Fire-Damaged Properties – A Risk To Health
Risks to Health
There exists a significant risk to health after a fire has been extinguished. Toxins such as
- dioxins,
- hydrogen cyanide,
- acrolein,
- formaldehyde,
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
- many other toxins
can be expected to be present and be a risk to health.
Our blog post on the Air Quality in the Auckland Fire Smoke has more information.
Who is at Risk?
These toxins are a risk to health for people who occupy the property both short and long term. The longer a person is in an affected property, the greater the risk to health.
Anyone entering a fire-damaged site without protection against inhaling airborne toxins. These will include:
- Fire fighters
- Fire investigators
- Insurance assessors
- Tradespeople
- Clean-up crews
Some Potential Symptoms and Health Consequences
- Increase risks of cancer and leukemia
- Acute respiratory effects – cough and asthma
- Eye irritation
- Shortness of breath
- Sneezing
A risk management plan is essential to put in place before anyone enters the property after a fire.
Effect of Smoke
During a fire, heat and smoke can affect the building structure. The smoke can infiltrate:
- Walls
- Ceiling cavities
- Attic spaces and
- Anywhere else air can travel
After the fire is put out, the effects of the smoke can last for years after the fire. Not all items are affected equally. Porous materials such as
- GIB board
- Curtains
- Clothes
- Carpets
will absorb smoke and release it over time.
Factors that Contribute to Absorption by Porous Material
The factors that affect how much porous material absorbs are:
- How long the material is exposed – the longer the time the more absorption
- How much material is exposed
- The temperature which the smoke is at
- The type of fire – wet fires are expected to generate more smoke
- The distance from the fire to the affected material
- How high the materials are – smoke rises, so materials higher can be expected to have a greater exposure than those closer to the floor
If the exposure is low, there is a chance the material can be remediated. If the exposure is high, no amount of treatment can revert the materials to the original state.
What is Damaged in a Fire?
Where a property has been damaged by a fire, the damage is not limited to the damage caused by the flames. Smoke and soot can cause visible and invisible damage to the property. The damage can be done by dry or wet smoke when the following materials are burnt. Some examples are below
- synthetic substances
- protein material
- petroleum based substances
- natural substances
Wet and Dry Smoke
In a property, fire will generate wet smoke.
Wet smoke is found in slow-burning and low-heat fires. The smoke is thick and black. The fire will leave a thick sticky residue on surfaces and it often has a strong odour. The odour remains long after the majority of the fire damaged material is replaced. When wiping the soot from a wet fire, it will smear.
Smoke effect from a wet fire.
It is a PCBU’s duty of care to ensure employees are not put at risk. K2 can come to site and assess the risk and prepare a plan to manage the risks to people that need to access the site.