Water Damage Restoration Technician flashcards
Water Damage Restoration Technician · Build recall with a focused review session.
33 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Category 1 water
- Water from a sanitary source that does not pose a substantial risk of illness, such as a broken supply line or clean rainwater not in contact with soil.
- Category 2 water
- Gray water that carries some contamination and can cause discomfort or illness if ingested, such as washing machine discharge or toilet overflow without solids.
- Category 3 water
- Black water that is grossly contaminated with pathogens, toxins, or chemicals, such as sewage backups, ground surface water, and floodwater from rivers.
- Class 1 intrusion
- Least amount of water absorbed with a low evaporation load; wet materials are limited and surfaces are mostly non-porous, allowing rapid drying.
- Class 2 intrusion
- Water has wicked up walls less than 24 inches, carpet and cushion are wet, and there is a moderate evaporation load requiring more drying equipment.
- Class 3 intrusion
- Water came from overhead or saturated the entire area, including ceilings, walls, insulation, and subfloor, creating the greatest evaporation load.
- Class 4 intrusion
- Deep or trapped water in low-permeability materials such as hardwood, concrete, masonry, and crawlspaces, requiring special drying methods and longer times.
- Dry standard
- The moisture content of an unaffected, same-material reference area in the same building; drying is complete when affected materials return to this level.
- Relative humidity
- The ratio of actual water vapor pressure in the air to the saturation vapor pressure at the same temperature, expressed as a percentage.
- Dew point
- The temperature to which air must be cooled to reach saturation; condensation forms on surfaces at or below the dew point.
- Psychrometrics
- The study of the physical properties of air and water vapor mixtures, used to control temperature, humidity, and drying conditions during restoration.
- Air mover
- A fan used to increase evaporation by moving air across wet surfaces and breaking the boundary layer of saturated air.
- Refrigerant dehumidifier
- A dehumidifier that condenses moisture on cold coils; it works best in warm conditions and loses efficiency as air temperature drops.
- Desiccant dehumidifier
- A dehumidifier that absorbs moisture on a desiccant wheel; it performs better in cool, low-humidity conditions and can produce very low dew points.
- Moisture meter
- An instrument that detects moisture in materials; pin meters measure resistance at the surface or within a material, while pinless meters scan a broader area.
- Thermal imaging camera
- A camera that detects surface temperature differences; wet areas often appear cooler due to evaporation, but the camera does not measure moisture directly.
- Thermo-hygrometer
- An instrument that measures temperature and relative humidity, and often calculates dew point and grains per pound for drying monitoring.
- Flood cut
- A horizontal cut in drywall made above the water line and at least 12 inches above the visible moisture line to allow air movement and inspection.
- Negative pressure containment
- A containment setup that keeps the work area at lower pressure than surrounding spaces, preventing contaminants from escaping; verified with a manometer or smoke test.
- Sanitizing
- A process that reduces bacteria to levels considered safe by public health standards, as distinguished from cleaning, which removes soil.
- Disinfecting
- A process that destroys or inactivates nearly all pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate surfaces, typically using an EPA-registered product according to label directions.
- Drying log
- A daily record of temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and material moisture readings, used to document drying progress and support insurance claims.
- Moisture mapping
- A diagram of affected areas showing readings, material types, and equipment locations, updated as drying progresses to show the drying trend.
- Extraction
- Removal of standing water using portable or truck-mounted extraction units; it removes the bulk of water and shortens drying time more than any other single step.
- Secondary damage
- Damage that occurs after the initial water intrusion, such as mold growth, warped flooring, and structural deterioration, often caused by delayed drying.
- Mold amplification
- The multiplication of mold growth on wet materials; it can begin within 24-48 hours of a water intrusion and is prevented by prompt drying.
- PPE
- Personal protective equipment such as gloves, eye protection, respiratory protection, and protective clothing, selected according to the category of water and hazards present.
- Cross-contamination
- The spread of contaminants from a dirty area to a clean area through equipment, tools, workers, or airflow; controlled by separation and disinfection.
- Antimicrobial
- A product that inhibits or destroys microorganisms; it must be used according to label directions, including dilution and dwell time, and does not replace removal of contaminated porous materials.
- Contents inventory
- A documented list of customer belongings moved, cleaned, stored, or discarded, with photographs and authorization, used for claims and chain of custody.
- Sudden and accidental discharge
- A water loss caused by an abrupt failure, such as a burst pipe, which is commonly covered by property insurance, unlike gradual leaks or poor maintenance.
- Post-remediation verification
- A final check after mold or contamination remediation confirming the work area is clean and moisture is controlled, sometimes including visual inspection and sampling.
- Drying curve
- A graph of material moisture readings over time; a curve that flattens before reaching the dry standard indicates hidden moisture or inadequate equipment.