Modern structures are packed with high-tech materials like synthetic fabrics, plastics and hydrocarbons that burn more rapidly and poisonously than traditional materials like cotton and wood. “Thirty years ago, fires took 15 minutes to reach 800 degrees Celsius and they spread more slowly,” says Kevin Lethers, President of Paul Davis of Polk County, Florida, who notes that commercial contents often include solvents, fuels and other substances that further feed the flames. “Now, temperatures may exceed 1,000 degrees and expand significantly in just a few minutes.”
Even if fires are extinguished quickly, secondary smoke damage nearly always occurs from the thick, black smoke that coats even distant areas with carbon, oils, heavy metals, carcinogens and other dangerous chemicals. Secondary damage also occurs because of unique features of commercial property design. “They have structural elements that spread smoke rapidly, such as ventilation ducts, elevator shafts and stairwells,” Lethers says, “making them particularly vulnerable for secondary damage even in distant interior locations.”
Secondary smoke damage is particularly risky for certain areas in commercial settings:
Electronics: Untreated external surfaces will gradually develop pitting, staining and material weakness unless they are cleaned with specialized solutions and degreasers. Further, smoke-damaged electronics often overheat and fail prematurely: the black sooty film inside devices insulates heat-sensitive components.
Furnishings, room/cubicle dividers: Even faint odours and light soot – which may blend in with darker items - degrade upholstered office décor over time. Additionally, problems resurge with warmth, humidity and increased air circulation.
Painted surfaces and wallcoverings: Smoke and soot nearly always damage wallcoverings. Even though you can’t see the fine layer, it’s probably there. Seemingly untouched walls may gradually change color, degrade, lose adhesion, and, if painted, flake off months after the fire.
The near certainty of secondary smoke damage in commercial structures – and the need to address it expertly and quickly – demands professional attention like The Difference Makers™ from Paul Davis deliver.
“Our technicians have the skills and training to get your commercial building back to normal and we’re on call for you at any hour, every day throughout the year if you experience a fire,” Lethers assures. “We’re also experts at prevention, so we’ll talk with you about how we can help protect your building from future blazes, too.”