How Does Storm Damage Affect Building Interiors?

4/6/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial water damage in Federal Hill, RI.

How Do Storms Affect the Interiors of Buildings?

Most commercial property owners and tenants view storm damage as an external threat. In reality, a burst pipe can cause extensive storm damage when temperatures plunge below freezing. Find out more about the exterior and interior threats posed by extreme weather to a building in Federal Hill, RI.

A Building Enclosure Becomes Compromised

Flood water, high winds and other effects of a storm can undermine the enclosure or envelope of a building. The outer shell of a structure provides several essential functions:

• Air control
  
• Thermal control
  
• Water control
  
• Vapor control
  
  

When a storm compromises an enclosure, this layer may no longer be able to shield a building's interior from exterior conditions. A drop in air quality or loss of conditioned air may result, as could elevated moisture levels that put a building at risk for water damage and mold.

External Water Works Its Way Indoors

When moisture penetrates through a vapor barrier, humidity levels in a structure rise. More severe damage to a building enclosure may permit flood water to enter. Standing water poses a major risk of primary structural and secondary mold damage.

Freezing Temperatures Burst Pipes

A burst pipe may also result from uncontrolled temperatures in a structure. Exposed plumbing in areas that are not temperature controlled or a frozen pipe that is not properly insulated may be prone to develop a blockage, build up pressure and burst. Although water from a broken supply line starts out as Category One damage, it can degrade to Category Two or Three damage.

The envelope of a commercial building plays an important part in keeping out moisture. If this protective layer gets compromised, it can be easier for external water to penetrate into a building and damage insulation, drywall, or interior contents. It is also important to factor in any exposed plumbing to avoid a burst pipe during cold weather in Federal Hill, RI.