Pretesting and Water Classification: Making the Claims Process More Accurate

2/18/2019 (Permalink)

Black water is contaminated and dangerous.

Pretesting And Water Classification

As an insurance agent in the Brooklyn, NY area, it is your job to move the claims process forward. However, it is also necessary that claims are accurate assessments of the damage sustained to a property. Pretesting water damage can help you deliver an accurate insurance claim.

1. Water Categorization

Water categorization refers to the type of water and its level of contamination. There are three categories.

• Category 1 – White Water
  

White water is considered clean water. It comes from a sanitary source, but prolonged standing could lead to contamination from other sources.

• Category 2 – Gray Water
  

Gray water is contaminated water. This water presents as a darker color and likely has unsafe levels of chemical and biological matter. Avoid contact with the skin and do not consume as it may make you ill.

• Category 3 – Black Water
  

Black water is contaminated and dangerous. This water is likely contaminated with sewage and other toxic chemicals. Contact or consumption could cause serious illness or disease.

2. Category Classification

Pretesting will also provide a classification to the damage. Each category and level require different restoration and mitigation practices which effects price. There are four classifications.

• Class 1
  

Class 1 water damage means minimal exposure. This means that water is affecting a small area of a room and that there is minimal absorption into the surrounding materials.

• Class 2
  

Class 2 water damage involves an entire room and a lot of water absorption into surrounding materials. This level also involves affected structural materials.

• Class 3
  

Class 3 water damage involves the highest level of water absorption. This level of damage typically requires significant repair or replacement of all materials in the space.

• Class 4
  

Class 4 is more related to drying times than water damage. This level involves specialty drying equipment and times due to deep pockets of saturation.

Pretesting provides an overview of the damage inflicted on a property. The higher the category and classification level the more extensive the repair. Therefore, testing the water before a restoration provides an accurate picture and price point for the claim being made.