Glossary of Terms
This section is a reference of the terms that we may use in our communication and documents when working on your water damage restoration project. Use this section to reference specific terms in more detail.
Air Filtration Device (AFD)
Depending on the mode of use, and AFD that filters (usually HEPA) and re-circulates air is referred to as an air scrubber. An AFD that filters air and creates a negative pressure is referred to as a negative air machine (NAM).
Airmover
A specialized mechanically operated drying unit that promotes evaporation. Airmovers incorporate an electric motor, fan and specially designed housing for use in drying carpet, cushion, and sub-floors or structural components (wood floors, walls, crawl spaces, etc.), often by injecting air movement over or under the flooring or inside structural cavities or air spaces.
Antimicrobial
Literally, "against microorganisms". A substance, mechanism or condition that inhibits the growth or existence of an organism. (e.g., fungi, bacteria, viruses and other organisms) Cp, "sterilize, disinfect, sanitize"
Balanced Drying
The equalization of evaporation and dehumidification. An idea drying situation in which the rate of evaporation of moister from the structure and content is equal to or slightly less than the rate of dehumidification or moister removal from the air. The objective in balanced drying is to prevent moisture absorption from the air into unaffected materials and thus, to minimize or eliminate secondary damage.
Dehumidification
The process of reducing the moister content of air
Dehumidifier
A mechanical device that promotes dehumidification. Two types of dehumidifiers are used in water damage restoration: refrigerant (operating on the condensation principle), and desiccant (operating on the absorption principle).
Dry Air
Air with no suspended moister vapor. At sea level 14 cubic feet of dry air weighs one pound.
Dry Standard
The dry standard is determined by taking moisture content readings from known dry materials in an undamaged area or structure and using these reading s to establish a drying goal.
Drying Goal
A target moister level based on either a dry standard or known equilibrium moisture content (ECM).
Equilibrium Moisture Content (ECM)
The condition in which the moisture content of a structural material has stabilized in relation to relative humidity and temperature of surrounding air; i.e. no more moister absorption can occur at the temperature and humidity.
Moisture Content (MC)
The percentage or weight of moisture in materials as compared to the weight of that material when completely dry (oven dried); e.g., structural wood with a moisture content of 10% indicated that 100 pounds of that wood contains 10 pounds of water.
Moisture Detector
An instrument that has two stainless steel probes designed to penetrate the primary and secondary backing of carpet. when moister is encountered in the carpet, cushion, or sub-floor materials, a circuit is completed between the two probes and a light and/or buzzer will sound to indicate the presence of that water.
Moisture Meter
An electronic moisture sensing device used to measure the internal moisture percentage of various construction materials, such as wood, gypsum board, masonry, etc. There are two general categories of moisture meters: penetrating and non-penetrating. Penetrating meters use sharp pins or probes that inserted into materials to measure the moisture percentage contained therein. Non-penetrating meters transmit electrical impulses into the materials and measure resistance tin order to electronically determine moister content. Different setting on non-penetrating meters enable technicians to detect moister in materials of various densities; i.e., wood, drywall, masonry; however, absorption or direct contact with the moisture and the material being tested is required for accurate readings from non-penetrating moister meters. CP "hygrometer" and "moisture detector".
Personalized Protective Equipment (PPE)
Specialized clothing or equipment (e.g., gloves, goggles, respirators, hard hats, etc.) worn by workers for protection against a hazard.
Relative Humidity (RH)
The relationship between air volume and the amount of moisture it holds at a specific temperature expressed as a percentage of that air's total moisture holding capacity; i.e., the amount of moisture in a give volume of air, expressed as percentage of the total moisture holding capacity of that volume of air, at a given temperature. As temperature increases, humidity "relative" to total air volume decreases; conversely, as temperature decreases, RH increases.
Restorative Drying
The removal of water and excess moisture and humidity from a structure and damaged materials following an unwanted release or infiltration of water from several possible sources, and returning that structure and it's components and contents to a pre-damaged state of moisture content and humidity. There are four principles involved in restorative drying: mechanical extraction of excess water; promotion of evaporation through air movement; temperature control and dehumidification.
Scope of Work
The work plan or protocol for a restoration or remediation project. It identifies who will be responsible for the various components of the plan and how it will be implemented.
Work Authorization
A form which, when properly executed, allows an individual or company to work on the premises or property of another, often under the terms of the owners insurance policy.
