Insurance Warehouse Fire Restoration — 1,200m² Recovered
A timber-framed warehouse fire damage claim where the insurer's initial scope called for full structural replacement. Dry ice cleaning saved the framing — and saved the claim from spiralling.
A timber-framed warehouse fire damage claim where the insurer's initial scope called for full structural replacement. Dry ice cleaning saved the framing — and saved the claim from spiralling.
The brief
A scenario this category sees regularly: a small electrical fire in an industrial warehouse causes localised flame damage in a single zone but leaves a 1,200m² timber-framed structure coated in oily soot. The insurer’s initial scope of works typically specifies full structural replacement of all visibly affected timber — around 70% of the structure. The cost is eye-watering and the timeline pushes the reopening date from 6 weeks to 5+ months.
A restoration builder pushes back. Dry ice cleaning is brought in alongside an IICRC-certified hygienist to assess whether the framing can be saved.
The assessment
Hygienist sampling typically finds that the bulk of the soot deposit is surface-only — the timber underneath is structurally sound, with no charring beyond a 200m² zone immediately around the ignition point. That zone still needs replacement. The other 1,000m² is a cleaning problem, not a structural one.
The challenge: prove to the insurer’s adjuster that the framing can be cleaned back to a presentable, sealable state — and produce documentation that satisfies the hygienist’s clearance requirements.
The work
A job at this scope runs over roughly 11 days, in parallel with the building’s drying contractor and the hygienist’s clearance schedule.
Setup. HEPA negative-pressure containment in two zones at a time, with the rest of the building isolated. Crew on a roster of 4-on / 2-off to maintain steady output through the campaign.
Cleaning sequence. Roof structure first (working top-down to avoid re-contamination), then walls, then exposed services. Pellets sized to 3mm with pressure varied between 80 and 140 PSI depending on substrate — softer for original timber decking, firmer for steel cross-bracing.
Documentation. Per-zone photo log produced daily and uploaded to the builder’s QA portal. Pre-clean and post-clean photos for every grid square, with corresponding sampling locations marked.
Clearance. Hygienist sampling at end of each zone returned within IICRC S540 acceptable range. Full clearance cert issued at job close-out.
The result
In a scenario this size, around 1,000m² of original timber is recoverable through cleaning. The 200m² zone immediately around the ignition point is still replaced — that work is structural and never on the cleaning menu.
The savings vs full replacement on a job this scope can run six figures, but the bigger win is timeline: keeping the reopening date close to the original target rather than pushing it out by months. That outcome depends on the cleaning step being booked in parallel with the drying contractor and hygienist’s clearance schedule, not sequentially.
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About this scenario. Dry Ice Blasters launched in 2026. This piece illustrates how a typical fire & smoke damage cleaning job runs — drawn from industry-standard work patterns, our team's prior operator experience and equipment specs. Process, scope and outcomes reflect what you can expect when you book us. Be our first published customer and we'll document your job with permission.