor and space below the primary floor. Education Note: A computer floor is often an access floor serving the equipments electrical supply with conduit and air conditioning. During a water damage, all access floors must be carefully evaluated first by the computer technicians then the water damage technicians. |
| Access Point: |
An opening into a building, vent, hole or other part of a building or material. |
| Boroscope: |
An instrument which can see inside wall cavities, ventilation ducting and inaccessible areas, to assess and inspect for surface contamination or the condition of the surrounding surfaces. Some boroscopes are battery light operated and they have a telescopic 45 degree angled mirror on top to inspect surfaces, while more sophisticated boroscopes work with laser-like precision, they can see for long distances and closer detail. These boroscopes can be connected to video recording units for later playback. |
| Containment Unit, Cleaning and Decontamination: |
Referring to fungi mitigation and remediation (abatement), a containment-unit are typically the critical barrier and equipment used during the removal of fungi contamination process. Cleaning and decontamination of the containment-unit refers to the appropriate methods necessary for the collection of all migrant and settled spores and other contaminates on and in the containment-unit. Education Note: A containment-unit may include a second critical barrier containment-unit, other than the primary critical barrier containment-unit, which consists of a temporary built plastic room or plastic sealing off another room, which then becomes plastic-sealed off from the primary contamination area. The secondary containment-unit maintains its own 'separate' air pressure from the main contamination zone or area. The secondary containment-unit is a staging area, where fungal contaminated building materials, already plastic bagged, are stored, and are waiting removal from the building. The secondary containment-unit is the main entry and access between the outside and the main contamination zone or area, as well as the exit and egress to the building. Mitigation Note: Both the primary and secondary containment-units cleaning and decontamination, requires a combination of surface HEPA vacuuming, followed by surface cleaning, using damp wiping (with a minimum of water), to remove settled and migrant dusts and spores before safely dismantling the containment-unit(s). The remediation practitioners must carefully consider the necessity and advisability of applying biocides, such as bleach, when cleaning and sanitizing the containment-unit. The goal of the remediation program must be to remove all microbial growth that was part of the project, and this includes the contamination migrant in the containment-unit. Caution Note: The consulting industrial hygienist associated with the remediation project must consider the efficacy of all antimicrobial agents and their contact time and removal. Health and Safety Note: Neither the primary remediation and abatement containment-unit or the secondary support entry and egress containment-unit, can be used for employee rest and removal of PPE. Only exiting from both of the containment-units and after decontamination, can removal of PPE be considered appropriate. See Critical Barrier during Fungal Abatement, Full-scale Fungi Decontamination-Unit |
| Crawl Space: |
a) The lower space of a raised foundation - between the ground and the first floor of a building. In a crawl space building code requires a minimum 18" aeration access from the ground and the floor joists. b) Any unfinished interior access and limited space between floors, containing ventilation, ducting, pipes, cables, or wiring of the building. C) A lower elevation of a building that has not been excavated deep enough for a basement. |
| Feasibilty Study: |
A detailed technical, economic, and/or legal review of a known or suspect building or contaminated area. It is implemented to access and outline all potential costs, benefits, and problems. |
| Full-scale Fungal Decontamination Unit: |
A decontamination unit made from PVC pipe and plastic sheeting, wood frame and plastic sheeting, or a pre-manufactured unit for employees who actively are involved at a full-scale fungal abatement work site. Typically like in asbestos abatement, the decontamination unit consists of three chambers or small shower size rooms. The rooms are: (1) as you are entering the first cubical, a donning of PPE equipment; (2) a pass-through shower; and (3) a pass-through cubical; and in reverse as you are leaving, (3) a doffing room and removal of PPE; (2) the shower; and (1) donning clean and dry street clothing. Depending on the size of the operation, there may be a separate equipment pass-through and air lock. General Mitigation Note: As mandated in asbestos abatement and decontamination, and which should be required in full-scale fungal abatement and decontamination operations, the decontamination unit is to be constructed and installed between the entry and exit of the remediation area, or between the secondary containment-unit and access to a control area. Health and Safety Note: Unlike asbestos abatement, in fungi abatement, there is no scientific evidence at present to say that the use of the shower room, is either a direct ir indirect health benefit to the worker, except possibly related to the general hygiene of the worker who most likely is saturated with sweat and they could benefit from a shower. Fungi Mitigation Note: It is recommended in the book Bioaerosols: Assessment and Control, ...during fungal abatement, that properly bagged waste can be passed directly through the decontamination unit. The bag(s) surfaces are to be HEPA vacuumed before transport into uncontaminated parts of the building. Waste bags are to be removed by the most direct exit route... and without disturbance and exposure to occupants remaining in the building]. See Containment-Unit Cleaning and Decontamination, Critical Barrier during Fungi Abatement |
| Hanta Virus: |
A virus that is associated with urine, feces and saliva settled in dust from wild mice, more particularly the deer mouse. Adjusters and contractors who must access and inspect damage under or in old dusty/dirty buildings, should do so by wearing proper respiratory protection. For more information contact EME for a free Hanta Virus Fact Sheet or contact the Center of Disease Control and Prevention through www.cdc.gov - or - www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/virlfvr/virlfvr.htm |
| Institutional Controls: |
A legal or administrative restriction on the use of, or access to a site, facility or area, to eliminate or minimize potential exposures to a particular contaminate of concern. |
| Mud and Muck-Out Minimum of Services - a Technicians Right to Know: |
When service are required: a) Assess the safety of the building including electricity and gas. b) Provide for employee protection, safety and personal hygiene. c) Have the right equipment to meet the needs of every job. d) Inventory, remove salvageable contents, clean and sanitize them, locate them in a safe clean area or a separate building. e) Provide for mud and muck-out of all saturated building areas. f) Gain access to the damaged building materials (carpet, vinyl, underlayment, cabinets, drywall and insulation) and remove them. g) Remove all small debris and remove them. The building must be down to studs and the exterior walls. h) Low-pressure pressure wash and scrub the building, starting from one end to another, while attempting to not recontaminate already cleaned areas. I) Follow up with extraction with truckmount equipment, or if necessary portable extraction equipment. On concrete slabs, use squeegees and push out of a door. j) A second low-pressure pressure washing and scrubbing in some buildings is necessary, followed with extraction. k) Drying of a wet building varies with each structure. Building drying depends on local weather conditions including wind, relative humidity, and temperature. Often during catastrophic flooding, weather calls for more rain. Dehumidification with industrial size truck-mounted desiccant machines and large refrigerant machines, sometimes is the only method available to dry structures properly. |
| Rescue Procedures: |
At any time a work space has hazards, or conditions that may lead to a hazard, the employer is mandated by OSHA to implement a Hazard Communications Program (HAZCOM) to all employees, before allowing an employee to gain access and entry near, in a hazard or a potential hazard. Contractor Note: Part of the HAZCOM is the requirement by employers to already have in place company standards for rescue and procedures on how to implement a rescue, if a rescue from an injury occurs. See Confined Space, HAZCOM |
| Response Action Evaluation: |
a) A qualitative analysis based on known or readily available information to identify the need for an urgency of response actions and the need for further information gathering. b) A response action evaluation for a water damage or fire damaged building, requires an expert opinion about visual observations and methods used for containment and clean-up operation. c) A response action evaluation of a fire damage, earthquake, or storm damaged building, requires an expert opinion from a general contractor and structural engineer, before building access is allowed. |
| River Flooding, Damage Guidelines: |
In water damage remediation, it is the flood water from rivers, streams and lakes which enter into buildings. River flooding brings with it silt, mud and organic matter that become adsorbed into porous building materials. Education Note: Methods of Assessment and Mitigation: 1) Once the flood waters recede, all wet buildings must be checked for safety before entry. Health and Safety Note: Do not use electricity and gas sources until they have been inspected. Keep all power generators outside the building!. 2) Wear a HEPA rated respirator, gloves and protective clothing. 3) After an assessment of the building damage, 4) remove all salvageable contents to a safe place. 5) Wash and rinse, bleach sanitize and rinse salvageable contents, then wipe them down, use wood oils and creams to restore finish and hardware. 6) In the building, remove all standing flood water, silt and mud. 7) Remove effected carpet and pad, drywall and insulation. 8) Pressure wash all subfloors and exposed sill plates and stud bays. 9) For basements, pump out the flood water. 10) For raised foundations, pump out flood water and open skirts and access to the building. 11) Force in fresh air and exhaust out wet air. 12) No building should have new drywall or insulation installed for a minimum of 2 weeks, and only after passing a moisture test survey. 13) Have the building independently inspected by building inspectors before restoration, and by utilities before using gas and electricity. |
| Skirting: |
a) The lower perimeter material of an upholstered couch or that which covers the legs and base materials of furniture. b) In modular or temporary buildings, skirting is the lower part that closes off and protects the underside. Skirting is designed in such a manner as to blend in to the exterior wall appearance, which can easily be removed for either access or repair of the substructure or when moving the modular building. c) Skirting in the UK is any base material such as vinyl or wood that is used around the perimeter of a room. |
| Substructural Drying: |
In water damage remediation, substructure drying is the use of mechanical and engineering controls necessary to dry a wet substructure properly. Mitigation Note: a) Unlike wet above-grade structures, wet below-grade substructures are influenced by an increase amount of moisture vapor coming from inside the substructure foundation walls and soil. a1) To dry a wet substructure properly, all contents and wet building materials must be removed from a basement or below-grade structure, including old carpet, cardboard and plastic sheeting. a3) All standing water or sewage must be extracted and appropriately removed. a4) Allow as much fresh air access to the substructure as possible during water/sewage removal. In fact, use an exhaust fan forcing contaminated air outside the substructure, but not in the building. a5) Depending on the soil matrix and amount of saturation, and if there is sewage present, detergent washing the soil may be appropriate before attempting surface drying or tilling the soil. b) If the below grade substructure is large, other engineering controls will be necessary to monitor and dry the environment properly. Dehumidification with air movement is most important in drying a wet substructure properly. c) Unlike above-grade wet buildings, below-grade buildings may take two to three times as long to dry. See High-Rise Drying, Structural Drying |
The Disaster Advice Glossary and its contents are the protected copyright of Disaster Advice
The Disaster Advice Glossary operates on TechMerit Technoloy.
|
|
 |
|