Can Office Electronics Still Work After a Fire?

7/1/2020 (Permalink)

Do not use electrical equipment that has been exposed by heat.

Electronics are very sensitive to heat and smoke. After a fire at a commercial building in Morgan Township, OH, these devices are some of the most costly contents to clean or replace. The condition and electrical fire risk of an appliance, computer, or device depend on the proximity to open flame, the highest temperature reached, and whether the device was powered on during a fire and extinguishing process.

Check the Condition

An external visual inspection may be enough to determine whether electronics have been exposed to open flame, intense heat, smoke, and soot. The following factors often determine the viability of a fire-damaged device:

• Melted exterior or components
  
• Signs of being burnt or charred
  
• Indications of water exposure
  
  

Damage may be more significant if a device was powered on during a fire. A building or business owner should never attempt to turn on electronics that may have sustained fire damage. These items can cause an electrical fire.

Get an Expert Opinion
Content cleaning specialists have access to clean rooms and precision equipment for assessing the condition of electronics. Since smoke damage can corrode metal, it is important to look beyond surface issues. In a safe environment, trained experts can check the condition of circuits and internal components.

Restore or Replace Electronics
It may be more affordable to replace some electronics than to attempt computer cleanup or repair. Circuits or other components exposed to high heat or water may not be capable of reliable repair to reduce the risk of another fire. In many cases, it is safer to replace electronics affected by the fire and retrieve and transfer any data that can be salvaged from the physical memory of devices.
A building or business owner should never attempt to test electronics by turning an appliance, computer, or device on after a fire. Specialized equipment is necessary to safely determine whether electronics are likely to short-circuit and start an electrical fire.