MARKET REPORT FLOOD RESTORATION
Ready to respond
Hirers can supply many products to help with flood restoration work, and their versatility also makes the suitable for other tasks all-year round.
If you were informed that your home or premises were at risk of being flooded in 24 hours’ time, would you have an emergency plan in place? Would you know what to do to prepare and would you have the appropriate equipment? If not, would you know how to get assistance quickly? If you answered no, then you are by no means alone. Only 6% of those who responded to a recent survey carried out by the organisation Know Your Flood Risk, said they had a plan in place, while 67% replied that they never checked the flood risk level of their home.
Furthermore, earlier this year, the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons warned that five million properties in England, or approximately one in six, were at risk of flooding from high sea levels, swollen rivers and other rising surface water owing to climate change.
There is obviously an urgent need for people to take appropriate action in terms of protective measures, and - particularly with the level of apathy suggested above – to be able to undertake any restoration work after a flooding event. Many people, or contractors undertaking projects for them, will need to hire the necessary equipment.
“As the number of severe flooding events has risen over the last decade or so, hirers have been showing more interest in our drying and dehumidification products,” said Colin Barden, General Manager of Dri-Eaz Products. “However, products like these can also be used for many other non-emergency applications, such as drying newly constructed buildings and tasks involved in facilities management, as well as domestic work, giving even more hire potential.
“Indeed, the majority of drying tasks are associated with smaller-scale water escapes, such as leaks associated with dishwashers, washing machines and pipework. One of our most popular products is the BD1000 building dryer, a dual voltage machine that can be used in both domestic and construction site environments, and which also has the ability to automatically pump out the water it collects.
“Interest is also growing in specialist air moving products, as hirers appreciate the benefits they can achieve through more effective operation and faster results. Proving similarly popular are our air scrubbers fitted with Hepa filters for dust control applications. If a property is affected by dirty flood water or sewage, all kinds of contaminants can enter the fabric of a building, which can be released into the atmosphere when restoration work is carried out.”
It has been estimated that one property in six is at risk from flooding.
Year-round applications
Keith Godfrey, Field Sales Executive with Karcher (UK), also reports that interest is growing in a range of products that can be used for work associated with flood restoration, as well as other tasks. “Traditionally, many people tend to be reactive, waiting until problems arise before they take action. Then they need to hire the necessary equipment quickly for remedial work. However, products like pressure washers, steam cleaners, dryers, vacuums and sweepers can be used for many other jobs in and around the home, throughout the year.”
Dri-Eaz says more hirers are now offering flood restoration products.
Karcher, whose specialist knowledge in this subject area extends to the development of a mobile purification system to provide drinking water in disaster areas, says that different products can be used at each stage of a flood restoration project. Residual water can be removed with a wet and dry vacuum, and a pressure washer can be used to clean floors, walls and ceilings. Affected areas can be dried with an air blower, and a scrubber dryer is suitable for dealing with residual dirt on floors, with a steam cleaner giving a hygienic finish when work is completed.
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