First-ever UK conference on fire and flood restoration

Citation

(1999), "First-ever UK conference on fire and flood restoration", Facilities, Vol. 17 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.1999.06917cab.008

First-ever UK conference on fire and flood restoration

First-ever UK conference on fire and flood restoration

Keywords Fire, Floods, Property

Property and premises managers along with insurance professionals will increasingly be turning to national networks of dedicated fire and flood restoration companies to help them save money and expedite claims handling. This was the clear message which emerged from the first-ever UK conference devoted solely to the topic of fire and flood restoration.

The three-day conference, which took place in Stratford-on-Avon from 6-8 November, was organised by Disaster Restoration Limited, one of the country's leading specialists in fire and flood restoration, whose headquarters are in Basildon, Essex.

Providing an opportunity for an exchange of dialogue between service providers and their clients, the conference brought together for the first time in this country a number of eminent international authorities to address some of the most essential aspects of this developing industry. As well as representatives from the insurance world, conference participants also included the entire national network of DRL area co-ordinators and technicians plus several leading fire and flood restoration equipment manufacturers.

Topics embraced at the conference included a look at some of the highly technical aspects of the fire and flood restoration business. "Toxic fire residues ­ what exactly is in that black stuff?" was the subject of a presentation by Peter Fardell, senior fire consultant at the Fire Research Station of the Building Research Establishment at Garston, Herts, while Peter Grant, UK product manager for Protimeter plc, of Marlow, Bucks., leaders in the field of the design and manufacture of instruments for measuring moisture levels in materials and environments, examined techniques for identifying damp or rising damp in flood-affected buildings.

Gabby Blackburn, technical support director for Dri-Eaz International Inc., with Sid Lunday, a senior training consultant for the company, came from the USA to update delegates on the latest methods and equipment for tackling drying problems in both buildings and their contents ­ a major element of the restoration operation following both flood and fire. Taking advantage of the unique occasion which brought so many fire and flood technicians together in one place, they used the opportunity to unveil the newest addition to the company's range, the Dri-Eaz 2400 dehumidifier.

New technology training

In addition to an address from Ron Tilley, probably the most senior figure in the UK fire and flood restoration industry, one of the founders of DRL and currently its chairman, the conference featured a number of presentations designed to help participants expand and run their fire and flood restoration operations more effectively. Among them were sessions under such headings as "Making PR work for you" as well as "Computers ­ not just a desk-top ornament", which included the announcement that DRL, further endorsing its commitment to training in all sectors of its operations, will, in conjunction with Midlands-based computer consultants, IT-Assured, who made the conference presentation, be offering its network of technicians the opportunity for appropriate training in the new computer technology.

Also on the conference agenda were two sessions which explored the ways in which both insurance companies and their helplines are shaping up to deal with fire and flood restoration claims. Speakers included Andy Tomlinson, UK claims service manager, Prudential Assurance Company Limited, who examined the current and future state of domestic insurance in this country under the heading "The importance of systems", and Brian Knight, product manager, household claims, Hambro Assistance, whose talk was entitled "Providing quality customer service when disaster strikes".

Acquiring a better understanding of each other's work

Chairing the day's programme was Bill Lakin, CR, technical director for DRL, who is also in charge of the company's training and development as well as its current "Investors in People" strategy. "DRL is the only dedicated group in the company solely committed to the profession of fire and flood restoration", he said. "All our people devote their working lives to fire and flood restoration, unlike other companies who only do fire and flood work when they are not carpet-cleaning, for instance. So I was particularly thrilled with the response to this pioneering venture, which I hope will now become a regular event. All the presentations were informative, dealt with cutting-edge technology, and best of all, were entirely focused on fire and flood restoration, something that has never been done before in the UK. I was especially delighted to see the insurance and disaster restoration industries coming together to acquire a better understanding of each other's work, to the ultimate benefit of their respective customers and policyholders."

For further information, please contact: Mrs Jay Grenby, DRL Press Officer, 45 Seymour Road, St Albans, Herts. AL3 5HN. Tel/Fax: +44 (0) 1727 862101