In a hotel or hospitality venue, flooding & water damage can create a real big inconvenience, and incur a whole variety of costs. Take for example a recent flooding event we were called out to at a leagues club. A tube to a hot water boiler fixture had come loose in the kitchen of the upper level. This happened overnight, with water continuing to flow until staff turned up in the morning. What a shock for them to see approx. 150m2 of office area saturated with pooled water approx. half an inch deep. Water also made its way through the flooring and began dripping through multiple ceiling areas into the gaming area directly beneath the office level affecting EGM’s, leaving part of the gaming room and machines out of action. Definitely not a desirable situation!
When this type events happen, there are several types of damage that typically can occur if not tended to correctly.
What can happen!
- Business Interruption
This can range from an area of the premises being unusable, to the entire business unable to trade. In the example above, several electronic gaming machines were water affected, rendering them unusable, part of the gaming room not available, and loss of potential income. - Malodour & Mould
Water damage is a big driver of mould growth. & malodour (unpleasant smells). When porous materials such as carpet and plasterboard are holding bound moisture, it doesn't take long for mould to begin to grow. In the right environment, and where drying hasn’t been done properly, this can begin growing as early as 2 days. - Damage To Furniture & Contents
Water damage at a floor level often affects the bases of furniture and fit out/fixtures. Water can wick up the bases of furniture, particularly that have wooden legs. This can leave staining and swelling which may not be visually removable and could also compromises its integrity. - Safety
When water damage is present it can present a variety of safety concerns. We often come across things like water affected electrics and electrical items, slip & trip hazards from wet areas, or exposure to contaminated liquids (where initial water damage is from a sewage drain, or clean water source that has picked up contaminants along the way).
So what can you do?
- Pipes maintenance – burst flexi hoses under a sink are a common cause of flooding. These often occur when they are old or have weak spots. Having a plumber do a pre-emptive check of hoses can help prevent a flood event.
- Guttering – uncleared guttering is a common cause of rain water ingress into ceiling voids and out through during heavy rains. This is something to look at if your premises has guttering.
- Basic drying equipment on site. 1 x wet/dry vacuum, 1 dehumidifier, and 2 fans would be sufficient equipment to dry out those small water damage events/leaks/ingresses & wet carpet patches. It provides the capability for on site staff to tend to asap, and reduce costs for call outs.
- Have a Water Damage Action Plan This involves having a contractor listed who has the specialized equipment, expertise, and 24/7 availability to tend ASAP to small or large flooding emergencies to minimize the interruption to your trading.
For more questions, or information on having a Water Damage Action Plan, call Tim from NLR on 0423248224 or timweber@newlife.net.au
https://nlr-water-damage.webflow.io/water-damage/brisbane
