[Steve Chapman]

Hi all,

I am going to look at a property tomorrow that some one broke in to and let off a fire extinguisher covering sisal carpets and soft furnishings. The owners want me to assess and say whether cleaning will rectify or go down insurance route.

They say some of the residue has started to corrode some hard surfaces already . They are both asthma sufferers also.

My question is, would cleaning do any good or is the powder to harmful to deal with and new carpets etc are needed ?

Sisal is pretty hard to clean anyway but i have cleaned it before for them, but i think the powder wouldve penetrated it to much?

Any input would be gratefully received 


Regards
Steve

[Hilton]

Hi Peter

Dry powder exstinquishers only contain fine sodium bicarbonate powder, it will not do any damage other than make a right mess, it is very doubtfull it has corroded anything any loss adjuster will or should be aware of this so be carefull with any claims for damage.

Dry vacuum and then general clean up should solve the problem...I would add on carpets and soft furnishings cleaning and invoice as a restoration clean.

[Neil Jones]

I'd find out what type of extinguisher it is and then go from there. Do they still have the extinguisher?

[Hilton]

He's put 'powder'...

The only other alternatives are Co2 , foam ,water,vapourising liquid or water chemical.

I would add that if computers or TV DVD's etc are present they may need checking out as the powder will almost certainly have penetrated through and in this instance could damage the components

[JandS]

Unusual for a domestic property to have an extinguisher...usually smoke alarms suffice.
Biggest danger is kitchen so would imagine if any it is dry powder.
Usually non corrosive

[Steve Chapman]

Thanks for the responses,

Just to clarify the pranksters brought the extinguisher with them and it was of the powder variety.

Think they are more worried as they suffer from asthma and the man has a lung problem, wouldnt want to disturb the powder too much and make things worse.

Will have a look tomorrow and see how bad it is.

Cheers
Steve

[Neil Jones]

Misread, stop shouting at me