new hampshire fire restoration

After The Fire: Restoring Your New Hampshire Home

Categories Fire Restoration, ,

Having a fire sweep through your New Hampshire home can be genuinely terrifying, and the stress does not stop when the flames are put out. Just the thought of trying to sort out everything that you will need to deal with in the wake of a fire can be overwhelming.  How do you move forward after a fire? At SERVPRO, we are always ready to put our expertise to work for you.

SAFETY FIRST

After a fire in your New Hampshire home, security is your first priority. Take the necessary steps to make sure that you, your family and your pets are safe and secure. Once that is accomplished, you can focus your energies on your property and the process of restoring it to the place that you call home.

MAKING THE RIGHT CALL

When it comes to picking up the pieces after a fire, the first tool you reach for should be your phone or mobile device. That is because you will need to get in touch with several different professionals as quickly as possible to secure their assistance. You will want to inform your insurance company immediately to start the process of filing a claim. You will likely be asked to provide pictures, an inventory of the damage and receipts for the inevitable expense incurred after a fire. Also, you will want to contact your mortgage company and inform them about the fire.

You will also need to reach out promptly to a restoration company to line up the professional fire damage restoration services that your home will require. At SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, we understand that any delay in responding to fire or water damage allows the damage to continue to spread, so we offer 24/7 emergency services. We are prepared to answer whenever our help is needed.

WHEN DANGER LINGERS

Even after the fire is gone, the danger remains. That is because both the flames and the water used to put them out can create hazardous conditions. After a fire, the structural integrity of your house might be compromised. Electrocution hazards might be lurking. Toxic gasses and residues may have been generated as components of the home burned. Wildlife like snakes, rodents, and other animals may have entered the structure. More subtle health threats like mold and bacteria will quickly invade as well.

While you can take pictures for insurance purposes from a safe distance, it is best not to enter the scene of the disaster until it has been deemed reliable by knowledgeable professionals. Even then, you should be careful to wear closed-toe shoes or boots, long sleeves, long pants, gloves and any other recommended protective gear.

Three Firefighters
Courtesy of Getty Images.
Three firefighters putting out a house fire.

MORE THAN FLAMES

While the inherent danger of a fire scene is a good reason to bring in qualified restoration professionals, it is not the only one.

Cleaning up after a fire is surprisingly complicated because the damage is not just a result of the flames. Even spaces and items not directly impacted by the flames can be damaged.

Smoke from the fire naturally seeks out cooler spaces and rises, leaving its mark on materials in areas that escaped the flames in the form of corrosive, staining chemicals and unpleasant odors. Likewise, the soot and ash generated by the flames also cause staining, corrosion and smoky smells. Originally deposited by the fire, they can be carried through the home as people move around it. Even air movement via fans or the HVAC system can help these damaging materials spread. Finally, there is the harm done by the water used to suppress the fire. Water damage can cause wood to split and warp, stain fabric and upholstery, crumble drywall, ruin electronics, and fuel unhealthy mold growth. With so many types of damage, it is vital that you bring in knowledgeable professionals who can sort everything out and develop an effective restoration plan.

WHY CHOOSE SERVPRO?

We are delighted to be leaders in the restoration industry, and we work diligently to provide the quality services our customers

need when a fire has damaged their homes or businesses. Our team of highly skilled restoration specialists includes technicians who are certified in smoke and fire restoration, fabric and upholstery cleaning, odor control, and water damage restoration, and we make sure that they have the equipment and resources necessary to do the job correctly.

At SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, we always take a “restore first” approach, which means that we do our best to return your residential property to its pre-loss condition by utilizing specialized techniques and professional-grade equipment. While some replacements may be inevitable, our focus on restoration whenever possible allows you to salvage more of your cherished personal property and reduces restoration costs.

FIRE DAMAGE REPAIR & RESTORATION SERVICES

When you call SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester for help with fire damage, we will:

  • Assess the damage. We will inspect the scene, evaluate the disaster that is readily visible and identify any hidden issues. This expert assessment enables us to create an effective action plan for the needed restoration work.
  • Assist with securing the property. Fire often compromises a structure’s building envelope. If necessary, we can board up broken windows or walls and cover damaged roofs with tarps to help prevent further destruction.
  • Remove water. If firefighting efforts have left excess water behind, we can remove it and see that the structure and its contents are adequately dried.
  • Remove smoke and soot. We will select the appropriate techniques and equipment to remove these damaging residues wherever they may be.
  • Clean and deodorize. We will use various professional techniques to clean and sanitize everything salvageable and bring in industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment to eliminate unpleasant odors.

Local Business Spotlight: Dover, Rochester, Somersworth New Hampshire

At SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester, we have the experience, training, and equipment needed to return a home or business that has been damaged by fire to a safe, healthy environment.  If you need professional fire damage restoration services, contact us today to explore our services.

SERVPRO of Dover-Rochester

74 Industrial Park Dover, NH 03820

(603) 743-430

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Green New Hampshire

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Green New Hampshire

Renewable Portfolio Standard
Energy Efficient Buildings
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
Renewable Portfolio Standard

Under the New Hampshire Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), established in May 2007, the state’s electricity providers (with the exception of municipal utilities) must provide 24.8% of retail electricity sold to end-use customers from renewable sources. This is done by purchasing or acquiring certificates – known as renewable energy certificates (RECs) – that represent renewable energy generated.

New Hampshire’s RPS includes four distinct standards for different types of energy resources, including new renewable energy, new solar energy, existing biomass/methane power, and existing small hydroelectric.

The NH Public Utilities Commission provides more information on the RPS and different classes of energy resources.

Energy Efficient Buildings

New Hampshire adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the new statewide building code effective April 1, 2010. This encourages energy conservation through efficiency in envelope design, mechanical systems, lighting systems, and the use of new materials and construction techniques. In 2009, Governor John Lynch made the assurance that NH would achieve 90% compliance with the 2009 IECC by the year 2017. To help achieve this goal, the NH Office of Energy and Planning worked with GDS Associates to develop the NH Building Energy Code Compliance Roadmap.

Local governments may adopt different requirements only if those requirements are more stringent than the state code. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has the rulemaking authority to change the standards of the code.

For official information about New Hampshire’s building codes, visit www.state.nh.us/safety/boardsandcommissions/bldgcode/nhstatebldgcode.html.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a nine-state agreement that requires major power producers to buy allowances at auction for each ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit. The program is a boon to the economy, improving the bottom line for businesses and saving consumers on electricity bills at home. RGGI is attracting billions of dollars in new investments while creating a cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable power system.

New Hampshire has gained $17 million in net value to its local economy from RGGI, and added nearly 500 new jobs according to a report from the Analysis Group. Across the RGGI states of New England, Delaware, Maryland, and New York, the Analysis Group forecasts $1.6 billion in net economic value added to the regional economy and 16,000 new jobs.

Click here for more information on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Massachusetts Green Energy

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Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a regional leader in clean energy, serving as a critical model for success in the region. The Bay State has acted as a testing ground for breakthrough policies including the Green Communities Act, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the Green Jobs Act of 2008, and energy efficient building measures like the Boston

Building Energy Rating ordinance introduced by Boston Mayor Michael Menino.

Policies like these are critical for businesses in the state to reduce energy consumption and improve the bottom line, freeing funds to create jobs and invest in the local clean economy.

  • Renewable Portfolio Standard
  • Energy Efficient Buildings
  • Green Communities Act
  • Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
  • Green Jobs Act of 2008

Renewable Portfolio Standard

Under the Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), all retail electricity suppliers in the state must provide a minimum of 15% of their electricity from eligible renewable energy resources by 2020. For each year after 2020, this percentage increases by 1% each year. Eligible resources include photovoltaics, solar thermal-electric energy, wind energy, ocean thermal, wave or tidal energy, and other sources.

For more information on the Massachusetts RPS, see: http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=MA05R&re=0&ee=0

Energy Efficient Buildings

“The state is already adopting the highest standards of energy efficiency for its building code, but some municipalities would like to go further. An alternative code that is 20 to 30 percent more efficient they can adopt as an option will give cities and towns the tool they are looking for to reduce their community’s carbon footprint as development moves forward.”

–  Gov. Deval Patrick, November 2008, announcing his commitment to developing the nation’s first ‘stretch’ energy code

Buildings account for approximately 40 percent of energy use, prompting Governor Deval Patrick’s administration to place standards that make buildings more efficient, more comfortable to live and work in, and save occupants and owners on energy costs.

Massachusetts has multiple building energy policies in place geared toward saving energy, including the MA stretch code, up-to-date building codes, Leading by Example, High Performance Schools, and the Zero Net Energy Task Force.

For more information on Massachusetts’ energy efficient buildings programs, visit the MA Businesses for a Clean Economy website at http://www.mabizforcleanenergy.com/ma-supports-clean-energy/

Green Communities Act

“The clean energy industry grew nearly 7% in Massachusetts last year, and added thousands of kilowatts of renewable generation and thousands of jobs – not by accident but because we passed the Green Communities Act and joined the world’s fundamental shift towards efficiency and renewable energy.”

–Governor Deval Patrick, in his State of the Commonwealth speech on January 23, 2012

The Massachusetts Green Communities Act was passed in 2008 to increase the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy, as a means to improve the local economy and environment. The Act focuses on energy efficiency goals, less costly energy resources, a renewable portfolio standard, net metering, and green communities.

The impact of the Green Communities Act is evident in the Commonwealth’s 64,000 clean energy jobs, from weatherization technicians to photovoltaic engineers, and in Massachusetts’ economy that’s growing more quickly than the national growth rate.

For more information on the Green Communities Act, visit the MA Businesses for a Clean Economy website at http://www.mabizforcleanenergy.com/ma-supports-clean-energy/

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a nine-state agreement that requires major power producers to buy allowances at auction for each ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit. The program is a boon to the economy, improving the bottom line for businesses and saving consumers on electricity bills at home. RGGI is attracting billions of dollars in new investments while creating a cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable power system.

Massachusetts has gained $498 million in net value to its local economy from RGGI, and added 3,791 new jobs according to a report from the Analysis Group. Across the RGGI states of New England, Delaware, Maryland, and New York, the Analysis Group forecasts $1.6 billion in net economic value added to the regional economy, and 16,000 new jobs.

For more information on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, visit the MA Businesses for a Clean Economy website at http://www.mabizforcleanenergy.com/ma-supports-clean-energy/

The Green Jobs Act of 2008

The Green Jobs Act of 2008 created the first-of-its-kind state authority in the U.S. devoted exclusively to job creation and economic development in the clean-energy sector, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC). The MassCEClink is a resource to local workers and businesses alike, providing training programs designed to meet the industry’s needs for skilled workers.

The Green Jobs Act also created the Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Fund, focused on stimulating the growth of the state’s clean economy through funding for a seed grant program, a workforce development grant program, and pathways out of poverty initiative.

For more information on the Green Jobs Act of 2008, visit the MA Businesses for a Clean Economy website at http://www.mabizforcleanenergy.com/ma-supports-clean-energy/

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