Soot and Smoke Damage Claims

NFC is developing a track record of successfully investigating and defending claims involving alleged soot and smoke damage. Our scientists have developed a method of detecting the presence of smoke and soot through chemical testing and analysis for compounds known as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are compounds that are generated in a fire and are released as vapors into the smoke. As the smoke cools, they tend to condense and be absorbed onto any available surface. Most of the odor associated with fire is due to the presence of PAH. They are not normally found indoors or on man-made materials.

With increasing frequency, we are finding that when a fire occurs, a number of adjacent or nearby properties are filing claims alleging soot or smoke damage. By testing for the presence of PAH, we can easily determine whether there is any validity to these allegations.