The wearing away of a solid surface or coating material by friction.

A hard substance used for grinding, air blasting and polishing. Common abrasives used in restoration include sand, pumice, ground corn cobs, nut hulls, and baking soda, dry ice and glass beads.

The use of compressed air with an abrasive medium to grind away surface discolorations, accretions, chars or fire residues.

The use of an abrasive to remove residues without damaging the surface.

The ratio of the mass of water vapour to the mass of dry air; humidity ratio.

To take or draw within, usually resulting in a physical change of the absorbing material.

A material that draws liquid or gaseous substances into itself, usually from surfaces or from the air.

The process by which a liquid or gas is drawn into a porous solid material.

Any chemical that undergoes dissociation in water with the formation of hydrogen ions. Its properties include the ability to react with bases or alkalis to form "salts."

An anionic naphthalene phenol compound used to balance the cationic polarity of the amine groups at the ends of nylon polymers (to block open dye sites), thereby reducing or eliminating the affinity between the fibre and foreign acid based dyes

Negatively charged colouring material used primarily on nylon carpet fibres.

Fire residues characterized by high levels of acidity, often inducing corrosion of metals or colour change in textiles and pigments.

see "asbestos containing material"

A ceiling formed of an acoustical material such as mineral-core or fibreglass panels.

A low-density sound-absorptive plaster, applied in the form of a finish- coat, to provide a continuous finished surface; also called ACOUSTICAL TEXTURE.

Bacteria that look like long-branched filaments under a microscope, and that are malodorous bio pollutants.

A highly adsorbent form of granular carbon treated with high temperature and used to remove odours and toxic substances from liquids or gases, through adsorption or filtration. see "adsorption"

Those components of a compound or solution that enable it to perform a specific function, as opposed to inert ingredients that serve as fillers or extenders.

An adverse effect on a human or animal body, with severe symptoms developing rapidly and coming quickly to a crisis. Examples include dizziness, nausea, skin rashes, and inflammation, tearing of eyes, unconsciousness, and even death.

A single exposure to a toxic substance which results in biological harm or death. Acute exposures are usually characterized as lasting no longer than a day.

The adverse (acute, poisonous) effect resulting in severe biological harm or death soon after a single dose of, or exposure to a substance. Any severe poisonous effect resulting from a short-term exposure.

Changes in an organism's structure or behaviour that helps it adjust to its surroundings. An increase or decrease in behaviour or activity to ?fit in? to a new or changed environment

A substance used to hold materials together by surface attachment.

SEE Loss Adjuster

The condensation of thin layers of molecules of gases, liquids or dissolved substances on the surfaces of solids. Usually, there is no chemical or physical change in the material used as the adsorbent. For example, silica gel is an adsorbent

Any abnormal, harmful, or undesirable effect on the physical, biochemical, biological and/or behavioural well being of a person, as a result of exposure to a pollutant or pollutants in the environment.

An organism that is living, active or occurring only in the presence of oxygen (e.g., most fungi are aerobic).

A suspended liquid or solid particle in a gas (e.g., air). A fine aerial suspension of particles sufficiently small in size to confer some degree of stability from sedimentation; i.e., fog or smoke.

An ingredient that causes activity or reactions to take place (e.g., a cleaning agent causes cleaning to occur).

A mixture of gases constituting a compressed fluid tied to the planet by gravitational attraction. Air is 78% nitrogen, 20.9% oxygen, 1% argon and 0.1% a mixture of carbon dioxide, helium and hundreds of other gases originating from natural and manmade processes.

The element in an assembly designed and constructed to control air leakage between a conditioned space and an unconditioned space.

The use of high-pressure air, often combined with an abrasive, to remove odour or adhered material from a surface.

(ACH) - Volume of air moved in one hour. One air change per hour in a room, home or building means that all the air in each of those environments will be replaced in one hour.

Smoke, soot, fly ash, dust, cinders, gases, vapours, odours, toxic or radioactive substance, waste, particulate, solid, liquid or gaseous matter, or any other material in the outdoor atmosphere, excluding uncombined water.

Removal of moisture from materials (usually structural wood) using natural circulation rather than kiln drying.

Expressed in two ways, as per hour, or cubic metres, and is the measurement of how air is passed between 2 different spaces

(AFD) - Depending on the mode of use, an AFD that filters (usually HEPA) and re-circulates air is referred to as an air scrubber. An AFD that filters air and creates negative pressure is referred to as a negative air machine (NAM).

A specialized mechanically operated drying unit that promotes evaporation. Air movers incorporate an electric motor, fan and specially designed housing for use in drying carpet, cushion, and sub floors or structural components (wood floors, walls etc).

Any unwanted substance in air.

A respirator with an air-purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through the air-purifying element.

Materials or systems that reduce or retard airflow but do not resist 50% or more of the pressure drop across an assembly.

The metered collection of ambient air for purposes of analysis.

A device or system for removing contaminants and odours from an air stream; a high-volume air mover connected to a HEPA or carbon filter so as to remove particulate materials and odours from the air.

One of several ways of evaluating vacuum efficiency. see "vacuum pressure"

Any conducting segment of the respiratory tract through which air passes during breathing (e.g., bronchial tubes).

A class of colourless, volatile, flammable, organic dry solvents containing one or more hydroxyl groups (OH) Alcohols are used as co solvents in some cleaning or spotting compounds.

Any of a large group of mostly aquatic organisms that contain chlorophyll and other pigments and can carry on photosynthesis, but lack true roots, stems, or leaves. They range from microscopic single cells to very large multi-cellular structures.

An antimicrobial material that kills algae. Algistats limit or control the growth of algae.

Any soluble chemical substance that forms soluble soaps when mixed with fatty acids.

A test used to determine the alkalinity (pH) of a material.

A substance that brings on an allergic reaction in human beings, such as pollen, fungus spores (mould, mildew), etc.

An abnormal physiological response to a chemical or physical stimulus on the part of a sensitive person.

Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose.

The splitting or cracking of a paint film in a pattern resembling the rectangles of an alligator skin. Often due to oxidation or shrinkage stresses.

A fungus that is commonly found in the outdoor environment (e.g., soil, leaves).

Pertaining to air sacs (alveoli) of the lung where gas exchange occurs between the lung and the blood stream.

The air outside of or surrounding an object; generally referred to as the air within a structure or area.

A condition that encourages organisms to grow or increase in concentration. These conditions may involve food products.

An organism that is found living, active, or occurring in the absence of free oxygen.

An often severe and sometimes fatal systemic reaction in a susceptible person upon exposure to a external product or chemical

Free from or containing no water.

Negatively charged ion.

A surface active agent usually derived from reacting aliphatic hydrocarbons and alkalis to form a salt, and in which detergency and other properties depend in part on the negatively charged ion of the molecule.

An organic chemical substance produced by micro organisms that has the capacity in dilute solutions to destroy or inhibit the growth of bacteria and other micro organisms. An antibiotic is used most often at low concentrations in the treatment infections that do clear up by themselves.

A secretion (toxin or enzyme) of fungi and bacteria that is capable of producing an immune response (allergic reaction) in humans. The reaction may be in the form of an asthma attack, eye irritation, rhinitis or other immune response.

Literally, "against micro organisms." A substance, mechanism, or condition that inhibits the growth or existence of an organism. (e.g., fungi, bacteria, viruses and other organisms). cp "sterilize, disinfect, sanitize"

An object representing the materials, styling and techniques of an earlier time, enhanced in value by virtue of its age an early version of a current object or device, such as an antique automobile, phonograph, or sewing machine.

An evaluation or estimate of the value of an object or other property, including the cost to repair or loss in value incurred by damage.

Pertaining to water. Made from, with or by water: water-based.

The binding resolution of disputes by a neutral party or persons as a substitute for litigation. Arbitration requires agreement of the parties to the dispute, which may be obtained in advance through a clause in a contract between them, or after a dispute has arisen

An indefinite term sometimes used when quantities cannot be precisely defined, indicating that the action will be performed until a complete and fully satisfactory result is obtained.

As Soon As Possible or Quickly

A non-combustible, inorganic fibre which was once used extensively for insulation and as binder in composite building materials. Airborne asbestos has been found to be highly injurious in relatively small quantities.

Procedures to control fibre release from ACM in a building, or to remove it entirely. These may involve removal, encapsulation, repair, enclosure, encasement, and operations and maintenance programs.

(ACM) - Any material containing one or more percent of asbestos.

Prevention from contamination with micro organisms. Free or freed from pathogenic micro organisms.

A genus of imperfect fungi, of the class, Hyphomycetes, including species that cause food spoilage and diseases. Some Aspergillus species, e.g., A. flavus, A. fumagatus, A. versicolor, which commonly are found in environments affected by water-damage

A vapour or gas that limits or prohibits the body's ability to assimilate (use) oxygen, even though sufficient oxygen may be present, and can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation (lack of oxygen). In addition, some chemicals, like car exhaust.

A term for a claims specialist employed by the policy holder directly, to prepare their claim.

A condition marked by recurrent attacks of difficult or laboured breathing and wheezing resulting from spasmodic contraction and hyper secretion of the bronchi resulting from exposure to allergens such as drugs, foods or environmental pollutants or pollen.

A respirator that supplies the respirator user with breathing air from an independent source

Individual component of a molecule.

A room or space directly below the roof of a building. In modern buildings, the attic is the space between the roof and the ceiling of the upper story.

Permission to perform some action, provided by an individual empowered to grant it.

Indicates that replacement material will be provided as available; exact matching is not assured.

(AMC) - The average of the amounts of moisture in a specific material in the built environment(such as a plywood sub floor) measured at several depths and points across a grid.