What Happens to Electronics After a Commercial Fire?

2/27/2019 (Permalink)

The modern business world depends on electronic equipment.

Whether you have a law firm, factory, clothing store or another type of business in Riverside, CA, there is a good chance you have invested in electronic devices. As you may suspect, an electrical fire can damage your company’s digital equipment. Fortunately, if the fire does not ruin your IT equipment, you may be able to salvage it.

Fires Often Cause Extreme Damage

Fires can be unbelievably destructive. Whether your company’s fire was large or small, you may have damage to the following areas:

Recovering from any fire can be stressful. While it is tempting to focus on rebuilding structures and mitigating smoke damage, you must also think about continuing business. If your company uses electronic devices to meet the needs of customers, you need a strategy for computer cleanup.

Computers Are Often Salvageable 

When cleaning a computer after an electrical fire, you must be careful to disconnect the unit from its power supply. You must also try not to damage the inner workings of the machine. Still, you should not assume your company’s digital equipment is a complete loss after a fire. Before beginning cleanup or restoration, document damage for insurance purposes.

Cleanup Professionals Understand Electronic Devices

Most electronic devices are complex. Not only does digital equipment have circuit boards and wiring, it often has plastic casings. As such, you can’t merely paint over fire damage. Instead, you must work with a reputable fire-restoration service to salvage electronic equipment. Professional technicians have the experience, skill and equipment to clean electronic devices and recommend repairs. Restorers also have the expertise to recognize when a fire has destroyed digital devices. 

Fire and smoke restoration experts who specialize in electrical fire and ensuring that electronic devices are safe to operate follow three general steps.

1. Inspect electronics for evidence of overheating. Heat from a fire can cause devices to overheat, but a black film of smoke and soot can also over-insulate parts that produce heat. The magnetic charge of acidic smoke can short circuits and cause overheating.

2. Wipe down surfaces and check interiors for damage. Electronics restoration experts may need to take devices to a clean and safe location to restore internal components.

3. Recover important information. If a device is damaged beyond repair, experts will focus on recovering data from it. 

The extent of damage to electronics depends on the degree to which delicate circuitry or wiring was exposed to heat, smoke, and soot as well as other contaminants like water used to put out a fire. Rather than risking an electrical fire by attempting to turn on or repair electronic devices yourself, you are better off relying on an experienced restoration company in Riverside, CA with electronics and computer cleanup experts on staff. These specialists may be able to save you a lot of stress and money by restoring electronics or recovering important data.

No business owner wants to have to deal with a commercial fire. If your company has sustained damage during an electrical fire, you may not have to order new electronic equipment, however. With the right team, you may be able to save your company’s computer systems.