Water Classes & Categories

10/24/2019 (Permalink)

Water Categories

The level of contamination in a water loss is refers to the category.

Category 1: Water that comes from a sanitary source. This category does not pose a major risk if ingested or inhaled. Common examples include melting ice or snow, falling rainwater, broken toilet tanks and bowels that does not contain any contaminants or cleaners, sink or tub overflows.

Category 2: Water that contains contamination and can have risk to cause sickness if consumed or contacted.  This category has unsafe levels of microorganisms. Common examples include overflow of washing machines, dishwashers and toilet bowls.

Category 3: Water that is heavily contaminated can have harmful agents such as silt, pesticides, metals, and pathogenic agents. Common examples are sewage, toilet backflows, flooding from seawater, ground surface water or other contaminated water entering a building from storms.

Water Classes

The amount of water and the anticipated rate of evaporation based upon how much and type of material is affected refers to the class.

Class 1: < 5% of the combined space affected – only part of a room or area

Class 2: 5%~40% of the combined space affected – affects at least an entire room of carpet or cushion. Water has traveled up the walls but less than 24 inches

Class 3: More than ~40% of the combined space affected – ceilings, walls, carpet, insulation, sub floor are all saturated

Class 4: Wet materials with holding and low evaporation materials such as plaster, wood or concrete

If you experience a water loss, please contact SERVPRO of Biddeford – Saco at (207)-283-4428!