What to do if you have a commercial flood at your property

3. Call a commercial flood expert

It is impossible to clean up after a commercial flood alone. The help of a specialist commercial flood clean-up company is invaluable to the restoration of your business. At CPL t/a Rainbow Restoration, we have extensive experience working with commercial businesses across London, Kent, Sussex and Surrey, restoring their businesses after the devastating effects of a flood. Recently, we were called to the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge following a burst hot water pipe that was left for 7 hours before being discovered. We were able to attend within 24 hours.

4. Removing the floodwater

The first step is to remove the flood water from the property. The quicker this can be done, the better the outcome will be for your business. Standing water can easily damage walls, floors, ceilings and other substrates beyond repair. Removing the water within a few hours of the flood will give you the best chance for complete restoration.

5. Professionally dry the building

Even if a building looks dry, water can seep into hidden cracks and crevices in floorboards and walls which can be extremely difficult to dry efficiently without professional drying equipment. Additionally, moisture can remain and if left untreated, can result in mould and damp further down the line. By using professional building drying equipment, your chosen commercial flood specialist will be able to ensure all areas of the premises are dry.

6. Cleaning and disinfecting after a commercial flood

Flood water can contain contaminants, such as debris or sewage. Once your commercial property is dry, a commercial deep clean is essential to ensure you are bringing your employees, customers and visitors back to a contaminant-free environment.

Disinfecting floors, walls and furniture is crucial, while removing items that have been damaged beyond repair may be required. Soft furnishings, carpets and rugs can be difficult to restore. If they need to be discarded, ensure you document everything photographically and on paper to show to your insurance company.

What damage can occur after a commercial flood?

The most troublesome fact about water is that it travels with ease, which means that commercial building structures are susceptible to attack from several different entry points. In these cases, it is imperative that immediate water damage clean-up action is taken to prevent buildings from suffering a level of damage that takes it beyond the point of restoration.

The biggest risks that can follow flood damage to commercial properties include:

Structural damage

This can result from water traveling through the building due to a burst pipe. Ceilings and walls are then susceptible to moisture absorption, which can cause them to weaken over time. This type of damage to the structural integrity of a building can be hazardous to human safety in cases where weakened joints lead to ceiling and floorboard collapse. Attending to a flooded commercial property immediately and using the correct building drying equipment can reduce the chance of long-term structural damage.

Mould

Mould is almost a guaranteed risk if the drying process is carried out inefficiently within a commercial property. For instance, narrow passageways behind appliances and cracks in the wall left ignored or areas that are not properly dried out will be the perfect breeding ground for mould, which can then go on to contaminate the entire room and even the entire building.

Mould can trigger a surplus of health risks including respiratory, nose and throat infections and is more dangerous for vulnerable persons, according to the NHS. Untreated mould is now classed as a health hazard on a similar scale to asbestos and as a business owner you have a legal responsibility to ensure the building is a safe working environment and free from mould.

Water leaks

Hidden leaks are especially dangerous as minor leaks can often lead to major, long-lasting damage across the commercial property. If commercial water damage was caused by a hidden leak that wasn’t detected, it’s essential to ensure it’s fixed during the restoration process, otherwise flooding will continue to happen.

Leaks can damage electrical appliances, furniture and files, the replacement of which can be very costly for any business. Not to mention, water getting into contact with electrical appliances which can make for a very dangerous environment that will threaten the safety of your employees and visitors. For these reasons, it is imperative that any signs of water leaks are dealt with straightaway.

How to prevent commercial flood damage

Commercial properties are often known for their vast size, thus the size of clean up and restoration work that will follow a flood taking place in the building will be no small feat. Below are a few of the steps that you can take to protect your building against commercial flood damage in the first place as well as how to protect your assets in the event of a flood.

Understand the flood risk

It is essential that you understand the biggest flood risks to your property such as nearby rivers, lakes and other waterways and put measures in place to prevent flooding should mother nature have other plans – especially over the winter months. Regularly assessing your commercial property to identify any areas that are most likely to facilitate flood water entry and the spread of it across the entirety of the building will help you to better prepare for the worst.

Regularly assessing your property for blocked drains, poor plumbing, or structural issues with roofing, especially flat roofs often seen on commercial buildings, will allow your business to make informed decisions about how to reduce your flood risks.

Check your HVAC system

HVAC systems are common in commercial properties and it’s a very important piece of equipment to keep protected in the event of a flood. This may include waterproofing certain components or placing it at a safe level of elevation; by taking these steps, you will be preventing the chances of power outages. Furthermore, a water damaged HVAC system means that moisture is likely to remain in the building and promote the growth of mould and bacteria, leading to higher repair costs.

Flood-proofing and cleaning gutters

The latter may sound like a menial task but it can make a big difference because with blocked gutters you run the risk of water spilling over onto the exterior of the property, instead of being removed as is the purpose of a functioning gutter. It is important to regularly check gutters are not blocked and if so clean out any debris. However, when it comes to flood-proofing, a layer of waterproof coating over the exterior surface of the building and the filling in of any holes or gaps will help prevent an ingress of water.

Create a flood plan

A flood plan is beneficial to have because while prevention is much more desirable, you should be prepared for the worst. An ideal flood plan should contain the contact information for your local council, utility providers and helplines including flood and water damage specialists such as CPL t/a Rainbow Restoration. It is essential that it also includes a step-by-step evacuation plan and steps to protect business equipment and appliances, with safety in mind. Having a flood plan for your commercial business can help to reduce the impact from floodwater, by speeding up the restoration process.

Inspect Your Roof

Many commercial properties have flat roofs which are the most prone to flooding. Thanks to their flat nature and the persistent, heavy rain often seen in the UK, water can pool on flat roofs, seeping into joints and crevices and cause floods within the building. Drainage systems can also get easily blocked by leaves and other debris, making an already difficult drainage process worse causing small business flooding. If your business has a flat roof, ensure you are investing in the proper maintenance and care to reduce the chance of a flood related to your roofing.

Invest in Protective Measures

Did you know, one in three commercial properties in the UK are at risk of flooding? Although the upfront investment into better drainage, replacing roofing materials, or installing one-way water valves into your wastewater system may seem high, it’s nothing compared to the catastrophic costs that can come with small business flooding. Investing now could save you thousands later.

Store Important Files Properly

Protecting your business isn’t just about stopping a flood from happening. Sometimes we can’t control mother nature or faulty pipework, however there are ways to reduce the damage caused by a commercial flood.

Always ensure your important data is backed up in multiple places, including offsite if possible. This includes both digital and paper documents which can both be affected by flooding. Consider moving your storage area to a room away from main water pipes, or to a higher level.

Sign Up to Local Flood Warnings

There are many local flood warning services and if you own a small business, it’s a good idea to be aware of what may be coming your way. Flood warnings will give you insight into heavy rainfall and the effect it may have on your local area. Use these warnings to ensure your business is fully prepared for a potential flood. You can sign up for the government’s flood warning service for your area here.

Get the Right Insurance

Not all standard commercial insurance policies will cover every flood disaster eventuality. Make sure you read the T&Cs properly to see what’s covered within your policy and enquire about upgrading if you’re concerned it’s not adequate. CPL t/a Rainbow Restoration work with many insurance companies to provide a swift emergency response to commercial flooding.

CPL t/a Rainbow Restoration are specialists when it comes to understanding immediacy following flood damage. We know that when you are running business, the last thing you want to be worrying about is commercial flood damage but it is still something that deserves your attention.

We will get you up and running again as quickly as possible, minimising disruption wherever we can. If you are worried about your commercial property’s flood-risk, or are in need of specialist cleanup and restoration services, don’t hesitate to get in touch on freephone 0800 030 4360 or contact us for a free quote today.