Page 60 - Complete CRW Catalog

58 Smoke & Soot Cleaning

Fire and Smoke Odor Cleaning and Deodorization
The following guidelines are suggestions only. Training and experience will be most helpful in deciding the best procedures and cleaning agents
for use in fire and smoke situations. Please contact your local CRW Supply Distributor for a schedule of training schools and seminars that are
coming to your area. Proper testing and care must be taken before using any of the following suggestions and products on any surfaces.
Types Of Fires:
CHEMICALS
Protein Fires - These would include stove-top fires, burned and charred meat, or most fires where living tissue or hair proteins are involved.
Wood and Paper Fires - These would include attic fires, fireplace puff-backs, most trash can fires and general home fires where mostly the
wood structure is involved.
Synthetic Fires - These include fires that involve carpeting and upholstered furnishings, electrical fires, and fires where plastic materials
have been burnt. Note: most home fires will be a combination of wood and synthetic types.
Safety First Compatibility Testing
Before starting a soot removal job equip yourself with proper PPE. Wood soot Before cleaning items, test to ensure that any items
contains many harmful chemicals, and the small size of the particles allows cleaned with water-based cleaning solutions are not sensi-
them to penetrate deeply into lungs. Additionally, soot can combine with tive to water: this includes distortion, color bleed, warping,
moisture to form an acid with is damaging to people and property. Follow etc. If an item is water-sensitive, dry cleaning methods will
IICRC guidelines on proper PPE. At a minimum, an N95 mask, safety glasses, need to be used. Contact your local CRW Supply if you
and chemical-resistant gloves should be worn. have questions.
STEP 1 – DISPOSAL Gekko SX-7 #AR51G can be used to power rinse surfaces. This will speed
Dispose of any heavily charred materials that can’t be salvaged. up the rinsing process.
STEP 2 – DRY SOOT REMOVAL STEP 4 – ODOR NEUTRALIZATION
Wood fires are generally the easiest to clean up. The soot left behind 1. Vaportek Vapor Shark #AR49 along with Smoke Odor Solution (SOS)
is often dry and more easily removed by vacuuming and the use of membranes #A27839 can be used as soon as you begin working since
a soot sponge than plastic or protein fires. Use a HEPA vacuum to they can be used in occupied areas.
remove as much soot as possible. Follow this up with a soot sponge 2. Use a ULV (cold) fogger to apply OmniPro Smoke & More Lemon
(also called a dry cleaning sponge) or a lamb’s wool duster. These #1665-2149 or OmniPro Smoke & More Original #1666-2140 at the
will provide physical agitation and remove soot that the vacuum recommended dilution.
can’t. Be careful not to apply to much pressure when removing soot 3. When spraying a hard surface like drywall, wipe off the surface to prevent
with a soot sponge on porous surfaces. You want to avoid driving water spots. Some surfaces like glass won’t need deodorization if they’ve
the soot deeper into the surface. been cleaned properly.
STEP 3 – CLEANING 4. If a ULV fogger isn’t reducing the odor, try using a thermal fogger. A ther-
Soot caused by synthetic material, like plastic, will be oily and can’t mal fogger creates smaller particles than a ULV fogger which allows them
be removed with vacuuming and soot sponges alone. Heavy duty to penetrate deeper into materials. Proper safety procedures, including
degreasers are required to break down the bonds the soot has with appropriate respiratory protection, must be followed when using a thermal
the surface. Most fires are a mix of synthetic and wood, so you’ll fogger. Use the following deodorizers for these types of fires:
almost always need to use a degreaser to completely remove the a. Protein Fires: Odorx Thermo2000, Citrus #Cd92GL
soot. Glass, highly polished metal surfaces such as appliances, b. Wood and Paper Fires: Odorx Thermo-2000, Cherry #CD91GL
and natural stone are most susceptible to acids formed following a c. Synthetic Fires: Odorx Thermo-2000, Kentucky Blue Grass #A56846
fire. Clean these surfaces first. STEP 5 – ODOR SEALING
Textiles: Carpet, Upholstery, and Clothing Some odors are so extreme that they require a sealer to prevent them from
1. Apply OmniPro Soot Wash #1638-6207 according to directions. returning. This is often the case with porous materials like drywall or wood.
2. If boosting is needed for: The small size of the smoke molecule, and the heat and pressure from the
a. Whitening – add Groom Solutions Pet Force #CD516A fire, drive the molecule so deep into the material that cleaners and deodor-
according to directions izers are ineffective at removing these odors.
b. Degreasing – add an industry standard citrus solvent In these severe cases, a sealer can be painted on to the material to perma-
according to directions nently trap odors behind a water-permeable barrier.
c. Deodorizing – add OmniPro Smoke and More, Original #1666-2140 1. Ensure surface is dry and free from soot before applying sealer.
3. Rinse according to directions with either Vibrant #CD506GL for polyester 2. Apply sealer according to label directions. Sealers can be sprayed, rolled,
or olefin fibers, or Refreshsoft #CC508GL for nylon or wool fibers.
or brushed on.
Wood 3. Recommended sealers:
1. Porous, deeply stained wood might require the use of a degreaser a. Clear: Fiberlock Recon Ultra Smoke Odor Sealer #1605-5182
to lift the soot out of the pores. Apply a light amount of OmniPro Vis- b. White: Fiberlock Recon Ultra Smoke Odor Sealer #1653-5458
sion #1673-2240, if needed, to remove embedded soot. Use as little 4. Once dry, surface may be painted. The sealers above serve as both primer
as possible and be aware that excess water can warp the wood. Wipe and sealer.
off any remaining moisture.
2. If a degreaser won’t remove the soot, you can use #0000 steel wool. MISC. TIPS
3. After cleaning, the oils in the wood can be removed and leave the • Accelerate drying of large areas with a large OmniDry air mover #AC25A/
wood looking dull. Apply OmniPro Lemon Oil Furniture Polish AC25R, or for small areas, like closets, use the OmniDry mini air mover
#1652-2245 to restore luster back to the wood. #1626-6924/1627-6925.
Glass • Water damage is often a secondary issue with structural fires. Detect wet
1. Spray OmniPro Ultimate Glass Cleaner #1652-2649 onto glass surface areas using an OmniPro meter.
and wipe off using a microfiber cloth. - OmniPro M18-400 Multifunction Meter: moisture, psychrometer, IR
thermometer, #1631-6527
Hard Surfaces: Tile, Stone, Concrete, Countertops, Painted Drywall - OmniPro T16-200 IR thermometer, #1600-5643
1.Spray or sponge OmniPro Vission #1673-2240 or OmniPro Fire Power - OmniPro M18-500 Restoration Multi Meter: hygrometer, IR thermom-
#1617-2847 onto the surface at the recommended dilution. Wash vertical eter, distance meter, #1633-6529
surfaces starting from the bottom up. This will prevent streaks. • Air quality can be measured using an OmniPro X16-200 Mini Particle
2. Rinse with water and wipe dry. For surfaces that are not water sensitive, a
www.crwsupply.com
Counter #1601-5644.