While water is still moving
Safety and stopping the source come first.
- Move people away from wet floors, sagging ceiling tiles and electrical equipment
- Close the nearest valve. For a fire sprinkler, have a qualified person close the control valve and notify the alarm monitoring company
- Shut off power to affected circuits from a dry spot, or call the electric utility
- Call 911 for fire, smoke, a gas odor, sparking or an injury
- Alert the tenants or departments on the same floor and the floor below
- Start taking photos and video before anything gets moved
Once the water is contained
These steps protect records, equipment and the claim.
- Lift computers, servers, files and inventory off the floor and out of wet zones
- Check elevator pits, electrical rooms and stairwells, where water collects
- List which tenant spaces were affected and notify each tenant in writing
- Notify the building's insurer and remind tenants to notify their own
- Decide which areas stay open and which close for drying
- Write down when the leak was found, the source and who shut it off
Who handles what
| Task | Usual owner | Notes for your building |
|---|---|---|
| Shutting off water and sprinkler valves | Building maintenance or engineer | Know where the valves are and label them |
| Fire protection impairment notice | Property manager or fire protection contractor | Ask whether a fire watch is required |
| Electrical shutoff and inspection | Maintenance plus a licensed electrician | List which panels serve each suite |
| Tenant notifications | Property manager | Written notice with the time and scope |
| Extraction and drying | Restoration contractor hired by the owner or tenant | Settle who hires before anyone signs |
| Tenant contents and IT | Each tenant | Tenants' own insurers usually cover contents |
| Insurance notice | Owner and each tenant separately | Keep every claim number in one place |
Questions to settle with a contractor before work starts
- Can you document each tenant space separately, with its own photos, readings and equipment counts?
- How will you work around business hours, secure areas and occupied suites?
- What's the plan for ceiling tiles, carpet tile and wall base in each area?
- How will you power the equipment without overloading tenant circuits?
- Who gets the daily drying log, and in what format?
General information for Aurora, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.