Commercial Fire Damage: Getting Your Business Back to Work
A fire at a commercial property is more than just a building issue; it’s a business crisis. The damage goes beyond burned materials. Smoke, soot, and water from firefighting efforts can compromise your inventory, equipment, and structural integrity, leading to costly downtime.
ERX specializes in commercial fire damage restoration. Our team focuses on stabilizing the situation immediately to minimize business interruption. We understand the need to get your doors back open fast, ensuring the space is clean, safe, and code-compliant. We have certified technicians on call 24/7, ready to mobilize with the equipment and manpower needed for large-scale commercial losses.
Immediate Emergency Response for Commercial Fire Damage
In a commercial setting, every hour of downtime means lost revenue. ERX provides round-the-clock emergency response to get ahead of the damage.
- Rapid Mobilization: Once we receive your call, we deploy our large-loss teams with industrial-grade equipment to secure the site and begin mitigation. The goal is to stop secondary damage from soot, smoke, and water.
- Assessment and Planning: We conduct a comprehensive assessment of the structural damage, HVAC systems, and affected contents. This allows us to create a phased restoration plan tailored to your business’s operational needs, prioritizing areas to get you partially back online if possible.
Expert Commercial Mitigation and Soot Removal
Commercial fires often involve unique materials like plastics, chemicals, and electronics, creating corrosive soot that can rapidly damage machinery and inventory. Our commercial fire damage team uses specialized methods to address these challenges.
- Soot Removal: We use heavy-duty HEPA vacuums, chemical sponges, and industrial cleaning agents designed to remove heavy soot deposits from surfaces, machinery, and structural steel without causing further damage.
Air Quality Management: We deploy large-scale air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators to tackle the intense odors and airborne particulates common in commercial fires, ensuring a safe environment for your staff and customers.
Our Commercial Fire Damage Restoration Services
When a fire occurs in a business, the restoration process must be efficient and thorough to meet safety codes and get operations running again. ERX handles the entire project from initial board-up to final reconstruction.
Structural Cleaning and Repairs
Fire and smoke can compromise the structural integrity of a commercial building. Our team addresses damage to load-bearing walls, steel beams, and roofing systems.
Detailed Cleaning and Repairs: We use pressure washing, media blasting, and commercial-grade degreasers to clean large surface areas like warehouse walls and ceilings. We replace damaged drywall, suspended ceilings, flooring, and any other structural components to bring the facility back to pre-loss condition and ensure it meets building codes.
Commercial Odor Removal Techniques
Lingering smoke odors can drive away customers and make a workspace uninhabitable. We use industrial-scale deodorization methods to eliminate odors at the source.
Advanced Deodorization: For large commercial spaces, we utilize high-capacity thermal foggers and ozone machines that can treat vast areas effectively. These advanced techniques neutralize odor molecules embedded in concrete, drywall, and insulation, providing a permanent solution.
Commercial HVAC and Duct Cleaning
Commercial HVAC systems are complex and can spread smoke and soot throughout an entire building instantly. Failing to clean them properly can lead to ongoing air quality issues.
Full HVAC Decontamination: We have the expertise to clean industrial-sized air handlers, ductwork, and ventilation shafts. We replace commercial filters and sanitize the entire system to prevent cross-contamination of clean areas.
Contents Cleaning and Inventory Management
Your business's assets, from office electronics and files to warehouse inventory and machinery, are vital.
Professional Packout and Cleaning: We meticulously inventory, pack, and transport salvageable items to our secure facility for specialized cleaning. We use ultrasonic cleaning for electronics and machinery parts, and specialized processes for documents and textiles, storing them until your facility is ready.
Securing Your Commercial Property
A fire can leave your business vulnerable to theft, vandalism, and weather. Securing the site is our immediate priority.
Property Protection: We provide emergency board-up services for windows, doors, and compromised roofs. We can also erect temporary fencing to secure the perimeter of the site, protecting your liability and assets while restoration is underway.
Commercial Insurance Coordination
Commercial fire claims are complex, often involving business interruption coverage and multiple stakeholders.
Claims Assistance: ERX has extensive experience navigating commercial insurance policies. We provide detailed documentation, including matterport 3D scans, photo logs, and itemized estimates, working directly with your adjuster to facilitate a smooth and timely settlement.
Business Continuity and Future Protection
Once the immediate crisis is resolved, we help you plan for the future to minimize risk.
Prevention Strategies: We can offer recommendations for improving fire safety, such as upgrading fire suppression systems, using fire-resistant building materials, and developing a comprehensive disaster recovery plan for your business.
Why Choose ERX for Commercial Fire Damage?
- Large Loss Capability: We have the resources, equipment, and manpower to handle expansive commercial restoration projects, from retail stores to industrial warehouses.
- Minimizing Business Interruption: We understand the cost of downtime. We work efficiently, often after hours or in phases, to get your business operational as quickly as possible.
- Certified Technicians: Our team holds IICRC certifications in Fire & Smoke Restoration and Commercial Drying, ensuring expert handling of complex commercial losses.
- Turnkey Solution: From emergency mitigation and contents cleaning to full structural reconstruction, ERX manages the entire project, providing a single point of contact for all your restoration needs.
Fire Damage/Steps FAQ
How quickly can ERX respond to a commercial fire?
We offer 24/7 emergency response and typically dispatch our large-loss teams immediately upon receiving a call to secure the site and begin mitigation.
Can you help us stay partially open during restoration?
In many cases, yes. We can use containment barriers to isolate work zones, allowing unaffected parts of your business to continue operating safely while we restore the damaged areas.
Do you handle water damage from firefighting efforts?
Yes. Water damage is almost always present after a fire. Our team is fully equipped for commercial water extraction and structural drying as part of the comprehensive fire restoration process.
How do you handle sensitive business documents and electronics?
We use specialized cleaning methods, such as freeze-drying for documents and ultrasonic cleaning for electronics, to restore salvageable items that have been affected by smoke or water.
Will you work directly with our commercial insurance carrier?
Yes. We have extensive experience with commercial claims and will provide all necessary documentation, estimates, and communication to your insurance adjuster to expedite the process.
What safety protocols do you follow during restoration?
Safety is paramount. We adhere to all OSHA regulations and industry standards, using proper PPE, containment, and air filtration to ensure a safe environment for our crew and your employees.
How long does commercial fire restoration take?
The timeline varies greatly depending on the size of the building and the severity of the damage. After our initial assessment, we will provide a detailed project schedule so you can plan accordingly.
Do I need to hire separate contractors for repairs?
No. ERX is a full-service restoration company. We handle everything from the initial cleanup to the final structural repairs and reconstruction, streamlining the process for you.
Where can I find more information on commercial fire safety
For trusted guidance, you can review resources from federal agencies:
OSHA’s Fire Safety Standards: Information on workplace fire safety regulations.
FEMA’s Commercial Fire Safety Guide: Resources for businesses to plan and prepare for fire emergencies. Reviewing these can help you understand best practices for protecting your business.