| Air Movers | A device used to move air across a wet surface accelerating evaporation. |
| Air Scrubber | A device used for removing contaminants and odors from an air stream. A way of cleaning the ambient air within a building |
| Alternative Living Expenses (ALE) | Monies paid by your insurance carrier for temporary housing while your property is being restored. |
| Board Up | The temporary installation of barriers to secure roofs, windows, doors and other penetration against intrusion or weather. |
| Building Code | Rules & regulations adopted by local or state authorities, governing the design and construction of buildings, their alteration, repair, use and occupancy. Codes usually specify the minimum architectural, structural, and mechanical standards for sanitation, public health, welfare, safety, light and air. |
| Certificate of Satisfaction | A signed statement that work has been performed and completed to the satisfaction of the purchaser. A copy will be provided to the purchaser (property owner) and insurance company. |
| Change Order | A written order to a contractor, signed by the owner or authorized agent as an addendum to a contract, authorizing a change or addition in the work. The original contract usually defines the payment terms and conditions under which change orders will be accepted and performed. |
| Climate-Controlled Storage | A warehouse or other facility where the temperature and relative humidity are maintained at stable levels appropriate for the safe storage of property. |
| Condominium Association Policy | Insurance covering the common property of a condominium as defined by the association’s bylaws, in contrast to insurance carried by the individual unit owners. |
| Contamination | The presence of sewage, wastes, chemicals or other material rendering an article, habitation or substance unfit for use, usually for reasons of toxicity and health. |
| Containment | The isolation of an area of contamination within a building to prevent the spread of contaminated materials, by erecting a barrier of plastic sheeting or similar material. |
| Contents | Personal property, or items contained within a building, as distinguished from the building itself, for purposes of insurance. |
| Contents Manipulation | Handling and positioning of furniture and other personal property required during repairs. |
| Deductible | An amount specified in an insurance policy which is automatically subtracted from any settlement following a loss. |
| Dehumidifiers | A device used to remove water vapor from the air. |
| Demo, Demolition | The systematic dismantling of building components to permit their repair or replacement. |
| Deodorization | Eliminating offensive odor |
| Depreciation | A deduction from replacement cost to reflect the lessened value from age, use, wear and tear, obsolescence, or other departure from pristine condition. |
| Direction To Pay | A formal request, submitted by a named insured to their insurance carrier, that a third party be paid directly from the proceeds of their insurance policy after a loss. |
| Disinfect | To free from infectious materials by destroying harmful micro-organisms. |
| Emergency Response | The rapid response of service personnel to a damage site after a fire or other disaster. |
| Emergency Treatment | Remedial action in the immediate aftermath of damage, designed to protect and minimize the loss to buildings and contents. |
| Extraction | A restoration process in which a liquid cleaning agent or solvent is sprayed on a surface and immediately vacuumed out, removing dissolved soils or residues. |
| Homeowners Insurance | A package policy designed for homeowners, which includes the building, additional structures, unscheduled personal property, liability, and loss of use. |
| Policy Limits | In an insurance policy, the maximum amount of insurance provided for a particular coverage. |
| Pre-Loss Condition | The appearance and state of repair which existed prior to the loss. |
| Public Adjuster | An individual who represents policy-holders in preparing and presenting their claims to insurance companies and taking a percentage of the loss as compensation. |
| Scope, Scope of Repair | The extent of repairs required after a damage incident; a complete, detailed listing of the repairs required to remedy damage at a specific site, prepared by a restoration contractor who are experienced in evaluating damage. |
| Smoke Damage | A discoloration caused by the penetration of fire residues into a material or surface. |
| Soot | Fine black particles composed principally of carbon, produced by the incomplete combustion of fuel. |
| Subrogation | A standard policy provision giving an insurer who paid a claim the right to act in the name of their insured in recovering the funds from another party. |
| Tenant’s Policy | A package policy similar to Homeowner’s insurance except that dwelling: coverage is limited to betterments installed by the renter. |
| Time & Material | A method of calculating charges by recording the hours worked, labor rates, material costs, and subcontractor charges, to which are added markups for overhead and profit. |
| Work Authorization/Contract | A document signed by a property owner or agent requesting that the contractor perform damage repairs and accepts responsibility for paying the contractor for the work; usually the document directs an insurer to pay the contractor or include the contractor as a payee on any check or draft issued for that claim. |
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