Category 3 Water Damage Definition

According to the institute of inspection cleaning and restoration certification iicrc standard for professional water damage restoration ansi iicrc s500 2006 category iii water damage often called black water is water damage to a structure where the origin is unsanitary or potentially infectious to humans.

Category 3 water damage definition.

Category 3 water is also known as black water and it s usually the result of sewage or other heavily contaminated water sources including rainwater mixed with sewage and rising water from rivers or streams. Rising water from rivers or streams. All forms of flooding from seawater. You ve probably guessed it by now damage caused by category 3 water is the worst possible type that could happen to your home or business.

Category 3 is grossly contaminated and may contain pathogenic toxigenic or other harmful agents. Type 3 category are contaminated water sources that affect the indoor environment. What is category 3 water damage. Category 3 water loss involves water that is grossly contaminated and can contain pathogenic toxigenic or other harmful agents.

The most common sources of category 3 water include. Universal exclusions in property and liability insurance policies for losses related to fungi bacteria automatically apply to category 3 water losses because of the bacteria and or fungi in the water. Such water sources may carry silt organic matter pesticides heavy metals regulated materials or toxic organic substances. Category 3 water is classified category 3 because it is grossly contaminated with pollutants including fungi and bacteria.

Category 2 water or grey water that is not promptly removed from the structure and or have remained stagnant may be re classified as category 3 water. Category 3 water is grossly contaminated and can contain pathogenic toxigenic or other harmful agents and can cause significant adverse reactions to humans if contacted or consumed. Category 3 water damage occurs when highly contaminated black water soaks porous materials like sheetrock and wood. Problems can range from sewage water in basements to mold infested crawl spaces.

Category 3 black water this is the least common and most dangerous form of water damage. This category includes water sources from sewage seawater rising water from rivers or streams storm surge ground surface water or standing water. Black water is highly contaminated and could cause serious illness or death should you become exposed to it. Examples include all forms of sewage overflow or damage rising water from rivers the ocean or any water that has traveled across the ground before entering your property.

Examples of category 3 water can include but are not limited to. Due to rampant bacterial breeding and mold growth category 2 becomes a category 3 situation if left untreated for 2 days or more. Typical black water conditions occur from a sewer back flow a broken toilet bowl containing feces and rising flood waters. Such water may carry silt organic matter pesticides heavy metals regulated materials or toxic organic substances.

Wasteline backflows that originate from beyond any trap regardless of visible content or color. Time and temperature can also affect the quality of water thereby changing its category.