Professional Fire & Smoke Restoration Cleaning Scotland

Stage 1 emergency board-up and tarp. If fire has exposed the structure to weather (broken windows, damaged roof, opened walls), we board-up with OSB and tarp with heavy-duty polythene. Prevents further water damage, prevents trespass, secures the property for insurers. 24/7 response — typically on site within 2-4 hours of call. Board-up is temporary (typically 1-4 weeks) until permanent repairs by your builder. We coordinate with your insurer and loss adjuster — board-up cost is typically covered by insurance. Documentation: photos before and after board-up, scope of work, time on site, materials used.

Stage 2 dry soot removal. Chemical sponges (specialist rubber sponges that absorb soot without water) on walls, ceilings, and porous surfaces. HEPA vacuum on floors, surfaces, and cavities. NEVER wet-wipe soot — wet soot sets permanently into a greasy film that no chemistry can remove. Dry soot removal removes 80-90% of soot before any chemistry is applied. Operatives in full RPE/PPE (FFP3 respirator, Tyvec suit, nitrile gloves) — soot contains harmful PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).HVAC ducts HEPA-vacuumed to prevent soot circulation. Soft furnishings HEPA-vacuumed before being moved to workshop for contents restoration.

Stage 3 water extraction and drying. Firefighting water typically leaves 100-1000 litres per property — secondary mould risk within 48 hours. Water extracted with wet vacuum. Affected materials (carpet, underlay, saturated plasterboard) removed if not salvageable. Industrial dehumidifiers and air movers deployed for 3-7 days (monitored daily with moisture meter). Structure dried to moisture content <12% (per IICRC S500). Mould prevention chemistry applied to wet zones (biocide, not bleach — bleach doesn't kill mould spores). If mould already established (48+ hours of wet), we follow IICRC S520 mould remediation protocol.

Stage 4 structure deodorisation. Smoke odour is aerosolised oils that bond to surfaces — ventilation alone won't remove it. Ozone treatment (ozone generator, 1-3 days, property unoccupied) — ozone breaks odour molecules at the chemical level. Thermal fogging (thermal fogger, solvent-based fog that mimics smoke penetration, neutralises odour on contact). Hydroxyl generation (hydroxyl radical generator, safe for occupied zones, slower than ozone but no re-entry restriction). Combination protocol for severe odour. HVAC ducts fogged. Cavity walls fogged via access points. Soft furnishings treated in our workshop.

Stage 5 contents restoration. Affected contents (furniture, electronics, artwork, documents, soft furnishings) removed to our workshop. Each item assessed for salvageability. Hard surfaces cleaned with specialist soot chemistry. Soft furnishings ultrasonically cleaned (gentle, effective for delicate items). Electronics cleaned by specialist electronics restorer (corrosive chloride residue must be removed within 72 hours to prevent permanent damage). Documents freeze-dried (if water-damaged) and cleaned. Artwork cleaned by specialist art conservator. Items returned to property after restoration complete. Inventory documented for insurer.

Stage 6 final inspection and sign-off. Property inspected with client and loss adjuster. Moisture meter readings documented (structure dried to <12%). Odour test (subjective — does it smell of smoke?). ATP swab on key surfaces. Photo documentation pre- and post-restoration. Full documentation pack issued: scope of work, daily progress reports, moisture readings, ozone/fogging logs, contents inventory, item-by-item cleaning log, final inspection report, £5m public liability certificate. Direct billing to insurer (we work to insurance protocols). Property handed back ready for builder's reinstatement works.