ANSI/IICRC S500 Consensus Body member explains airmover updates

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Cleanfax contributor and Legend Brands Technical Director Brandon Burton explains the ins and outs of section 13.5.6.1 (“Controlling Airflow”) of the recently updated ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration in the January issue of our magazine.

The article, “Practical Application: Airmovers,” aims to help readers of the standard understand this most-talked-about section of the update.

Burton, who was a member of the S500 Consensus Body but who offers commentary of his own opinion in this article, offers a breakdown of different parts of the section before ultimately offering a summary of the “practical system”:

Step 1: Install one airmover, directing air into the room from the adjacent affected space. This airmover can draw air from a doorway or opening to the adjacent affected space and blow along either an affected wall assembly or the open floor.

Step 2: Calculate square foot requirements. Divide the wet floor area (square feet) by 50 to get your maximum and by 70 to get your minimum. If walls are wet higher than two feet, or ceilings are wet, then divide the upper wall and ceiling area by 100 to get your maximum, and by 150 for your minimum. Add the flooring numbers to your upper wall and ceiling numbers for your total range.

Example:

1. Floor Area: 140 square foot Wet = Min. 2, Max. 3
2. Wall/Ceiling: 130 square foot Wet = Min. 1, Max. 2
3. Total Range: Min. 3, Max. 5

Step 3: Install airmovers. Now that you have your range, start deploying the additional airmovers. Start along the walls, if they are affected, and ensure the entirety of the wet wall and ceiling areas are in contact with moving air. Then, turn your attention to the open areas. Install the remainder to address any floor area that needs additional airflow. Pay special attention to obstructions, offsets or other anomalies that may be restricting or affecting air flow.

Remember, you already needed one airmover (Step 1) because it was a wet room — that airmover is already running. So, for Step 3, install 3-5 additional airmovers in that room. You’ll end up with 4-6 total airmovers installed.

The January issue of Cleanfax is available online now and will be in homes shortly.

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