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Data Centers And Damage Restoration

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Data Centers And Commercial Damage Restoration

Data centers are designed for continuity—but water intrusion, smoke migration, or fire suppression events can put uptime (time during which a machine, especially a computer, is in operation) at risk in minutes. Data center outages can easily affect hundreds of B2B customers and therefore millions of customers globally if they suffer an outage. With the uniqueness of data centers the challenge after water or fire damage in this type of facility  isn’t just “cleanup.” It’s a fast, disciplined sequence of stabilization, environmental control, documentation, and contamination management—all while coordinating with facilities, IT, security, and then insurers.

That’s why operators are learning to treat restoration readiness the same way they treat redundancy: a pre‑planned, qualified response capability that can mobilize immediately.  After all when there is water or smoke damage every minute counts. The safety of the team working in the commercial building and then ability to maintain as much uptime with the data center is critically important. 

Data Centers Must Have An IICRC‑Trained Restoration Company On Site Immediately After Water, Smoke, or Fire Events. 

➡️ Key Take Away: Having a damage Restoration Company perform an Emergency Service Plan (ESP) and evaluating the risk of the facility and having a damage restoration company on speed dial who already knows your facility is critically important.

Data centers are not “just another building loss or commercial water damage job

A water leak in a typical commercial space is disruptive. In a data center, the same leak can create compounding issues:

  • Hidden migration paths (under raised floors, within cable trays, around penetrations and air paths) that spread moisture beyond the visible area.
  • Humidity and dew point sensitivity, where changes in moisture conditions can contribute to risk factors like condensation and corrosion if not tightly controlled. Research on data center humidity control highlights that dew point is often the more reliable control variable for stable moisture management in these environments.  
  • Air movement and particulate concerns, where smoke residues or airborne particulates can travel through HVAC and airflow pathways and settle where you don’t want them.
  • Operational constraints (security protocols, access control, change management, and uptime SLAs) that can slow down unprepared vendors and increase downtime.

💡 In other words: the cost of a slow or improvised response can be far higher than the cost of the incident itself.

What “IICRC-guided” work adds in a high‑stakes environment

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) develops ANSI-accredited standards and best-practice guidance widely used across the restoration industry.  In data centers, the value isn’t the acronym—it’s the underlying discipline: defined processes, safety, measurement, and documentation that is needed in a highly technical commercial damage restoration job.

➡️ Key Question: What IICRC standards are most relevant to the scenarios data centers worry about?

 

Water intrusions and flooding: ANSI/IICRC S500

ANSI/IICRC S500 describes procedures and precautions for professional water damage restoration, including psychrometry and drying technology, equipment and instruments, safety, and project documentation/risk management. 

Importantly, S500 also notes that determining and correcting the source of the intrusion is typically the owner’s responsibility unless separately contracted—useful clarity when coordinating plumbers, mechanical contractors, or building engineers alongside the restoration team. 

Smoke and fire impacts (including external events): ANSI/IICRC S700

ANSI/IICRC S700 addresses the assessment and restoration process after fire/smoke events, including evaluating the presence and boundaries of residues and odors, impacts to building systems (including HVAC), and developing a Restoration Work Plan (RWP) with documentation and compliance considerations. 

Even if the fire is not inside the data hall, smoke can still migrate into buildings in the vicinity—meaning “it wasn’t our fire” doesn’t always equal “no impact.” 

terrible fire engulfed rooms and interior of burning house

Microbial and HVAC considerations

While many data center incidents are “clean water” leaks, some losses involve contaminated water or secondary microbial risk. IICRC also publishes standards such as S520 (mold remediation) and S590 (HVAC assessment following water/fire/mold events), both relevant when air conveyance systems or hidden cavities are involved. 

Why training and certification matter more when electronics are involved

Data center recovery is a team sport: facilities, IT, security, OEMs, and restoration all intersect. An IICRC‑trained team is more likely to bring a repeatable method that supports that coordination, such as:

  • Clear scoping and “what good looks like” definitions (so work doesn’t drift or stall).
  • Measured drying and environmental control rather than guesswork (moisture mapping, monitoring, and logs).
  • Source removal and residue control when smoke/soot is involved—especially around airflow paths and HVAC components.
  • Risk management and documentation aligned with what insurers, auditors, and stakeholders often require.  

➡️ Whether your operate a data center or any type of commercial building AfterCare Restoration stands ready to serve you:

  • Emergency Service Plans (ESP)
  • 24/7 Emergency Response Water & Fire Damage
  • IICRC Certified Firm For Water, Mold, Fire & Smoke Damage

Call 24/7 AfterCare Restoration 215.515.1000

Water Damage Restoration Company 

Aftercare Restoration is committed to its six core values of Honesty, Hardworking, Professional, Responsible, Communication and Compassion.

Our company is committed to integrity and honesty and our six core values and providing a 5 Star Customer Experience.  Our team will explain the extent of the damage, the industry standard process to remediate your property. If for some reason you are not covered by insurance, we will provide you with the same detailed line item estimate as we do NOT markup jobs if you are not covered.  As a local family-owned company, we understand that money doesn’t grow on trees.

Aftercare Restoration a Local Veteran owned Emergency Damage Restoration company offering 24/7 Water & Fire Damage Restoration services.  This includes Water and flood cleanup, Fire board-up, demo, structural cleaning, odor removal and full rebuild and reconstruction service.  As a Local Veteran Owned company, we’re committed to earning your trust and ensuring 100% customer satisfaction.

Call 24/7 AfterCare Restoration 215.515.1000

AfterCare Restoration is available for water damage restoration and fire restoration in and around: