ANSI/IICRC S700
Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
Defines soot chemistry classification (dry/wet/protein/fuel-oil), structural cleaning methodologies, content recovery protocols, and deodorization requirements.
ANSI/IICRC S590 / FSRT
Fire & Smoke Restoration
Fire losses demand specialized chemistry knowledge, meticulous documentation, and an aggressive odor-elimination strategy. DRR technicians are FSRT-certified and trained on the ANSI/IICRC S590 standard — from initial soot analysis through final air quality clearance.
What We Do
From Soot Chemistry to Air Quality Clearance
Soot Chemistry Analysis
Not all soot is the same. Protein fires, synthetic fires, and natural-material fires each produce different residues requiring different cleaning chemistries. We identify soot type before selecting any cleaning agent.
Odor Neutralization
Odor elimination requires more than masking. We deploy thermal fogging, hydroxyl generation, and ozone treatment in sequenced protocols that destroy smoke molecules embedded in porous surfaces and cavities.
Contents Pack-Out & Inventory
Salvageable contents are inventoried, photographed, and transported to our controlled facility for cleaning. Non-salvageable items are documented for your insurance claim with photo evidence and replacement values.
Structural Cleaning
Every affected surface is documented before any cleaning begins. HEPA vacuuming, chemical sponge wiping, and wet cleaning are applied in the correct sequence to prevent soot from being driven deeper into substrates.
HVAC Decontamination
Smoke travels through duct systems and coats components throughout the structure. We inspect, clean, and decontaminate HVAC systems to prevent recontamination after the primary cleaning is complete.
Air Quality Clearance
Post-restoration air sampling confirms particulate levels have returned to normal before occupants re-enter. Clearance documentation is provided in the final project report for your carrier and your records.
Why DRR
Documentation Before the First Cleaning Stroke
We document every affected surface before any cleaning begins — protecting your claim from day one. Pre-cleaning photographs, surface-by-surface condition notes, and soot-type identification create an irrefutable baseline that supports full scope payment and eliminates adjuster disputes over pre-existing conditions.
AZ ROC #349012
What To Do First
Fire & Smoke — What To Do First
After a fire is extinguished, the next few hours determine how much can be restored versus replaced. These steps preserve evidence and prevent well-meaning cleanup from locking damage in permanently.
- 01
Wait for fire department clearance
Do not re-enter the structure until the fire department formally releases it. Hot spots can re-ignite hours after the initial event, and structural elements may be compromised in ways not visible from outside.
- 02
Don't touch sooted surfaces
Soot is acidic and the oils on skin set the stain. Wiping walls, contents, or finishes before professional cleaning frequently locks the damage in permanently and increases the restoration cost substantially.
- 03
Limit air movement until soot settles
Do not run HVAC, ceiling fans, or open every window during the first hour. Moving air redistributes airborne particulate into unaffected rooms. Ventilate methodically once a professional crew is on site.
- 04
Photograph everything with timestamps
Document each room, every contents loss, and the exterior structure before any cleanup, board-up, or pack-out. This is the record your adjuster will rely on for both scope and contents valuation.
- 05
Call DRR with the fire department report
Have the fire department report number, suspected cause (kitchen, electrical, structural, wildfire), affected square footage, and current structural status ready. DRR mobilizes a Phoenix-metro response crew within 60 minutes.
Fire & Smoke — Standards & Equipment
The standards we work to. The equipment we deploy.
Standards we follow
ANSI/IICRC S540
Trauma & biohazard-overlap standard
Applies when a fire involves casualty or hazmat. Coordinates with S700 cleaning protocols.
OSHA 1926.1126
Hexavalent chromium + combustion byproducts
Industrial fires can produce regulated combustion byproducts. PPE and air-quality monitoring follow OSHA 1926 construction-industry standards.
Equipment we deploy
HEPA air filtration devices
Continuous HEPA scrubbing of contained spaces during structural cleaning to capture suspended soot and combustion particulates.
Hydroxyl generators
Photocatalytic hydroxyl tech for occupied-space deodorization. Safer than ozone for environments that can't fully evacuate.
Ozone generators
High-output ozone for unoccupied-space deep deodorization on protein, smoke, and severe odor profiles. Requires confirmed full evacuation.
Thermal foggers + ULV cold foggers
Deodorant deployment into cavities and porous materials where surface cleaning alone won't reach.
Soda blasters + ice blasters
Non-abrasive media blasting for charred structural framing without compromising substrate. Used when HEPA-vac + chemical cleaning leave residual char.
FAQ
Fire & smoke restoration — FAQ
How soon should fire and smoke cleanup start?
As soon as the fire department releases the structure. Acidic soot residues etch metal, glass, and finishes within hours and become permanent within days. We dispatch 24/7 with a 60-minute on-site target so stabilization, board-up, and contents protection start before secondary damage sets in.
Does homeowners or commercial insurance cover fire and smoke damage?
Yes — fire and the resulting smoke, soot, and water damage from extinguishment are covered under standard property policies. We document scope per IICRC S700 / FSRT, coordinate directly with your adjuster, and provide Xactimate-accurate estimates.
What is the IICRC S700 standard?
ANSI/IICRC S700 is the consensus standard for fire and smoke damage restoration. It defines residue chemistry assessment, cleaning method selection, deodorization, and clearance criteria. Our crews are S700-trained and document every job to the standard.
Can soot and smoke odor be fully removed?
In most cases, yes — but not by surface cleaning alone. Effective deodorization requires source removal (cleaning every affected surface and porous material), then thermal-fog or hydroxyl treatment for the air and structure. We don't sign off on a job until odor has cleared on its own, not while a deodorant is masking it.
Are damaged contents salvageable?
Often, yes. We perform a content-by-content triage: items that can be cleaned go to our contents facility for ultrasonic, ozone, and hand-cleaning protocols; items beyond restoration are inventoried for the carrier. Electronics, documents, photographs, and textiles each have specific recovery pathways.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
Mitigation (stabilization, soot removal, deodorization) typically runs 1–3 weeks depending on scope. Reconstruction — drywall, paint, flooring, cabinetry — adds weeks to months depending on the loss. DRR handles both phases under one contract so you don't manage two contractors.
Do you handle both structural cleaning and the rebuild?
Yes. Our reconstruction division (AZ ROC #349012, KB-1 dual license) takes the project from emergency mitigation through final build-back. One scope, one project manager, one warranty.
What if smoke odor returns weeks after cleanup?
Returning odor typically means a hidden source — soot in the HVAC system, attic insulation, or wall cavities — wasn't fully addressed. Our scope includes HVAC inspection and deodorization as part of the standard fire protocol. If odor returns on a job we've completed, we come back.
Technical References
Going deeper on fire restoration
Phoenix Fire Damage Resources