By SPJ Adjusting Services | Insurance Appraisals
Smoke Damage Testing: When a wildfire, structure fire, or local burning incident impacts a residential or business property, it frequently occurs that more damage from smoke than from flames goes unobserved. A fact that a large proportion of policyholders are unaware of: modern-day insurance carriers rarely honor any claims made regarding smoke damage without legitimate smoke damage testing.
At SPJ Adjusting Services, we see on a regular basis legitimate claims postponed, downplayed, or outright disputed on the basis that the smoke or soot wasn’t “from the fire” itself, or that it wasn’t significant, or simply proof that it existed couldn’t be made. And without testing, they almost always succeed.
It is for these reasons that smoke damage testing becomes not optional but a fundamental prerequisite for policyholders who seek just treatment in case of a fire.
The Lurking Danger: Tiny Particles You Cannot See but Will Be Investigated By Your Insurer
Residue from smoke isn’t just black ash. A fire produces:
- Submicron soot particles
- Char fragments
- Ash residue It
- Contamination with heavy metals
PAHs: polycyclic aromatic Ionized combustion particles
These particles have the capability of penetrating walls and insulation even after a fire has been put out.
But here’s the challenge: if you can’t see it, then your insurer will deny it’s there.
And it has been uniformly held that it is necessary for the policyholder to offer hard physical evidence and not mere assumption, generalization, and observation.
Industry Goes Gaga Over Industrial Hygienist Test Results
The court demands facts and not hypotheses.
Recent court decisions have shown that it is necessary for there to be scientific evidence of smoke particulates within the house and at a level above background. In one instance, for example, it was testified by the very expert for the insurance company that additional samples were necessary for proof of danger, and additional samples were never done.
At the same time, the industrial hygienist testified that
‘Moderate’ levels of soot were an unusual result
“Significant” soot levels pointed toward major combustion source.
The diagnostic report showed that it required full remediation.
It would have been a successful “no evidence” summary judgment case against the plaintiff because there would have been no testing. It would have been an easier case for the insurer because it would have relied on summary judgment instead of a trial
Industry’s Biggest Divide: Lack of Harmonious Sampling Approach
Despite smoke being amongst the most common sources of loss within the United States, there still does not exist a commonly accepted standard that requires identification of:
“How large does sample size have to be?”
It will be
Where samples should be collected
What constitutes “elevated” partic
Smoke Damage Testing: Comparing background levels and impact zones
Introduction
This tutorial
Conversely, it also leads to inconsistencies, thus creating a gap that enables insurers to argue that:
“Your testing wasn’t thorough enough,”
OR
“These readings don’t prove the smoke came from this fire.”
That’s why it’s always recommended by SPJ Adjusting that testing be defensible, repeatable, and done by an experienced industrial hygienist and not a contractor, a handyman, and not the insurer’s preferred vendor.
As discussed before, testing for smoke damage will assist in identifying an important aspect of establishing causation. Serving as a legal
The defendants have frequently contested smoke damages with assertions that particles came from these sources:
A house fireplace
A barbecue grill
Cooking smoke
A previous wildfire incident
A former tenant
Tobacco use
General urban pollution
Without testing, it cannot be ascertained definitively that the smoke came from a particular fire occurring within the term of the policy.
A qualified industrial hygienist will be able to
Distinguish among wildfire soot, cigarette soot, and soot from a fireplace.
Differentiate between fresh and aged particles emitted during combustion
Remaining Questions on
Determine if particulate loading rate exceeds background thresholds
Report full list of platform locations
Identify
Give sworn testimony, if required
A clear cause for the fire should be carefully identified.
The relationship thus formed, known as causation, is the most fundamental challenge in any given smoke case.
What an Effective Smoke Damage Assessment Should Encompass
An effective smoke damage assessment
Steps that should be adopted within a defensible testing protocol
Step
A valid examination should have:
- Background Sampling
Control samples for understanding ‘normal’ particulate conditions. - Targeted Samples within Susceptible Areas
It includes:
Behind news sources
Inside HVAC Returns
At insulation layers
Above ceiling tiles
In attic spaces
Along baseboards and wall voids
- Analysis by an Accredited Laboratory
Ideally ISO/IEC 17025 - Particle Identification
Using techniques like:
Soot microscopy
SEM – scanning electron microscopy
GC/MS for Chemical Fingerprints
Tape Lifts
Wipe Sampling - A Written Hygienist Report
The report will then become some of the most vital evidence brought forward in an insurance claim.
What Policyholders Should Expect from Their Insurers – But Regularly Don’t Get
Policyholders have several things
Many insurers:
Do not order testing
Do not send qualified hygienists
Do NOT attempt to determine if particles from combustion have entered your home
Do not sample behind walls. Do not sample above ceilings.
Do not want a record of contamination levels.
Because testing produces documents, and documents produce liability.
It is for this reason that policyholders should never expect an insurer to carry out an analysis. Carrying out independent testing will serve as a form of protection for a claim.
FAQs Regarding Toxicity Analysis
memory foam
Human
How soon should testing be conducted following a fire?
As soon as a fire affects a
As soon as possible. Particles will migrate and embed into materials within hours.
Can visible soot itself constitute proof of damage?
No, most carriers will deny a claim without lab evidence.
Is there a possibility that testing will locate the origin of the smoke?<a href
Yes. A wildfire soot can be distinguished from fireplace soot and/or tobacco soot.
Does testing cost anything if I have insurance?
Many times, yes, if it is properly asked for. But if it is not granted, there are ways to contest it with the help.
Conclusion
Protecting Your Property and Case with Testing
Smoking testing for damage goes beyond mere technicality. Los Angeles, California It is, in fact, the foundation upon which a good claim can be made. It is a world wherein an insurer demands scientific proof and a court asks for tangible evidence.
It will be easier to prove:
The property was contaminated
The cause of the damage was fire. Remediation is necessary. The loss took place within the policy period Should there be any reason to believe that there may be smoke, soot, and ash infiltration, testing should be conducted before your insurer rejects your claim.
Need Help?
SPJ Adjusting Services Is Here for You Specializing in difficult fire loss claims, smoke infiltration matters, industrial hygiene expert coordination, and expert claim strategy. Whether you need assistance with demonstrating smoke damage, contesting an adjuster’s determination, or creating an appraisal package, we are here to assist you. SPJ Signature Block Adjustment -Required Serving Throughout The United States at Insurance Appraisal and Umpire Services
