What Should I Do After a Commercial Partial Loss?

5/24/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and soot damage to an office building in South Whittier, CA.

What To Do After A Partial Fire Loss?

No commercial fire loss is the same. Sometimes, a fire will completely consume the entirety of your South Whittier, CA, business. Other times, the fire is extinguished before it does or another nearby incident affects your building. The latter scenario, known as a partial loss, has different rules regarding insurance, inspection and repair. You need to take certain actions to resolve the problem efficiently.

Take the Situation Seriously
Not all fire damage is visible and obvious. Ash and smoke damage can be found inside air ducts, water appliances and other areas you might not immediately notice. Some structures may also be more vulnerable due to fire heat or sprinkler water. These incidents can impact the well-being of everyone inside and the productivity of the business. Treat this situation as a complete loss to prevent any damage escalation. Make sure your insurance company also covers the necessary repair and replacement expenses.

Request a Full Inspection and Restoration
Any type of fire loss warrants a full damage inspection and repairs as needed. The fire remediation company working on your case should check the following areas:

• Windows
  
• Iron and steel structures
  
• Roofs
  
• HVAC and plumbing
  
• Interior walls
  
  

These elements are crucial to your commercial building, but also the ones most vulnerable to fire heat. Run detailed inspections to fix them as soon as possible.

Work With Professionals
A partial loss still presents a challenge to you and your business, so you might not have all the necessary time and resources to handle the situation. Therefore, it is important to work with not just your insurance agency but also with professional fire restoration specialists. They have the right equipment and expertise to detect any potential issues you might not see immediately and fix them to keep your commercial building in strong shape.
Even if your property seems intact, it is still a fire loss if some items and structures are in need of a fix or a replacement. A complete inspection and remediation can prevent any future problems.