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Wainscot A decorative paneling placed on the lower 36%u002C 32 or 30 inches of a wall. Wainscot usually has a wood base or frame at the top%u002C sides and bottom%u002C while having wood paneling %u0028panel inserts%u0029 in the middle. Restorative Drying Note%u003A Wainscot and the drywall or plaster wall behind the wainscot%u002C when saturated%u002C should be dried from the opposite wall%u002C with a wall drying system%u002C if the wall is an interior wall. If the wet wainscot walls are facing the outside exterior wall%u002C you may need to get authorization to drill holes above the wainscot in the drywall or plaster%u002C to install a wall drying system. In outside facing walls%u002C wainscot drying is further complicated because of insulation%u002C both wet and dry%u002C and sheer panels.   Walk-off Mat A sheet of material placed at building entrances to remove gritty soil from the soles of shoes. Quality walk-off mats trap finer soil%u002C so it doesn%u0027t get picked up and spread throughout the building. As a general rule%u002C walk-off mats should be as wide as the doorway and ideally 8%u0027 to 12%u0027 long.   Wall and Ceiling Drying One of several types of engineering controls that are used to successfully dry interior walls of a building before moulds are allowed to start growing after a flooding event%u002C and before collateral damage occurs. See Collateral Damage%u002C Drywall%u002C Moisture Control   Wall Cavities Interstitial spaces between walls which are designed%u002C in part%u002C to reduce the influences of outside atmospheres%u002C humidity and climate%u002C from entraining into the interior part of the building. Education Note%u003A During water damage mitigation%u002C wall cavities%u002C both inside walls and outside facing walls%u002C must be thoroughly dried before fungi is allowed to grow. See Drywall%u002C Insulation%u002C Moisture Control%u002C Pockets of Saturation   Wall%u002C Ceiling and Floor Drying Systems A mechanical dehumidification and engineering control method employed to dry wet walls%u002C ceilings and floors%u002C wall cavities and built-in components in place%u002C in a relatively short period of time%u002C with little or no damage to the finished materials. See Injectidry%u002C TurboVent%u002C Wallintruder   Wallintruder A Non-Invasive Wall%u002C Ceiling and Floor Drying System. A Trademarked machine that introduces forced air into wall cavities for the purpose of drying wet wall cavities within an acceptable drying period. The difference between the Wallintruder and its competitors%u002C the manufacturer states%u002C you do not need to drill holes into walls or wet ceilings. Application of dry air is through the removal of wall outlets%u002C switch plates and ceiling fixtures where large amounts of dryer air consumes interior wall spaces. See Injectidry%u002C TurboVent   Washing A process using fresh water and detergents or soaps%u002C to remove surface or imbedded contaminates%u002C followed by thorough clean water rinsing and drying. Health and Safety Note%u003A Washing is the preferred method by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention%u002C and local health departments to clean and sanitize hands before handling food or touching the body after use of toilet facilities. Not doing so is a code violation for workers handling food and during food processing. Mitigation Note%u003A Washing as it relates to a flooded building%u002C is the process using fresh water and detergents%u002C to remove surface or imbedded contaminates%u002C followed by thorough clean water rinsing and drying of the building. Washing in this instance is the preferred method to remove surface contaminates including clean and gray water contamination. Not providing proper washing and cleaning for a building after a flood%u002C has resulted in numerous law suits%u002C civil penalties and bad-faith claims. See Clean Water Contamination%u002C Gray Water Contamination%u002C Black Water Contamination   Waste Hauling and Disposal Costs The attirbutable and direct job related costs for the handling%u002C transportation and legal disposal of construction waste from a work site. See Dump Fees   Water Under an insurance policy%u002C water means water %u0028H2O%u0029 alone%u002C whether frozen or not or any liquid or sludge which contains water%u002C whether occurring on or away from the insureds property. Education Note%u003A Water under an insurance policy is defined as%u003A a%u0029 Water from rain or snow%u002C surface water%u002C flood%u002C waves%u002C title water%u002C overflow or escape of a body of water%u002C or spray from any of these%u002C whether or not driven by wind. b%u0029 Water which backs up through sewer lines and drains. c%u0029 Water which escapes from any system designed to drain water away from a dwelling or residential premises%u002C including but not limited to roof gutters%u002C downspouts%u002C sump-pumps%u002C sump-pump wells%u002C leach fields%u002C seepage pits%u002C septic tanks or drainage fields and channels. d%u0029 Water which is below ground level whether occurring naturally or not%u002C including water which exerts pressure on%u002C or seeps or leaks through a building%u002C sidewalk%u002C driveway%u002C wall%u002C foundation%u002C swimming pool%u002C or any portion of the insureds premises.   Water In general water damage mitigation terms%u002C water is the %u0022catalyst%u0022 that is required to cause or result in a flooding event or occurrence.   Water and Moisture Migration Education Note%u003A a%u0029 The spread of water as a liquid over a surface%u002C on and into other surfaces. Water spreads laterally on a flat surface%u003B it migrates upwards in the form of wicking%u003B it moves downward through gravity. b%u0029 Water can change from a liquid to a vapour and condense back to a liquid state on to non-effected materials and areas.   Water Claw The Water Claw is a manufactured surface extraction tool for sub-surface extraction of water%u002C general liquid spills and animal urine treatments in carpets. More information about the Water Claw process can be acquired by contacting Pearl Technology at 888/400-3550.   Water Damage %u00281%u0029 The ability of water to cause swelling and other physical damage to building and content materials when wet or damp. %u00282%u0029 The natural ability of water to harbor microscopic contaminates%u002C and allow other environmental contaminates to grow because of the presence of water and moisture resulting in microscopic damage. See Cleanup%u002C Mitigation%u002C Remediation   Water Damage Industry Standards of Care An individual or company technician who has been properly trained and successfully completed industry water damage/water remediation certification courses. An individual or company who subscribes to and applies the industry standards of care. These standards of care are found in IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration %u0028S500-94%u0029%u002C and subsequent 1999 Revision%u002C called %u0028S500-99%u0029%u003B IICRC training and certification%u003B ASCR-Water Loss Institute training and certification%u003B Suggested Guidelines for Remediation of Damage from Sewage Backflows into Buildings%u002C by Dr. Michael Berry%u002C Deputy Director of EPA%u003B and other scientific papers and publications%u002C to name a few.   Water Damage Occurrence The event or incident that caused the water damage.   Water Damage Recovery A term in the water damage industry that describes the activity of water removal. For example%u002C water damage recovery services for fires%u002C floods%u002C earthquakes%u002C pipe breaks%u002C hurricanes and wind storms.   Water Damage Technician %u0028WDT%u0029 An individual who has successfully passed the IICRC two-day technician basic training course on water damage remediation and technology%u002C and who remains an IICRC member in good standing.   Water Damege Technician Acquired Infections and Disease Health and Safety Note%u003A Infections and disease acquired as occupational exposures to certain surface%u002C water and airborne contaminates present in the water damage mitigation industry. See Allergy%u002C Aspergillosis%u002C Athletes Foot%u002C Bloodborne Pathogens%u002C Conjunctivitis%u002C Contact Dermatitis%u002C Cryptococcoses%u002C Dysentery%u002C Infections%u002C Finger Nail Fungus%u002C Hepatitis-A%u002C Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis%u002C Legionella Pneumonitis%u002C Occupational Related Respiratory Diseases%u002C Pink-Eye%u002C Tetanus%u002C Toxins   Water Loss Institute A professional organization inside ASCR%u002C which through seminars%u002C educates contractors and adjusters in state-of-the-art methods of wet building mitigation and restorative drying. See ASCR   Water Mark A stain on a material caused by the drying of water. Education Note%u003A When water marks are still wet%u002C they may be completely removed in some instances. When water marks dry%u002C especially on cotton and silk fabrics or wall paper%u002C the water mark often becomes permanent damage. See Water Stains   Water Migration The ability of water as a liquid to disperse down through a building or across a floor%u002C where the flow and movement of water is seeking a lower level.   Water Soluble Materials that immediately%u002C or over time%u002C dissolve in water.   Water Stains In water damage mitigation%u002C it is the permanent damage condition brought about from surface water as its move upward into a material. Education Note%u003A Through capillary action%u002C once the material has absorbed surface moisture%u002C the spot where absorption stops%u002C results in a water mark%u002C if the building material or fabric is allowed to dry. Some fresh water marks can be eliminated if the material%u002C typically a fabric%u002C is immersed in water%u002C or it becomes totally wet on all sides. For example%u002C the lower wet portion of a drape which can be completely removed and immersed in water%u002C then carefully rung out and placed and sealed in a plastic bag. The drape must be immediately sent to a dry cleaner. Liability Note%u003A Make sure you have the customers written permission and they understand up-front%u002C this method is only an attempt to salvage the material from permanent water staining%u002C and you have determined the fabric material is structurally sound and worth attempting salvage. See Capillary Action%u002C Wicking   Water-blasting A high pressure stream of water used to remove and strip-away surface contaminates%u002C paint%u002C finishes and coatings. See Dry-ice Blasting%u002C Sand Blasting   Waterborne a%u0029 Microorganisms%u002C parasites%u002C and other organisms that grow and thrive in fresh moving water. b%u0029 Microorganism%u002C parasites and other living organisms%u002C including anaerobic organisms%u002C that thrive in static and stagnant water. c%u0029 Chemicals and other agents that have been identified in catastrophic flood waters.   Weep Holes Small round openings in drywall%u002C plaster and sheer paneling%u002C to allow drainage of water and the escape of moisture and vapour pressure. Restorative Drying Note%u003A Weep holes are placed behind the removed cove base%u002C and just above the mud sill or sill plate. Depending on the method of drying%u002C one or two weep holes will be placed in each wet wall cavity or every 16 inches. In commercial structures%u002C every 20 inches.   Wet Building Materials A term in the water damage and insurance industry describing building materials that are effected by water%u002C moisture or water vapour. Wet building materials are those materials which molecules of water have infiltrated the spaces between or have attached to the molecules of the material that has been effected.   Wet Cleaning a%u0029 A cleaning process using water%u002C detergents and rinsing followed by drying. Health and Education Note%u003A b%u0029 In sewage contamination wet cleaning only is applied after all of the gross sewage contamination has been removed and cleaned up. Wet cleaning of a sewage contamination includes two equal cleanings%u002C using detergents%u002C scrubbing%u002C rinsing%u002C a topical disinfectant followed by a thorough rinsing and finally%u002C fast drying of all affected salvageable surfaces.   Wet deposition Area The area in a flooded building that received the largest amount of standing water%u002C flooding%u002C sewage contamination or damage from water or effluents. All other wet areas are secondary in their treatment%u002C unless safety and health issues exist.   Wet Scrubbing The mechanical process used to loosen and remove soil%u002C debris%u002C silt%u002C sewage to paint from a surface. Education Note%u003A Wet scrubbing can be a light scrubbing action using sponges%u002C towels and hand scrub brushes%u002C more aggressive action using floor buffers%u002C to machines using a wet sanding-scrubbing process.   Wet-foggers Equipment originally made for the pesticide industry%u002C and over the past twenty five years%u002C they have been adapted to meet the needs of the insurance restoration industry. Wet foggers are electric fine-micro-mist foggers that takes a liquid and disperses it into a mist or fog. The purpose of the wet-fogging equipment is to treat large areas and effected surfaces%u002C with a chemical mist. Most mist products are manufactured for the control%u002C pairing or masking of an offensive odour%u002C while leaving a more pleasing trace-odour. See Thermal-Foggers   Wet-Rot Fungi Fungus specific to wood decay %u0028wet-rot and dry-rot%u0029 which includes many of the known fungal species. Education Note%u003A Wet-rot fungi%u002C Coniophora cerebella%u002C can be found in building framing to hardwood floors%u002C it is called a cellular fungus. Wet-rot fungi eats the inner pulp area of the wet or damp wood. It can be seen in the rotting of fence posts%u002C window sills and wooden sheds%u002C which are close to the ground%u002C but not surprising%u002C wet rot fungi can also be identified in roof rafters and gables. Like termites%u002C wet-rot fungi follows the grain of the wood. See Dry-Rot Fungi%u002C Brown-Rot Fungi%u002C White-Rot Fungi   Wet-vac A portable vacuum machine cable of removing water from a surface. Education Note%u003A A wet-vac is usually for small cleanup jobs requiring a minor amount of equipment and services to contain and remove flooding followed by drying. For larger floods%u002C a wet-vac is usually not sufficient nor practical. A wet-vac should not be confused with a dry-vac. Some dry-vacs can remove both water and dry materials%u002C while other dry-vacuums can support dry materials only. While positioned indoors%u002C a wet-vac should contain fresh water floods only. The reason%u002C is exhausting biological materials indoors that can cause a health concern to persons who breathe in spores%u002C bacteria and viruses.   WFCA An abbreviation for the World Floor Covering Association. The WFCA is the worlds largest floor covering trade association. Information on the WFCA can be found at 800/624-6880 or www.wfca.org.   White-Rot Fungi A fungus that appears white in color%u002C when viable%u002C that breaks down both the cellulose and lignin components of wood. See Brown-Rot Fungi%u002C Dry-Rot Fungi%u002C Wet-Rot Fungi   Wicking a%u0029 The upper movement of water in a water damage building that is absorbed by capillary action. b%u0029 A condition caused by surface water as it moves upward into a porous building material through absorption and capillary action. See Capillary Action%u002C Water Stains   Wide-Spectrum Disinfectant A term used for a particular disinfectant chemical that reports to kill more than one organism type%u002C typically including most fungi%u002C bacteria and viruses.   Width A word often describing a single horizontal section of a material. Several widths of a fabric for example aew sewn together to make one panel of a drape. Education Note%u003A Width is sometimes referred to as the width of a fabric%u002C the width of a room or the width of a building. Many times the width of an item is thought of as the shorter side of a room or fabric%u002C when taking into consideration %u0022width times length.%u0022   Wind Force The force of the relative %u0028outside%u0029 wind on a building%u002C along with temperature and humidity%u002C against the resistance %u0028engineering and structural components of the building%u0029. Education Note%u003A The high outside wind force pressure and humidity can result in significant interior alterations and damage.   Window of Opportunity The interval between the primary time of damage%u002C and the time where secondary damage most likely will start. The window of opportunity is before that period of time more damage or secondary damage occurs.   Wipe Sampling One of several types of collection materials including cotton balls%u002C swabs to specially prepared wipes that absorb and collect and retain surface matter for laboratory identification. Wipe sampling can be used to collect toxic materials and with satisfactory result%u002C it may be used as a method to remove toxic substances with larger pads or special material diapers. See Adsorbent Sampling%u002C Air Sampling%u002C Bulk Material Sampling%u002C Soil Sampling%u002C Surface Sampling%u002C Swab Sampling%u002C Tape Lift Sampling%u002C Water Sampling%u002C Vacuum Sampling   Wipe Tests Sampling methods used to determine the presence of biological or hazardous materials on a surface. Mitigation Note%u003A For example%u002C residual pesticides and PCBs from fire and water damages are two chemicals where wipe samples may be useful. Wipe tests are used to determine the presence of certain chemical and biological agents%u002C such as lead%u002C PCBs%u002C mercury%u002C nickel%u002C cadmium%u002C chromium%u002C sulphur compounds%u002C arsenic%u002C carcinogenic amines%u002C radionuclides%u002C corrosives%u002C dusts and microbes. Wipe Tests may be used as clearance and sanitary test in determining the absence of a certain material%u002C chemical or agent. See Smear Tabs%u002C Surface Sampling Kits%u002C Swab Sampling%u002C Tape-lift Sampling%u002C Wipe Sampling   Withdrawal of Water The removal of standing water from substructure soil or a basement%u002C either from evaporization%u002C extraction or sump-pump.   Wood Rot In building materials%u002C a decaying and rotting condition to solid wood and wood products that decomposes the wood cellulose through excess moisture or water%u002C and resulting fungi. See Dry Rot Fungi%u002C Rot%u002C Poria%u002C Wet Rot Fungi   Work Authorisation The written authorization by the building owner%u002C allowing the contractor to proceed with the work as agreed.   Work Force The combined total of trained supervisors%u002C technicians and subcontractors%u002C that make up the work force of the contractor.   Work Order A written acceptance notice and authorization to the contractor by the building owner%u002C or a written notice to employees and subcontractors by the contractor%u002C to proceed with the work as agreed and scheduled.   Working Level The level of activity expected or that can be sustained%u002C during work over an 8-hour work day. Work levels will change depending on the hazard and safety%u002C work activity%u002C temperature and humidity%u002C level of personal protection%u002C confined space%u002C ergonomics%u002C and exhaustion.