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.
Category of water is one of the most misunderstood terms in today’s water damage restoration industry. Mainly because it is a subjective determination, not all IICRC-approved instructors teach the definition the same way.
Everyone likes things to be black and white, but in this case, determining the category of water requires critical thinking.
The ANSI/IICRC S500-2021 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration states that categories of water refer to the range of contamination in water, considering both its originating source and its quality after it contacts materials present on the job site.
Time and temperature can affect or retard the amplification of contaminants, thereby affecting the category of water.
Restorers should consider potential contamination, which is defined as the presence of undesired substances. These substances may not be reflective of a normal indoor environment and may produce adverse health effects, cause damage to structure, systems, or contents, or adversely affect the operation or function of building systems.
The main issue is that some instructors teach that water originating from a water supply line, which is Category 1, deteriorates to Category 2 as soon as it runs through a wall or ceiling cavity due to “building soils.”
Unfortunately, this is incorrect because “building soils” are reflective of a normal indoor environment. We do not live in sterile environments.
Do not forget that the Category 1 definition states that Category 1 water does not pose substantial risk. Category 2 water, however, contains significant contamination and has the potential to cause discomfort or sickness.
That is a big difference from Category 1 to Category 2.
I tell my students that the word “significant” in the Category 2 definition is significant.
In my article, 7 Factors to Consider When Determining Category of Water, I list the following considerations.
The origin of the loss is one of the first things to consider.
Examples include:
Understanding where the water came from helps guide the category determination.
Time is a factor, but no specific timeline is provided in the S500.
Water must sit long enough to become significantly contaminated before it moves from Category 1 to Category 2.
This means restorers should not assume that time alone automatically changes the category without considering the overall conditions.
Odors can be an indicator of potential hidden water damage.
Musty or moldy odors may suggest that additional investigation is needed. In some cases, it may be necessary to open a small area to look for visible mold.
Building history is another important factor.
Older buildings or structures with previous moisture issues may deteriorate more quickly to Category 2.
The history of the building can help restorers better understand the potential for contamination.
Visible mold that came from the water loss may be an indicator of how long the water has been in contact with building materials or contents.
This can help support the restorer’s evaluation of the category of water.
Conditions inside the structure can also change the category of water from Category 1 to Category 2.
Examples may include:
These factors should be considered when determining the level of contamination.
Temperature plays a role in how quickly microorganisms can grow and proliferate.
Warmer conditions may accelerate microbial growth, which can impact the category determination.
In today’s world, homeowner’s insurance premiums have risen significantly in many areas. Because of this, we must only perform demolition when absolutely necessary.
Category of water is important because it can trigger important safety precautions. It can also affect the amount of demolition required based on industry standards and whether materials can be restored or should be removed and replaced.
The goal should not be to remove materials unnecessarily. The goal should be to restore when possible and remove only when needed.
In summary, I think our industry has gotten into a habit of performing demolition. I am disappointed that I see the same amount of demolition now, in many cases, as I saw in the 1980s before we had better drying technology.
We can do better.
To improve, we must focus on performing the little things extremely well, including:
The S500-2021 calls contractors “Restorers” on purpose.
The mindset should be restoring materials and only removing and replacing them as a last resort.
Determining the category of water is not always black and white. It requires critical thinking, proper documentation, and a clear understanding of contamination, building conditions, time, temperature, and source of loss.
By making better category determinations, restorers can improve safety, reduce unnecessary demolition, support better drying decisions, and provide a stronger file for all materially interested parties.
