Guide
Categories and Classes of Water Damage
Restoration professionals classify every loss two ways: the category describes how contaminated the water is, and the class describes how much of the structure absorbed it. Both determine the scope and the price.
Category 1 — clean water
Supply lines, water heaters, ice makers and rainwater. No immediate health threat, and materials can usually be dried in place. After 48 hours it degrades toward category 2.
Category 2 — gray water
Dishwasher and washer discharge, toilet overflow without solids, AC condensate. Carries contaminants that can cause illness. Pad and porous materials are removed; hard surfaces are disinfected.
Category 3 — black water
Sewage, floodwater, river and lake water, and any water left standing long enough to become grossly contaminated. Requires full containment, PPE and removal of all affected porous materials.
Damage classes
Class describes evaporation load and drives the equipment plan:
- Class 1 — minimal absorption, small area, fastest drying
- Class 2 — an entire room with carpet and pad, wicking up walls under 24 inches
- Class 3 — water from overhead, saturating ceilings, walls, insulation and floors
- Class 4 — specialty drying for hardwood, plaster, concrete and stone
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