The S500 standards state that upon initiating drying, the restorer should install 1 airmover in each affected room and, in addition, add 1 airmover for every 50 to 70 square feet of affected wet floor in each room (to address floors and lower wall surfaces, up to approximately 2 feet), 1 airmover for each 100 to 150 square feet of affected wet ceiling and wall areas above the bottom two feet of walls, and add 1 airmover for each wall inset and offset greater than 18 inches.

Of course, Accuserve’s System does these calculations behind the scenes and on every claim, once the SF of affected materials are entered in for a room, our system will give you a maximum and minimum for recommended number of airmovers per room. That’s the easy part!

Don’t forget you also have to make sure the number of airmovers authorized for each room is validated by the equipment setup photos, sketch with dimensions, and moisture content readings. The guiding rule in the S500-2021 is that airmovers should be set up to provide continuous airflow across all affected wet surfaces (e.g., floors, walls, ceilings). Airmovers should deliver air along the lower portion of the affected wall and edge of floor, pointed in the same direction the first day, at an angle of 5 to 45 degrees along the entire length of affected walls.

It is important that airmovers are only placed to provide airflow on wet surfaces, so the moisture content readings in the moisture content record MUST support the amount of airmovers placed in a room by showing those walls, floors, ceilings were actually wet and needed airflow to cause evaporation of moisture. Use Accuserve’s System, but don’t forget to think situationally! See photos on the next page, taken from real drying projects of the right and wrong ways to place airmovers:

Airmover Validation Checklist

1. Use Industry Standard to validate number of airmovers per room
2. Review equipment setup photos and sketch to validate airmovers setup properly
3. Validate airmovers needed by checking moisture content records to ensure materials wet where airmovers placed