Ask an Expert: How should grey and black water remediation be assessed and applied?

Question: What are the core definitions and parameters for a complete strip-out of flood-affected areas due to grey and black water? How do initial assessments determine the appropriate "make safe" treatments, project scope, or repair strategy?

With some insurers and loss adjusters taking different approaches, there seems to be inconsistency in how these situations are handled. Too often, overzealous trades push for full strip-outs, while remediators advocate for treatment and drying — how should these approaches be balanced to ensure effective and appropriate remediation while aligning with insurer expectations?

Flood damage to buildings is a complicated area of damage assessment, where both remediation or structural approach must be assessed on individual merit, risk assessment and extent of current and future related damage.

Although at first, remediation attempts must be made to appropriately dry out building elements and materials to mitigate the onset of mould, contamination or significant deterioration, a commercial and holistic assessment must be made through an impartial basis aside from any commercial gain or qualification.

In saying this, a risk mitigation view should be taken in assessing each affected element once exposed and wet/sodden material is removed before any commencement of remediation, drying or mould removal actions take place.

That is a risk assessment on the past, present and future view of the material conditions before the loss, how the material would be valued following an attempt to remediate versus replacement and ultimately the future condition both structurally and from a customer’s perspective be acceptable as a response to a pre-loss condition.

From experience in reporting and investigating flood claims, many times best intentions are made by restorers to remediate damage from a flood event at cost and time to the insurer and Insured to only have it removed and replaced due to its inability to meet structural expectations and warranty condition, equally the customers’ expectations of what they are entitled to under the policy.

At best, a balanced approach is to remove and expose all elements, provide a structural/building diagnostic review of the individual damaged elements and then make both a commercial and risk assessment of whether approaches of remediation or replacement are to be made.

This method will ultimately produce the best outcomes for the customer, provide a clear path for either remediation or replacement and develop the best commercial outcome for the claim.

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