Stick pipes that burst, roof leaks, overflowing toilets, and leaky appliances can cause a lot of damage, with losses ranging from millions of dollars. Water damage can disrupt business operations, cause relocation expenses, or cause rent loss, negatively affecting your company image. Stay tuned for more information!
A damaged roof and blocked drains on the roof caused water to leak from the walls of a health practice, creating $200,000 in personal property damage and the loss of $350,000 in income.
The leak has caused a lot of damage to the building of the medical practice, including:
● Operating room equipment
● Diagnostic equipment for medical use
● Backup surgical equipment
● Computer towers and servers
Scenarios involving water intrusion and damage are more common than you imagine. They’re among the top factors that lead to property loss for commercial properties in health care.
Damage from water is also an individual risk for healthcare professionals. While repairs are in progress and patients are being impacted, it could force them to relocate, defer treatment by rescheduling appointments, or locate new doctors. When water damage occurs, healthcare companies face indirect and direct costs.
Direct costs for cleaning, construction, and material repair, as well as mold remediation. high-risk equipment repairs and higher insurance costs.
Indirect costs comprise the quality of indoor air, Legal fees, managing public and patient reactions as well as interruptions to patient services and the effects of a business interruption
“The interruption that water damage causes to businesses is greater than the losses caused by physical damage to the structure and its contents,” Savino said. “It’s the reason why reducing the loss of water from flooding could result in a greater quality of life for customers.”
Savino said that continuous supply chain problems and disruptions could also result in longer restoration times than usual. It could delay repairs When it takes longer to obtain replacement materials or workers. Keep reading to learn more!
Contents
How prevalent is water damage within the Health Care Industry?
Restoration of water damage entails returning the property’s condition back to its initial condition prior to the infiltration of water. The process involves the extraction of inspections, as well as dehumidification, sanitation, and reconstruction (if necessary).
Although restoration of water damage isn’t typically needed for certification, a restoration professional best does it with the equipment and experience to finish the task.
One of the major reasons that restoring water damage is vital is that structural damage could result from water damage, but not as a result. Water and structural damage are inextricably linked since the appearance of one indicates that it will be present in the next. Ceilings, floors, and walls in hospitals, apartments, and other structures could fall due to water damage.
A professional team claims data indicates that the primary reason for water damage losses in the healthcare industry is related to the accidental discharge of:
● Systems for cooling and heating
● Internal pipework
● Fixtures
● Appliances
● Pipe freezes
● Sprinkler leakage
● Sewer drain backup
Older and new constructions can be subject to the risk of water damage. The losses resulting from maintenance work can result from pipe erosion caused by older pipes as well as leakage of sprinklers or frozen pipes as a result of inadequate heating.
In the case of new construction, water loss is due to poor plumbing installations. This is why it’s crucial to select a skilled contractor with a track record of high-quality construction.
We’re aware of how frequent and serious water damage claims are. Therefore, we’ve put together three suggestions that businesses can implement to safeguard themselves from water damage and intrusion.
Make the Water Damage Prevention Plan (WDPP)
Written water damage prevention programs (WDPP) are essential in helping businesses such as healthcare institutions prevent or minimize substantial losses.
If your healthcare provider still needs to get a WDPP, It’s time to start creating one. If your company does have a plan in place, it’s recommended to review and update it periodically.
It’s an excellent idea for WDPPs to provide information on:
Training
Post-event and pre-event job duties
Locate and sketch the locations of shut-off valves
The enhancement of site inspections should include highly sensitive and high-value testing equipment and bottlenecks
Recognizing high-risk areas for water intrusion
Control and prevention of water intrusion measures
Strategies for post-event recovery and restoration
Risk transfer contractually to parties responsible
Determine High-Risk Areas for Water Intrusion
Water may enter buildings in a variety of ways; however, there are three primary areas your healthcare provider must pay attention to. This includes:
The building envelope includes the walls, the roof, and the floors
Interior systems, which include pipes for domestic hot water heaters as well as HVAC processes liquids, sprinkler protection, construction equipment, and appliances
Exposed exterior areas, such as the water in the landscape from poor design downspouts, gutters, and other weather-related risks
Monitor Electronically High-Risk Exposures
Managers and owners of buildings can benefit from technology to minimize the high-cost claims for water damage. For instance, IoT devices like water sensors can be employed in health establishments to assist in monitoring for leaks.
Sensors for water and IoT devices are made up of:
Wireless technology
Installations are simple
The detection is connected to valves that allow automated operation, such as an emergency shut-off
Alerts to smartphones
Connected to remote or local monitoring services
Analyses of water usage
It might be a good idea to place these sensors in operating rooms or other areas equipped with:
Highly sensitive equipment
Vulnerable diagnostics
Savino advocated the use of sensors for water as a method that has been proven to cut down on water loss by early detection and alerts.
Affiliating with an experienced Insurer
Damage claims from water are quite common. In some instances, they can be one of the leading causes of commercial property losses. Develop an action plan to prevent water damage that identifies areas at risk and make use of technology to ensure your health center is safe.
Despite all efforts to minimize and manage the risks associated with water damage, claims may still be possible. If they occur, having an experienced insurance provider is crucial.
