S500: The IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage Restoration

The Professional Water Restoration Industry’s Essential Guidebook

The S500 is the procedural standard for the water damage restoration industry, developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Based on years of in-field experience, exhaustive research, and responsible restoration practices, the S500 sets the standard for water damage restoration businesses everywhere.

Contributors to the development of the S500 include trade organizations, equipment manufacturers, experts in the scientific community, restoration training academies, and respected water damage restoration companies. While each water cleanup and flood restoration project is unique, the S500 establishes an approved set of methods, requirements, and principles that ensure professional competence throughout the industry.

The S500 is the ANSI and IICRC certified standard and reference guide for the water damage restoration industry.

The History of the S500

The very first version of the S500 as a procedural standard for the water damage restoration industry was released in 1994. Because the United States does not have a set of strict laws that govern the restoration industry, the IICRC decided to make self-regulation a priority. They concluded that the best way to accomplish this was to create a definitive guidebook for water restoration service companies. The S500 has elevated the quality of care and established practical standards and techniques for nearly two decades.

The S500 is updated regularly in order to keep up with the latest technologies, procedures, laws, regulations, and other rapid developments in the field. After the initial release of the S500 in 1994, it was reviewed and overhauled in 1999, and once again in 2006. The 2005-2006 version of the S500 is the current version of the manual, but it has since been revised and updated many times along the way. These revisions include several additional chapters as well as specific language that allowed the S500 to be approved and accredited by the American National Standards Institute as well as the IICRC.

Special Situations and Circumstances

While the S500 is the definitive authority and industry standard for water damage restoration, the manual begins with a major disclaimer and rule of thumb for following these principles. Every water cleanup project is unique, with a special set of circumstances that must be take into account before the restoration process begins. The S500 is meant to be a general reference guide with standards of care that should be followed when appropriate, but it is up to the professional to decide if deviation from the rules is necessary.

The S500 is not meant to be an exhaustive guide that determines every given action within each project. Common sense, professional experience, and informed judgement must be used in every situation in order to justify a deviation from the rules. The S500 is universal and intentionally vague because that is simply the nature of the water damage restoration business.

The Scope of the S500

There are a wide variety of topics covered in the S500, capturing the essence and industry standard of each aspect of a water cleanup project. This includes:

• Principles of Water Damage Restoration

• Building and Material Science

• Psychrometry (The measurement of humidity content)

• Safety and Health

• Administrative Procedures

• Project Documentation

• Risk Management

• Project Planning: Inspections, Preliminary Determinations, and Pre-Restoration Evaluations

• Limitations, Complexities, and Conflicts

• Specialized Experts

• Structural Restoration

• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Restoration

• Contents Evaluation and Restoration

• Large of Catastrophic Restoration Projects

The S500 is a living and continually evolving guidebook, changing and updating as new information, research, and technology becomes available to water damage restoration professionals. There was no set of legal restrictions on the restoration industry, so the IICRC and ANSI decided to create these principles for the benefit of both water damage restoration companies as well as their consumers. The S500 has undoubtedly raised the quality of care with these standardized practices, and will continue to do so as the cutting edge of the industry moves into the future.