Instructor Ed Jones has over 30 years of experience in theindustry, has the title of MasterWater Restorer, is an Institute ofInspection Cleaning andRestoration Certification (IICRC)-approved instructor, and hasserved on the S500-2021consensus body committee todevelop the most recent standard.
As I have watched the water mitigation industry evolve over the last 40 years, I have come to realize that the IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration has increasingly gained importance.
It is often referenced by adjusters, TPAs, and restorers in today’s water damage mitigation industry.
Unfortunately, as with any book or set of standards, it is open for interpretation. Some of the guidance can be vague or left open to subjectivity.
I have even seen IICRC-approved WRT instructors incorrectly reference that Category 1, or clean water, deteriorates to Category 2 when the water runs through insulation, a ceiling cavity, or a wall cavity.
If you look at the Category 2 definition, it states:
“Category 2 water contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if contacted or consumed by humans.”
I tell my students that the word “significant” is significant.
That means it should reflect a significant microorganism risk.
Water that originated from a supply line and ran through a wall, ceiling cavity, or insulation would not automatically meet that threshold unless there is clear evidence of significant microorganism risk.
Remember, we do not live in sterile environments.
The definitions of category of water in the IICRC S500-2021 can be confusing because they involve a subjective determination.
That determination can have major consequences, including:
Because of that, restorers need to be prepared to explain their reasoning clearly.
It is all about the documentation and the evidence you can provide to materially interested parties, also known as MIPs.
Your recommendation should be supported by what you can document.
That may include:
Good documentation helps support why you determined a certain category of water and why certain materials should be restored or removed.
In a world that is relying more and more on Artificial Intelligence, also known as AI, we still need technicians who know how to critically think their way to the right answer.
Category of water should not be determined automatically or based on assumptions.
It requires looking at the specific circumstances of the loss and applying professional judgment.
The emphasis should be on restoring materials, not automatically removing and replacing materials.
We can always remove and replace, but the mindset should be to restore whenever possible.
It is important to note that the IICRC S500-2021 Professional Water Damage Restoration Standard calls contractors “restorers” for a reason.
A common-sense approach to category of water requires critical thinking, clear documentation, and evidence-based reasoning.
Do not assume that Category 1 water automatically becomes Category 2 simply because it moved through a wall, ceiling cavity, or insulation.
Instead, look for clear evidence of significant contamination or microorganism risk, document your reasoning, and be prepared to explain your determination to materially interested parties.
The goal should always be to restore materials whenever possible and only remove and replace when the evidence supports it.
