The Categories and Classes of Water Damage: What You Need to Know

From broken pipes to crawlspace flooding, water damage can come from many different sources and vary in size and severity. But even a small amount of water in your home can have substantial long-term consequences if not treated properly. 

The faster you act, the less extensive and costly your repairs will be. If you call a restoration company at the first sight of water damage, and if technicians arrive within the hour, they can swiftly begin the restoration process and prevent the need to replace ruined drywall and internal structures. 

To inform professionals on how to best treat and clean up damage, water damage is separated into three categories and four classes. At Flood Response, our experienced technicians assess the source and severity of water damage so they can expertly extract the water and protect your home from further damage. 

3 Categories of Water Damage

The three categories of water damage define the amount of contaminants found in the water—aptly named clean water, grey water, and black water. While some restoration steps are common across all cases—such water removal, drying, and cleaning—the category of water damage helps professionals know exactly what tools and techniques to use for the best results. 

Category 1: Clean Water

Category 1 is considered the most sanitary category of water damage. The water contains no harmful substances and can be handled without risk of exposure. Recognized sources of Category 1 water damage include:

• Rainwater (directly into the home through windows/roof)
• Melting ice and snow (directly into the home through windows/roof)
• Toilet water that is not contaminated (supply line or fresh water tank)
• Water from supply lines (sinks, washing machine, refrigerator, ice machine, etc.)

Category 2: Grey Water

Grey water is considered significantly contaminated and can come from a range of sources, such as appliances, sinks, and washing machines. This water may contain soap, food, grease, or other materials that, with exposure, pose a risk of illness and infection. Category 2 water damage sources include:

• Overflowing washing machines
• Dishwasher leaks
• Bathtub and shower water
• Water from a broken aquarium
• Toilet bowl water containing urine
• Hydrostatic pressure seepage

Category 3: Black Water

Black water is the most contaminated and, therefore, the most dangerous category of water damage. It contains chemicals and pathogens that should only be handled by a trained professional who has experience with biohazard cleanup. Do not try to clean up black water yourself. 

Sources of Category 3 water damage include:

• Sewage backup and leakage
• Flooding from the sea
• Rising water from rivers
• Water intrusion from storm flooding
• Toilet overflow containing feces

4 Classes of Water Damage

While categories of water damage measure the sanitation and the source of the water, classes of water damage evaluate the damage and estimated rate of evaporation. This classification takes into account the types of materials impacted by the water damage.

Class 1: Slow Rate of Evaporation (Limited Damage)

Class 1 water damage only affects a portion of a room and only materials with low permeance, such as concrete and structural wood. While this is the least severe class of water damage, it is still important to act fast so the damage doesn’t spread and seep into other materials. 

Class 2: Fast Rate of Evaporation (Significant Damage)

Class 2 water damage applies to at least one entire room, impacting not only materials of low permeance but also carpeting and cushion. In these cases, the water may have reached 24 inches up the walls.

Class 3: Fastest Rate of Evaporation (Severe Damage)

With Class 3 water damage, the water usually comes from overhead—for example, from storm damage that results in a collapsed ceiling—and saturates the walls, ceilings, and flooring. In the event of Class 3 water damage, it’s important to get to a safe space and call a professional team to remove the water and restore your property.

Class 4: Specialty Drying Situations

Class 4 is reserved for situations of severe water damage impacting stone, hardwood, brick, concrete, and other materials with very low permeance. Water damage on these materials requires special techniques to dry and restore. It is sometimes a longer process than the other three classes. 

How Flood Response Identifies and Treats Water Damage

Regardless of the category and classification, water damage must be dealt with as quickly as possible and by a team of professionals. Taking fast action can mitigate damage, prevent mold growth, and protect you and your property.

The restoration team at Flood Response works efficiently to

• Inspect the damage
• Extract the water to minimize damage to house materials and personal items
• Dry and dehumidify the area
• Clean out debris and replace any damaged materials

From categorizing the damage to restoring your property to its pre-loss condition, our expert technicians handle all your property needs. 

In need of emergency water extraction? Contact Flood Response at 760-343-3933.