The Dangers of Soot and How to Professionally Remove It

The devastation from a workplace fire can cause far-reaching and lingering effects that impact your property even when the flames have died down. In addition to the immediate destruction from the fire itself, the remaining soot and smoke damage can pose complex cleanup issues for business owners.

After a fire, soot can coat your property and threaten your building and your staff’s health. Cleaning this substance safely and effectively can be as difficult as it is dangerous, especially when attempted without professional assistance.

Before attempting to navigate smoke and soot cleanup, learn more about this material, the impactful dangers of it and the benefits of using a professional soot removal company to overcome this issue.

What is Soot?

Soot is the result of the incomplete combustion of an organic material. Incomplete combustion, such as when a fuel source does not burn completely due to insufficient oxygen, creates byproducts like carbon monoxide and particulate matter called soot.

Soot, a black, hazardous substance, consists of extremely tiny particles. These particles can become airborne during a fire and spread throughout a property, caking walls, surfaces, furniture and more.

Depending on the type of fire, different types of residue and soot can result. A fast-burning, high-temperature fire can produce dry, powdery residue and soot that spreads like dust. A slower-burning, smoldering fire consuming synthetic materials, such as plastic, can result in a sticky, thick residue that is labor-intensive to clean.

What Are the Dangers of Soot?

More than a stubborn burden to remove, soot can pose serious risks to your workforce and property if not handled properly.

A Danger to Health

Soot can contain materials that are harmful to people, like carcinogenic (cancer-causing) compounds.

Extended exposure to untreated soot can lead to health complications, especially in populations sensitive to the substance. Due to the particles’ minuscule size, soot can be easily breathed in by people and enter their bloodstream.

Early symptoms from negative soot health impacts could include headaches, coughing and aggravated allergies. There is also the possibility of more persistent and severe health conditions from long-term exposure.

A Danger to Property

Soot can damage properties and contents as well. A widespread building fire can leave behind soot coverage that coats furniture, floors and electronics.

Due to soot’s acidic nature, it can corrode the materials it penetrates. Soot can also discolor surfaces if it remains on them for an extended period of time.

The tiny particles can even infiltrate electronics and cause malfunctions. Soot landing on the electronics’ inner components can result in short circuits. Excessive buildup of soot inside some electrical equipment can result in overheating or blockages that damage the device.

In addition to visible damage, the soot can also infiltrate crevices throughout your property. As it sticks around unseen, it can corrode material, requiring soot damage restoration. Failing to fully clean the substance can mean an ongoing threat to your property’s well-being. Strong odors from the soot and fire aftermath can also linger, impacting your workforce.

How Does Professional Soot Removal Work?

Given soot’s potential to cause detrimental health effects and property damage, business owners should move swiftly to clean up the substance.

However, smoke and soot cleanup can be a difficult process without the proper tools and training. In its stickiest form, it can easily smear and penetrate deeper into surfaces. In its driest form, it can float into cracks, making complete cleanup a detail-oriented endeavor best handled by experts.

Professional soot removal companies, like Cotton Global Disaster Solutions (Cotton GDS) can thoroughly eliminate soot after a fire. With decades of experience, commercial-grade equipment and time-tested methods, Cotton GDS can efficiently remove soot from your property with our proven professional soot removal process.

Cotton GDS’ Professional Soot Removal Process

Cotton GDS begins by using commercial-grade air scrubbers with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. These scrubbers remove impurities and contaminants in the air and work to reduce smoke odors.

Cotton GDS also uses HEPA vacuums that collect the fine particles of dry soot. These vacuums, like the air scrubbers, contain HEPA filters that can capture very tiny particles. Cotton GDS teams vacuum surfaces coated in soot to efficiently remove the ultrafine particles. Soot can also infiltrate vents, but the HEPA vacuums also allow for efficient cleaning of HVAC systems, helping to improve air quality throughout the building.

After soot is picked up with the vacuums, Cotton GDS team members can clean commercial properties by wiping surfaces with approved chemicals. This further helps to remove residue and odors.

If the fire or soot caused damage to important assets, Cotton GDS can provide pack-out services and content restoration. Documents, merchandise and equipment from your commercial property can all be transported off-site and cleaned and deodorized.

Content restoration extends even to electronics and can include data recovery. Working with EPA-approved chemicals, Cotton GDS works to restore damaged critical assets to keep your digital infrastructure online.

Turnkey Fire Damage Recovery Solutions

Cotton GDS provides comprehensive fire restoration and water damage recovery solutions that help you recover faster after a disaster. From emergency board-up and smoke removal to demolition and construction, Cotton GDS offers all-in-one services with a rapid response that bring your business effective capabilities for navigating post-fire recovery.

For effective smoke and soot cleanup and soot damage restoration, contact Cotton GDS today and begin the road to a cleaner, safer workplace.