At a glance
What to know
- Check the firm and any relevant individual credentials separately.
- Verify the current published standard for the type of work. Draft standards and regulations have different roles.
- Ask how the contractor will assess the damage, document the work, and verify the intended result.
What IICRC Does
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification develops industry standards and administers certifications for cleaning, inspection, restoration, and remediation specialties.
Certified Firm vs. Certified Technician
An IICRC Certified Firm is a company-level designation. Individual IICRC certifications belong to the technicians who earn and maintain them. Certified Firm status should not be presented as proof that every employee holds every specialty certification.
How Customers Can Verify Credentials
IICRC maintains a Global Locator where customers can search for certified firms and certified professionals. Current status should be verified through the official IICRC system when credentials are displayed.
Serve Xpert Credentials
Serve Xpert is an IICRC Certified Firm. Company certification and an individual technician’s specialty credentials describe different qualifications.
How the S-Series Connects to Restoration Work
The IICRC S-series covers multiple cleaning, inspection, restoration, remediation, contents, and specialty disciplines. Not every standard applies to every loss, and some documents may be published standards while others are still in development or revision. The official IICRC standards directory identifies current publications and projects in development.
Core Restoration Standards Customers May Encounter
- S500 — professional water damage restoration concepts, including evaluation, extraction, drying, monitoring, documentation, and contamination considerations.
- S520 — professional mold remediation concepts, including source correction, containment decisions, physical removal, cleaning, HEPA filtration, and post-remediation considerations.
- S540 — trauma and crime scene cleanup concepts for biological contamination and affected materials, used alongside applicable worker-safety and waste-handling requirements.
- S590 — assessment of HVAC systems after water, fire, or mold damage, helping determine whether mechanical-system components require evaluation, cleaning, isolation, or other corrective action.
- S700 — fire and smoke damage restoration concepts for structures, contents, residues, odors, documentation, and coordinated restoration planning.
- S410 — cleaning of the built environment for infection prevention and control, including the important distinction between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.
Published Standards vs. Standards in Development
A published ANSI/IICRC standard has completed its approval process. A project or draft is still in development and is not a final standard. The distinction helps property owners understand the guidance being discussed for their project.
Standards, Regulations, and Manufacturer Instructions Are Different
Industry standards do not replace federal, state, or local law. Restoration work may also intersect with OSHA worker-safety rules, EPA requirements, building codes, local authorities having jurisdiction, waste rules, product labels, equipment instructions, and material-manufacturer requirements. The applicable combination depends on the loss, property, work activity, and jurisdiction.
Questions Customers Can Ask a Restoration Company
- What type of loss are you evaluating, and what conditions affect the scope?
- Which training or standards are relevant to this particular service?
- How will affected and unaffected areas be documented?
- How will moisture, contamination, residue, or other project conditions be monitored?
- What work is performed by your team, and what work requires another qualified trade or specialist?
- How are changes in conditions or scope communicated and documented?
- What verification or completion documentation will be provided?