Giving you your life back


Anytime: 01209 722 522

The Science Of Drying

Building Drying

When is a building drying complete?

The British Damage Management Association, BDMA, defines building drying as complete when:
1. The internal conditions of the property are at, or better than normal room conditions.
2. The moisture on and in the building materials themselves will not support active growth of toxic mould (mold), mould (mold) and mildew as a result of the incident of flood damage that has most recently occurred.
3. The building materials and contents will return to equilibrium with normal room conditions by themselves, without further damage.


It is important to us that we give our customers a definite outcome from our building drying process. When the flood damage incident has been dried to British Damage Management Association (BDMA) standards then Richfords issue a Completion of Drying Works certificate for each building drying project. This certificate identifies the outcome of the building drying and indicates pre-existing conditions that we have noted. It helps ensure that there are no misunderstandings about the outcome of building drying.

Building drying needs energy

Water, as it evaporates, absorbs heat, cooling the material it evaporates from.


Two important points to remember are that evaporation inevitably cools the material that loses the water and that the rate of evaporation reduces as the temperature falls. In a laboratory it is possible to evaporate water so quickly from a brick that the water still contained in it freezes and evaporation comes to a virtual halt until the brick warms up again. It is not uncommon on walking into a recently finished new building to find that it is noticeably cooler than the air outside. This is the result of the materials drying out.


The heat energy taken to evaporate five litres of water is at least 3.6kw for one hour.


Richfords are equipped with new super heating dehumidifiers which can rapidly carry out building drying by replacing the heat loss through evaporation.

What we need to consider when setting up a building drying program

• Can the building be sealed?
• Is the building's heating and/or air
conditioning system available?
• What is the condition of the property's electrical system?
• What types of material are being dried?
• How long were the materials under water?
• What was the depth of water saturation?
• What type of equipment can be used in this property for
the drying process?
• What are the outside weather conditions?
• What is the attitude and level of cooperation of the insured
and building occupants?
• What is the responsiveness of the insurance representative
and/or property manager?
• What is the overall condition of the fabric of the property?
• Is the property at risk of re-flooding?
• Is there any trapped interstitial moisture - moisture trapped
in insulated floors and walls etc?

Injection Drying

Building drying

"The service we received was 1st class."

Accreditations

Services

Fire

Flood

Oil Spills

Mould & Toxic Mould Remediation

Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning

Heritage Properties

Planned Maintenance

Specialist Decontamination

Case Studies

About Us

Testimonials

Contact Details

Latest News

Press Information

Vacancies

Click here for information on the latest opportunities at Richfords

Always the bridesmaid never the bride

Richfords team have been competing on the sea and on the beach... read more

Flexible working at Richfords

Read about a week in the life of a Richfords FlexiTech...read more

Richfords are proud to support the Fire and Ice Challenge

Seven local fire fighters plan to take on the Hymalayas for charity in the Fire and Ice Challenge...read more

Self help advice for owners of flooded properties

Serious flooding event - Mid-Cornwall, 17th Nov, 2010. Self help advice for owners of flooded properties...read more

14 Gold Medals For Firefighter

Success at World Firefighter Games...read more

Cornish Dragon Boat Challenge 2010

2nd year at Falmouth dragon boat race for pirate team...read more

Richfords Sponsor Football Team

Wendron Sharks reach tournament final...read more

Richfords Doubles Board

New directors bring new skills...read more

Meet The Team

Get to know our staff...click here

Insurance Claim FAQ's

For help with your insurance claim...click here

Carpet Cleaning Tips

To solve carpet problems...click here

Charity Challenge

Completed against the odds...read more

Richfords Keeps Business Trading

Read how...click here

Mould FAQ's

Information on mould...read more

Tips For Keeping Your Home Dry & Mould Free

Tips and advice...click here

Richfords In The Press

See our latest press cuttings...click here