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Fire Damage Restoration Timeline

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Fire damage restoration is complex and often misunderstood.  AfterCare Restoration is a leader in fire damage restoration and repair from Allentown, Quakertown, Doylestown, Lancaster and West Chester PA.  We are a complete full-service fire damage restoration contractor and an IICRC Certified Firm for water & fire damage restoration.  Over the years we have frequently been asked how long the process will take by our customers.

 

Typical  Fire Damage Cleanup Timeline

  1. Emergency board‑up (Day 1)
  2. Inspection & documentation (Days 1–3)
  3. Soot & smoke removal (Days 3–14)
  4. Odor neutralization (Days 7–21)
  5. Structural repairs (Weeks to months)

Factors That Affect The Fire Damage Cleanup Timeline

  • Severity of fire
  • Smoke penetration
  • Structural damage
  • Insurance approvals
  • Material availability
  • Township requirements
  • Township inspections
  • Availability of Township inspections
  • HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical subcontractor availability
  • Communication and engagement of homeowner in the reconstruction process

What are the industry standards that govern fire damage restoration & repair?

The IICRC documents that govern fire and smoke damage restoration are the IICRC S700 Standard and the IICRC S760 Standard. These are the official, consensus‑based technical authorities for how fire, smoke, soot, and related contamination should be assessed, cleaned, and restored.

IICRC S700 — Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

This is the primary fire‑damage standard. It covers:

  • Fire behavior and smoke movement
  • Soot types and residue identification
  • Structural cleaning procedures
  • Contents cleaning and restoration
  • Odor removal and deodorization
  • Safety and PPE
  • Documentation and job scope development

S700 is the fire equivalent of S500 (water) — it defines the correct way to perform fire and smoke restoration.

IICRC S760 — Standard for Professional Wildfire Smoke Damage Restoration

This standard is newer and focuses specifically on wildfire smoke, which behaves differently than structural fire smoke.

It covers:

  • Long‑range smoke intrusion
  • Fine particulate contamination
  • HVAC and whole‑structure smoke infiltration
  • Cleaning protocols for wildfire residue
  • Health and safety considerations
  • Documentation and inspection requirements

S760 is essential for homes affected by regional wildfire smoke even without direct fire damage.

Why Do these industry fire cleanup standards matter?

The S700 and S760 standards:

  • Provide technical authority for how fire and smoke restoration must be performed
  • Legal authority for how we perform fire damage restoration on a step by step basis
  • Support proper insurance billing and scope justification
  • Defines proper cleaning, deodorization, and safety protocols
  • Serve as the benchmark used by adjusters, attorneys, and courts

If you need fire restoration services after a house fire, call AfterCare Restoration today! 215.515.1000

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AfterCare Restoration is a Local Family- and Veteran-Owned damage restoration company. We specialize in 24/7 water damage restoration, fire board-up, fire damage restoration, smoke damage restoration, and complete reconstruction services.

At AfterCare, we use the latest technology, arrive in marked vehicles and professional uniforms, and stand 100% behind our work. This is why at AfterCare, we consistently receive 5-star reviews from customers who choose AfterCare for water damage cleanup and fire and smoke damage restoration.

fire reconstruction contractor near me AfterCare SERVICES AVAILABLE:

Call 24/7 AfterCare Restoration 215.515.1000 For LARGE LOSS FIRE RESTORATION

 

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