Water Damage Glossary

IICRC

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification — the global standards body for water damage restoration, mold remediation, and carpet cleaning.

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency — administers NFIP flood insurance and disaster assistance programs.

NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program)

Federal flood insurance program administered by FEMA — required for mortgages in high-risk flood zones.

EPA

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — sets guidelines for mold, indoor air quality, and flood cleanup safety.

Xactimate

Industry-standard estimating software used by insurance adjusters and restoration contractors.

IICRC S500 Standard

The ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration — the industry bible.

IICRC S520 Standard

Standard for Professional Mold Remediation.

WRT Certification

IICRC Water Restoration Technician certification.

Category 1 Water (Clean Water)

Sanitary water from broken supply lines, melting ice, or rainwater — lowest health risk.

Category 2 Water (Gray Water)

Contaminated water with chemical or biological content — moderate health risk.

Category 3 Water (Black Water)

Grossly contaminated water — biohazard requiring professional decontamination.

Class 1 Water Damage

Least amount of water absorption — affects only part of a room.

Class 2 Water Damage

Significant water absorption into materials — entire room affected.

Class 3 Water Damage

Greatest amount of water absorption — ceilings, walls, floors, insulation saturated.

Class 4 Water Damage

Specialty drying — low permeance materials like hardwood, plaster, concrete.

Water Mitigation

Emergency response to stop damage from spreading — extraction, drying, antimicrobial treatment.

Water Damage Restoration

Rebuilding property to pre-loss condition after mitigation is complete.

Structural Drying

The science of removing moisture from building materials to prevent mold and structural damage.

Psychrometrics

The science of air-moisture relationships that governs professional structural drying.

Moisture Mapping

Systematic measurement of moisture levels across affected areas using meters and thermal imaging.

LGR Dehumidifier

Low Grain Refrigerant dehumidifier — the workhorse of professional water damage drying.

Desiccant Dehumidifier

Uses chemical desiccants to dry air — effective in cold temperatures where LGR units fail.

Air Mover

High-velocity fan that increases evaporation rate across wet surfaces.

HEPA Air Scrubber

Negative air machine that filters mold spores and contaminants during remediation.

Moisture Meter

Device measuring moisture content in building materials — pin and pinless types.

Thermal Imaging Camera

Infrared camera detecting hidden moisture behind walls and ceilings.

HO-3 Homeowners Policy

The most common U.S. homeowners insurance policy form.

ALE (Additional Living Expense)

Insurance coverage for temporary housing when your home is uninhabitable.

Proof of Loss

Sworn statement documenting your insurance claim damages and requested payment.

Assignment of Benefits (AOB)

Legal transfer of insurance claim rights to a contractor — regulated differently by state.

RCV vs ACV

Replacement Cost Value vs Actual Cash Value — how insurers calculate payouts.

Flood vs Water Damage

The critical insurance distinction that costs homeowners thousands.

FEMA Flood Zone

FEMA-designated flood risk areas that determine insurance requirements.

Stachybotrys (Black Mold)

Toxic black mold associated with chronic water damage — requires professional remediation.

Mold Remediation

Professional removal and treatment of mold colonization after water damage.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

Air quality in your home affected by moisture, mold, and restoration activities.