Dan Bernazzani

On June 28-July 1, a private IICRC-approved Applied Structural Drying (ASD) class was held in Springfield, Ohio, for consultants from YOUNG & Associates’ Environmental Team.

Ever since Dr. Michael Berry published his guide for the cleaning and restoration industry entitled: Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health (Tricomm 21st Press,” 1993), I have seen a shift in the way professional cleaners and restorers manage pollutants in the built environment.

Safety should always be at the front of our minds on any job – from biohazard cleanup to fire restoration. But the truth is, once our mind is focused on the job at hand, it’s easy to forget simple ways to keep ourselves and our team safe. 

The most important principle of drying is to understand the transfer of energy.

The effective use of disinfectants as part of our strategy to return contaminated surfaces to a sanitary condition has been known for many years.

About 30 years ago, thermal imaging cameras began making their way into the disaster restoration industry. It wasn’t a sudden change and they certainly were not new. 

Organizations with training in water damage and fire restoration will soon be faced with spring storm and hurricane season.

The year 2013 saw many research projects conducted at HSG CodeBlue’s Structural Drying Laboratory in Springfield, Ohio.

Structural drying is a simple concept: Remove excess moisture from wet materials that make up the structure until it reaches a reasonable approximation of a dry standard or goal.

It was cold in Utah with snow falling quietly, quickly mounting up on the ski trails at Snow Bird resort when my cell phone rang.