Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Scope of Work

A written definition of the restoration tasks, materials, methods, and quantities to be performed, establishing the boundary between included work and change orders.

Change Order

A written, dated authorization for work outside the agreed scope, including added cost and time, signed before the extra work begins.

Pre-existing Damage

Deterioration or damage present before the loss event that must be documented and excluded from the restoration scope to prevent liability shifting to the restorer.

Unit-Cost Estimating

A pricing method using quantity multiplied by unit price per line item, where quantities come from measured areas rather than the adjuster's original estimate.

Contents Pack-Out

Removal of salvageable contents to a controlled facility for cleaning, inventory, storage, and later return, scoped and priced separately from structural work.

Mitigation

Emergency actions that stop the source, protect the structure, and prevent secondary damage before cleaning and reconstruction begin.

Negative Air Pressure

A containment condition where exhaust exceeds supply so air flows into the work zone, preventing soot and contaminants from escaping to unaffected areas.

HEPA Filtration

High-efficiency particulate air filtration that captures fine soot and particulate matter, used with containment to protect occupants and unaffected zones.

Dry Soot Removal

Removal of acidic, hygroscopic soot by HEPA vacuuming and dry sponging before any wet cleaning, preventing smearing and deeper penetration.

Charred Member Removal

Removal of structural wood that has lost section or is severely charred, rather than coating it, because char reduces load capacity.

Daily Moisture Log

A record of moisture readings, temperature, and humidity taken at documented locations each day to prove drying progress and support the mitigation file.

Cleaning Definition

Removal of residue until the surface returns to its pre-loss condition; masking odor or appearance without removing residue is not cleaning.

Chemistry Matching

Selecting a cleaning agent by residue type: alkaline for protein and grease smoke, acidic for some soot films, solvent for oils and adhesives.

Spot Test

Applying a cleaning agent to an inconspicuous area first to confirm it will not damage dyes, finishes, or porous substrates.

Clean-to-Dirty Sequence

A work order that proceeds from clean areas to dirty areas and from high to low, preventing recontamination of already cleaned surfaces.

Porous Material Limit

Drywall paper, insulation, and upholstery padding that have absorbed smoke residue generally cannot be cleaned and must be removed and replaced.

Contents Inventory

An item-numbered record with description, condition, and disposition for each content item, photographed and tracked to prevent loss claims.

Odor Source Removal

The first deodorization step: removing char, soot, and contaminated porous materials, because no deodorizer can overcome an uncleaned source.

Thermal Fogging

A treatment that recreates smoke particle size to penetrate the same cavities smoke reached; it treats surfaces and air but does not replace cleaning.

Ozone Treatment

Use of a strong oxidizing gas to destroy odor molecules; the space must be unoccupied during treatment and ventilated before re-entry.

Hydroxyl Generator

An oxidizing deodorization device that can be used in occupied spaces, unlike ozone, which requires the space to be vacated.

Odor-Blocking Sealer

A shellac or specialty primer applied only after cleaning to seal residual odor in cavities and substrates; applying it over residue traps odor.

Odor Clearance Test

A documented sniff test by the client or a third party after treatment confirming odor has been reduced to an acceptable level.

Subrogation

The insurer's right, after paying the insured's claim, to pursue the party legally responsible for the loss to recover the payment.

Responsible Party Identification

Early determination of the cause and liable party, such as a defective appliance, contractor error, product failure, or third-party negligence.

Evidence Preservation

Keeping a failed component in its as-found condition, tagged, photographed, and stored under chain of custody for use in a subrogation claim.

Statute of Limitations

A jurisdictional deadline for filing a subrogation claim; missing it can bar recovery regardless of the strength of the evidence.

Spoliation

The loss, destruction, or alteration of evidence relevant to litigation, which can result in court sanctions or a separate legal claim.

Duty to Preserve

A legal obligation to keep evidence that arises when litigation is reasonably anticipated, not only after a lawsuit is formally filed.

Chain of Custody

A written record of who handled an evidence item, when, and where it was stored; gaps in the record weaken its evidentiary value.

Written Release to Dispose

Signed authorization from the insurer or client permitting disposal of a potentially relevant item; required before any evidence is discarded.

Contemporaneous Documentation

Notes, photos, and readings recorded at the time of the work; later reconstruction of records is weaker evidence and invites challenge.