Restoration & Claims Glossary

The depreciated value of damaged property — replacement cost minus depreciation for age and wear.

Coverage for lodging, meals, and other costs when a home is uninhabitable during restoration.

An insurance professional who investigates claims, assesses damage, and approves estimates.

A high-velocity fan that accelerates evaporation during structural drying.

Applied Microbial Remediation Technician — IICRC's mold remediation certification.

Applied Structural Drying — the advanced IICRC credential for in-place drying.

A document where a policyholder transfers insurance claim rights to a contractor so the contractor can bill the carrier directly.

The insurance company that underwrites a policy and pays claims.

Clean water from a sanitary source like a supply line or rainfall.

'Gray water' that contains significant contamination — washing machine overflow, dishwasher leaks.

'Black water' — grossly contaminated water, including sewage and flood water.

Carpet Cleaning Technician — IICRC's entry-level credential for carpet restoration.

Burned organic material left on structural surfaces after a fire.

Smallest loss — water affects only part of a room with minimal porous material absorption.

Water affects an entire room, with wicking up walls up to 24 inches.

Water comes from above — saturates walls, ceilings, insulation, and structural materials.

Specialty drying — water trapped in low-evaporation materials like hardwood or concrete.

The testing performed after remediation to confirm contaminants are within acceptable levels.

Policy coverage that pays for repairs meeting current building codes when originals don't — often needed after older homes suffer major losses.

Physical barriers (plastic sheeting, zip walls) used to isolate a work area from unaffected spaces.

Moving, blocking, or covering personal property during restoration work.

The specialized cleaning of personal property affected by smoke, water, or mold.

Dwelling coverage — the structure of the home itself, including attached structures.

Other structures coverage — detached garages, sheds, fences, pools.

Personal property coverage — contents of the home like furniture, clothing, electronics.

Loss of use coverage — ALE, fair rental value when home is uninhabitable.

The amount a policyholder pays out-of-pocket before insurance coverage kicks in.

The reduction in value of damaged property due to age, wear, and condition.

A dehu that uses absorbent materials for drying — used in low-temp or Class 4 scenarios.

The temperature at which air becomes saturated and water vapor condenses into liquid.

The daily record of moisture readings, temperature, humidity, and equipment use throughout a drying project.

The immediate 24/7 response to a property loss — extraction, stabilization, board-up, and tarping.

The moisture level a material reaches when it's balanced with the surrounding air — the target endpoint of drying.

A formal, recorded interview where an insurer questions a policyholder under oath as part of a disputed claim investigation.

A claim filed by a policyholder directly with their own insurance carrier.

Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician — IICRC's foundational fire restoration credential.

The difference in specific humidity between inside and outside air — measures drying progress.

High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter that captures 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns and larger.

Odor elimination using hydroxyl radicals — safer than ozone, usable during occupancy.

A tool that measures the moisture content of the air (humidity).

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification — the industry standards body.

The IICRC standard for professional water damage restoration, covering categories and classes.

The IICRC standard for professional mold remediation.

The IICRC standard for professional fire and smoke damage restoration.

A contract adjuster deployed by carriers during catastrophes or for specialized claims.

The moisture reading of a material taken at the start of drying — the baseline used to measure progress.

A single entry in an estimate representing one unit of work, material, or equipment.

Coverage that reimburses living expenses when damage makes a home temporarily uninhabitable.

State laws requiring insurers to pay for uniform appearance when undamaged materials can't be matched to repaired ones — common in siding, roofing, and flooring.

The emergency work done immediately after a loss to prevent further damage — water extraction, drying, tarping, board-up.

The process of documenting wet areas on a floor plan using moisture meter readings to define the scope of a water loss.

A tool that measures the moisture content of building materials like drywall, wood, and concrete.

A HEPA-filtered blower that pulls contaminated air out of a containment area.

Odor Control Technician — IICRC's specialized credential for odor remediation.

The broader policy coverage for costs imposed by building codes, ordinances, or demolition requirements during restoration.

The 10%+10% markup contractors apply to estimates when three or more trades are involved.

Using ozone generators to neutralize odor molecules at a molecular level.

Returning packed-out contents to the home after restoration is complete.

Removing contents from a home to be cleaned, stored, and returned after restoration.

The maximum amount an insurance policy will pay for a covered loss.

Third-party testing that confirms mold remediation met clearance criteria before rebuild.

The regional pricing database that determines what each line item costs in a given market.

A sworn statement the policyholder submits to the carrier detailing the damage, cause, and amount claimed.

The science of air-water vapor behavior — the foundation of structural drying calculations.

A licensed adjuster hired by the policyholder (not the carrier) to maximize claim recovery.

The rebuild phase of restoration — drywall, flooring, paint, cabinetry — after mitigation is complete.

The standard dehu that cools air below dew point to condense and remove moisture.

What it actually costs to replace damaged property today, without depreciation deducted.

A specialized contractor who performs mitigation, cleaning, and reconstruction after property damage.

The detailed list of damage and required repairs used to build an estimate.

The particulate and chemical deposits left on surfaces after smoke exposure.

The black carbon residue produced by incomplete combustion during a fire.

The actual amount of water vapor in the air, measured in grains per pound.

A full-time employee of an insurance carrier who handles claims for that company.

The level of skill and care expected from a reasonably competent restoration professional — the benchmark used in disputes and litigation.

Cleaning of building surfaces and materials — walls, ceilings, floors, framing.

When one insurer recovers a claim payment from another party responsible for the loss.

A revised estimate submitted mid-job to cover additional work or discovered damage.

A fire restoration technique where heated deodorizer penetrates materials to neutralize odors.

An infrared camera that reveals moisture patterns invisible to the naked eye.

A claim filed against someone else's insurance, usually the at-fault party.

Third-Party Administrator — a vendor network program where carriers route claims to preferred contractors.

The force driving moisture from wet materials into drier surrounding air during drying.

Water Damage Restoration Technician — IICRC's foundational water restoration credential.

A standardized code used in Xactimate software to identify a specific repair or material.