Airborne Smoke Residues - Lincoln, RI

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

A burning fire releases toxic gasses into the air. organic materials produce nitrogen when they burn. Inorganic materials produce sulfur when they burn. Nitrogen and sulfur are hydrocarbons and some hydrocarbons cause cancer. Some of the gasses that make up smoke are quite toxic, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen chloride. Once the fire is extinguished, the smoke residues that remain and the airborne particles coming from residues may still be harmful if technicians inhale them. 

Steps can be taken to allow technicians to work safely in fire damaged structures. Structures should be ventilated with Fireman's Fans. Odors from smoke residues develop as gasses evaporate from the burned debris into the air. Ventilation removes most of the gasses emitted from debris in the building. 

Respirators protect technicians from breathing potentially harmful residues stirred into the air by the work process. Whether a respirator is needed depends on the concentration of residues. A loss site with light smoke residues might be cleaned safely without a respirator. A loss site with heavy, loose residues might cause concentrations of smoke particles to become airborne, thus requiring a respirator. The type of respirator needed (paper filter mask or half-face-piece respirator with HEPA filter) depends on the level of smoke residues. An air scrubber with HEPA filtration will reduce airborne particles concentrations when technicians are cleaning an area with extremely high levels of smoke residues.

Need a smoke or fire clean up call SERVPRO of Northern Rhode Island at (401) 949-9955!