| Flood waters filling basements and higher
floors will soak walls, support beams and especially the basement concrete ground support
walls and basement floors. These are usually not sealed from the inside. To make matters
worse, these waters likely contain raw sewage and result in severe contamination of the
structure.
The usual restoration methods of drywall removal, pressure washing and drying out of the
building may or may not work. Even the most perfect bone-drying process does not kill the
pathogens. Pathogens can protect themselves with a hard shell called a spore, in
which they wait for the next opportunity to flourish. Basements are usually damp to begin
with, and a proper permanent drying process may be nearly impossible. As soon as normal
relative humidity is re-established, the pathogen micro-organisms start to flourish, and
people get sick. Even after going through all the emotional struggles dealing with the
flooding, the whole building may sometimes be condemned and destroyed. The economical and
emotional trauma is extreme.
Fortunately, there is a solution available through ozone disinfection. Ozone is a
triatomic form of oxygen. It can disintegrate spontaneously into regular diatomic oxygen
— certainly the least toxic gas known. In its triatomic formation, oxygen is about
6000 times stronger as a disinfectant than diatomic oxygen and leaves no toxic residuals.
Ozone is made from extremely dry oxygen having a dew point well below -88°C (-100°F).
This low dew point also adds to the drying process.
Ozone is the perfect solution for flood damage restoration because it has
the ability to penetrate deep into the treated building. The CDO-8000 ozone unit produces
very powerful and highly concentrated ozone. While normally we measure ozone levels using
increments of 0.01 mg/L in the air, CDO-8000 produces up to 12,000 mg/h of ozone in its
purest form from its own internal source of pure oxygen.
The CDO-8000 is portable, easy to handle by one person, and requires standard line
voltage to operate (only 5A at 120V). Normal humidity in the air is measured between 60 to
100% R.H. — the CDO-8000 supplies dry ozone well below 1% R.H.
Common air treatment ozone generators found on the market today make ozone by using
ambient air. Nitrogen and water in the air react to make highly toxic NO2
(nitrogen dioxide) and nitric acid. This type of "ozone" leaves toxic residuals
in the walls, is high in humidity, and far less powerful. It is not recommendable to
settle for cheap alternatives. Ozone for flood restoration services must be made from
extremely dry oxygen to be acceptable and must produce extremely high concentrations to be
effective. CDO-8000 fulfills these requirements by producing the highest concentrations of
ozone physically possible.
The application of treatment with the CDO-8000
is simple:
After all damaged walls and insulation is removed, the affected areas pressure-washed and
dried, the ozonation process may start. All external windows must be closed and all
internal doors open to connect the rooms to be treated so that ozone can flow freely.
CDO-8000 is suitable for up to 20,000 square feet. Larger capacity units are available if
required for specific projects.
Install a minimum 500 CFM fan anywhere inside to establish the air movement required for
the proper distribution of the ozone. Any common portable fan will do. The life span of
this fan may be shortened by its exposure to ozone unless the fan is made from ozone
resistant materials. Do not use faulty and sparking equipment. The cost of the fan is
extremely low compared to the value saved through the restoration process.
Place the CDO-8000 outside the treated room or building, preferably in a dry, dust free
environment without the possibility of ozone exposure. It could be in a dry, upper floor
of the house or inside a van. Do not leave the machine in the treated rooms — ozone
levels will be too strong and destructive to the ozone generator (as prescribed in the
instruction manual).
Set the timer for approximately 1 hour for each 1000 square feet of floor space. For
example, if the floor size of the treated space is 3,000 square feet — 3000/1000 = 3h
— thus the timer would be set for 3 hours. Remove all rubber and other corrodible
valuables from the treatment space.
The unit comes with a hundred feet of ozone-resistant tubing. Place the tubing from the
CDO-8000 under the door, aiming towards the fan inside. During treatment, secure the doors
to prevent entry and post a "DO NOT ENTER" sign — then START the ozone
machine. Within 20 seconds ozone will be pumping into the house at full concentration.
Large gaps under the doors should be sealed with a masking tape.
The timer will automatically stop the ozone generator. When the process is complete, pull
out the tubing but do not open the door. Let the ozone sit inside for another 24 hours.
This time span is required for the ozone to penetrate deep into the concrete, wood,
ceilings, and other affected areas. Unused ozone will slowly convert back from its
triatomic form to its diatomic form (oxygen) at the rate of 50% about every 17 hours. This
is why ozone is most active for the first 24 hours.
Once this first cycle is completed, enter the area with a carbon mask and open all the
windows and doors for quick ventilation. If the concrete is extremely soaked and you
notice the moisture is returning, an intensive air drying cycle could be repeated followed
by another ozonation cycle as the final shot.
The CDO-8000 Ozone generator is portable and easy to utilize single-handedly. Much
larger ozone units are available for industrial applications and suitable for permanent
installation into a van. For larger systems, please contact our Engineering
Department and we will size an ozone generation system to be most suitable for your
restoration services. Such ozone systems will come in a frame — ready to be mounted
to the inside floor of a van or large vehicle. The required Floor space is 22" x
22" and the unit height can be as tall as the space allows. The advantage of the
CDO-8000 is that one unit can be left at every house throughout the flooded area, and it
can be easily transported from house to house. |
