Are Licenses for Disaster Restoration Crews Important?
The general disaster restoration industry has two aspects; the regulated and unregulated sides. While one includes companies with licensed technicians, who are IICRC certified, OSHA complaints, EMR ratings, and more.
The other side includes restoration crews that may seem more cost-effective. Still, since they aren’t insured or licensed, they present a higher range of risk and poorer service quality to residential and commercial restoration clients.
However, recent trends and the prevalence of the need for licensed and insured work have meant that more companies are started to get licensed. This article will take a closer look at the importance of different licenses for disaster restoration crews and how the service quality can differ because of them.
Importance Of Licenses For Disaster Restoration Crews
Commercial and residential restoration crews are now hiring more diligently as the demand for licensed individuals increases. This is because of the clear-cut requirements and some optional recommendations that come with these licenses, with the primary goal being to provide better service quality for clients.
With the license, several environmental requirements arise from state to state. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, each disaster restoration company needs to adhere to several environmental requirements.
The state recommends that each restoration crew start with a basic license rather than a “general contractor” or “subcontractor.” This type of licensure is needed for companies looking to serve more than one type of restoration. It may include fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, mold removal, sanitization, or a combination of all these to restore:
- Flooring
- Roofing
- Walls
- Subflooring
- Foundations
- Surrounding areas, and more.
Most often, disaster restoration (specifically storm restoration or damage from other natural disasters) requires companies that cater to different trades and therefore require a general contractor’s license.
Two fields that are considered to be particularly important in the state of Tennessee are contactor’s license and environmental certifications. While these aren’t exactly necessary, the state does favor companies that have them. The same goes for insurance companies and commercial entities. In turn, these licenses and certificates mean better services for clients.
Disaster Restoration License & Certification Bodies
While there are several sources for restoration certifications and licenses, the most popular among them are:
- Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
- Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
The scope and training provided by the IICRC are more extensive than RIA, but that is not to say that RIA isn’t thorough in its own way, either. Certified companies have very specific requirements, such as:
- Demonstrating proof of insurance
- Maintaining customer complaint file
- Follow-up record
- Meeting minimum criteria for majority technician training, education, and experience
- Location
- Response time, and more.
What is EMR?
EMR or the Experience Modification Rating is used in the disaster restoration industry quite extensively. One is the industry average, and for a company to be reputable and recognized for its services, its rating should be under 1.
The rating primarily reflects the company’s safety record, showcasing how manythe number of accidents it has had in the workplace. The safety history is an important consideration in the industry as it helps customers get a general idea of what to expect from the company.
It is important to note that the EMR reflects the past year’s performance and is updated at year-end to showcase the previous year’s history.
Governing Bodies
While IICRC and RIA are two of the most prominent disaster restoration license providers, there is no doubt that there are several other bodies out there as well that impact how the organization performs its duties. OSHA, for example, dictates how the restoration company in Chattanooga takes care of its employees and offers them a safe work environment.
There are some inherent risks that come with the scope of work, but the company is supposed to ensure that no unnecessary risk is introduced in the workplace. Some of the most important certificates that OSHA can offer include the 10-Hour and 30-Hour OSHA cards.
The NFPA is another major training provider for disaster restoration companies, specifically for those that also offer fire damage restoration services. The idea is to help fire damage restoration providers work in a manner that the fire does not rekindle while they are working.
It also trains employees to ensure that the building is safe to operate in and how to evaluate the extent of the damage. Employee safety training from the NFPA also extends to giving them signs of when to abandon a building and the best way to do so, the PPE they need, and most importantly, how to undergo extensive processes without further damaging the already weakened structure of the building.
911 Restoration of Chattanooga is dedicated to offering the best possible service at all times to meet all residential and commercial disaster restoration. We have a list of licenses to our name and trained, experienced individuals ready to help you any time of the day, 365 days a year. Give us a call to learn more about who we are and how we can help!
