Preventing and Responding to Building Water Damage
All offices should take precautions to prevent damage should water enter the space from a pipe break or leak.聽While top floor and basement areas are more prone to water coming from the outside聽through building leaks, pipe breaks can occur throughout the building from plumbing and sprinkler systems.
Being vigilant about keeping equipment and materials off the floor will prevent potential loss of those items, and make clean-up if a water incursion occurs faster and easier.
Prevention
- Do not store paper, boxes, or other porous聽materials on the floor.
- Raise all computers and other electronic equipment off the floor.
- Use absorbent material to confine to area of a leak until assistance arrives.
- Report any evidence of leaks to facilities聽and grounds immediately. After hours,聽call Campus Safety and Wellbeing
- Turn off your computer at the end of the work day; more serious damage occurs when the computer is on. (This will save energy too!)
Clean-Up
Wet areas and materials should be dried within 24-48 hours. Facilities聽and grounds聽will respond to all water incursions to remove the water and dry out the space.聽Wet vacs and extractors are used to remove water from the floor and carpet, and dehumidifiers and fans placed in the area.聽In some cases wet surfaces, such as dry wall and carpet, may need to be removed.
Office staff should:
Open the windows and keep interior doors open to increase air circulation, if the outside air is dry (low聽humidity).
Empty dehumidifiers when full. Leave dehumidifiers on overnight. Units shut off when full, so you do not need to worry about overflow.
Identify wet papers or other porous materials and either:
- discard non-essential papers and other materials
- remove papers from boxes, file drawers, piles, and spread out to dry
- copy wet papers and discard originals unless maintaining originals is required
- for large amounts contact facilities and grounds聽to discuss locations for drying
- for critical documents (e.g., library archival material or art) contact a professional conservator for instructions.
Assist facilities聽and grounds by聽emptying file cabinets so they can be moved to dry carpet or flooring underneath.
Remove personal floor rugs or textiles for drying and聽cleaning.
Remove all material to be discarded to the trash聽area immediately. For large quantities, contact facilities聽and grounds聽for removal.
For additional information, or if you need an evaluation of a flooded area, contact environmental health and safety (413.559.6620).