Water Loss- Categories and Classes

12/23/2019 (Permalink)

Water Loss- Categories and Classes

Water Losses in a home happen all the time whether the home has experienced damaging storms, pipe bursts, or even utility failure. Water Mitigation and Remediation companies like SERVPRO decipher water losses under categories’ and class. There are 3 categories when dealing with a water loss. The category is determined by the originating source and the level of contamination.

Category 1 (Cat1)

Cat 1 water loss means that the loss happened from a clean water supply and does not carry a risk if ingested or inhaled. Examples of a Cat 1 water loss included broken water supply lines and sink or tub overflow with no contaminants.

Category 2 (Cat2)

Cat 2 water loss means that the loss happened from a contaminated water source that has potential risk that is unsafe to ingest or even inhale. Examples of a Cat 2 water loss include overflows of washing machines, discharge from dishwashers, and overflows from toilet bowls.

Category 3 (Cat3)

Cat 3 water loss is the highest category with the most risk. Cat 3 water loss can contain pathogens, micro organisms and other harmful agents. Examples of a Cat3 water loss is sewage and outside driven weather condition that damage the home and disrupt its structure.

Water losses also carry a class depending on the amount of water and the anticipated rate of drying of wet materials. There are 4 classes to consider when there is a water loss.

Class 1 water loss may affect part of a room or minimal materials with the least amount of water and drying time.

Class 2 water loss may affect an entire room with a large amount of water and minor drying time.

Class 3 water loss may affect from above, such as ceilings, walls, and insulation with a greater amount of water and increasingly slow drying time.

Class 4 water loss is the highest class. This means that there is deep saturation and destruction of wet materials, usually hardwood floors, plaster, brick and concrete. This class requires long drying times and special methods including demolition.