If you’ve experienced an office fire, dealing with the recovery process can be overwhelming. You want to get back to work as quickly as possible, and your equipment plays an integral role. But before you power on your computers, copiers, fax machines and other electronics after a fire, it’s important to assess them for smoke- and fire-related damage to ensure they’re safe to use again.
When you’re coping with the aftermath of a fire at your place of business, a thorough check of all equipment should be part of that process. With help from the experts at ServiceMaster Restore®, you’ll be better prepared to understand the risks of using electronics before checking them for fire-related damage. Read on to learn more about how to handle your important office equipment after a fire.
How Does Fire Affect Your Electronic Equipment?
A fire can affect valuable office equipment in a number of ways. Here are some risks you run in using your equipment before having it evaluated:
- Smoke damage to electronics such as copiers and computers can harm the electrical components inside. Smoke is corrosive and can lead to short circuiting and even fire hazards in affected equipment.
- When plastic or metal is subjected to high heat, these materials can release harmful chemicals into the air. Powering on damaged equipment can reheat compromised components, putting employees at risk of exposure to toxic fumes.
- Even if you can’t see it, internal damage from smoke and heat can pose a dangerous risk. Don’t assume they’re safe to use just because your electronics look the same.
How Does Office Equipment Evaluation and Cleaning Help?
Once you’ve determined which equipment in your office appears to be salvageable, it’s time to call in the pros. Contact an experienced restoration service to fully restore your electronics to working condition.
- Give all your electronic equipment to the restoration team, and be sure to take a thorough inventory. This includes anything and everything that has been plugged into an electrical outlet that you don’t plan on discarding.
- Certified professionals will open and inspect your electronics. They’ll look for soot and smoke damage, corrosion and possibly compromised circuit boards and other components. In many cases, a thorough cleaning may be all that’s needed to get them fully and safely operational.
- If the experts detect severe damage to your office equipment, they may be able to replace certain components without the need for full replacement. If the items are considered unsafe to use, you’ll need to include them on your insurance claim to get a replacement.
- Your equipment will be fully tested for safety and proper operation before it’s returned to you. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your electronic items are now safe to use and should operate to their full capacity.
No business owner wants to deal with the aftermath of an office fire. Should the unthinkable occur, call the experienced professionals at ServiceMaster Restore® to help you through the restoration and recovery process. We’re here 24/7/365 to answer all your questions around structural and property damage and restoration. Contact us anytime to learn how we can help you get back to the business of doing business safely and quickly.