To Whom It May Concern,

A draft revision of the next IICRC S500 Water Damage Restoration Standard has been expertly prepared by a number of contributors.  They have done a great job as has IICRC of setting standards that continue to make our industry and you and I as professionals better.  

I have carefully reviewed this draft and have identified a very important issue contained in it. I have gone to great efforts to present this issue to you because I have grave concerns about the effects it will have on you and the rest of our industry if we don't act quickly.  I need your help.  

Whether you are an insurer or a restoration contractor you should be aware of the change in air mover usage that is proposed for the next IICRC S500 Water Damage Restoration Standard.  This change reduces the use of air movers significantly without the support of testing.  Upon testing the proposed formula, my results have shown a significant increase in drying time.  This will dramatically change the drying equation in a very negative way for all affected if accepted.  Unless you act now (May 13 ends the peer review opportunity) this standard will be accepted and will create serious problems in our industry.

• Contractors will be forced to do more demolition of materials that could have been otherwise saved.  This will cause total restoration costs to go up.

• The reduction in air mover usage will result in lower rental costs for air movement which will negatively impact mitigation companies that specialize in drying.  

• The longer dry times will increase the amplification of mold and bacteria in the drying environment.  This will increase occupant health risk as well as liability exposure for contractors and insurers.

These are not the results that the contributors to the S500 nor IICRC as an organization desire.  The spirit of the document is to improve the standard of care for the drying industry, but this change will not achieve that desired result.  Simply put the contributors got this one wrong.

In an effort to help get this right I am making a personal request for you to do three things:

1. Watch the video I have prepared on this proposed change and forward it to everyone you know in the industry.  I explain in detail the proposed change, test the recommendations and calculate the impact this will have on you.  

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO NOW

2. Join the petition requesting this proposed standard language be stopped.  I recommend that you and each of your employees fill out the petition included with this email.  I will forward to IICRC and the contributors to show them that our industry has a united front against this proposed change.  The more individuals that support this petition the better our chances of fixing this. 

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION NOW

3. Fill out the comment form found at IICRC with proposed solutions to this issue.  Every comment you send using that form must receive a response from the committee.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE DRAFT AND COMMENT FORM NOW

I urge you not to take a stand against IICRC or the contributors to this document but rather stand with them.  Do not complain by simply restating the problem, instead create solutions that work and share them so that this committee will consider them.  Be part of the solution.  IICRC and its leadership desire the best for our industry.  They have proven successful in caring for the issues that face our industry and will continue to do so with our support. 

That said the need for a united effort against this proposed language and formula change is needed and needed immediately.  On May 13 your opportunity to provide a solution ends as peer review will end and not be reopened.

I will continue to work hard on this myself and will keep you posted as developments occur.  

Sincerely,

Jeremy Reets

Reets Drying Systems, LLC.