IICRC WRT Contents Manipulation and Pack-Out — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Before moving contents out of an affected room, what should the technician do first?
- Discard anything that looks damaged
- Inventory the items and photograph their condition (Correct answer)
- Stack everything in the garage
- Clean each item with disinfectant
Correct answer: Inventory the items and photograph their condition
Documenting the items and their pre-existing condition protects the client and the contractor and supports the insurance claim.
Question 2: Why are blocks, foil, or plastic tabs placed under furniture legs on wet carpet?
- To raise the furniture to dry the legs
- To prevent finish transfer, stains, and further wicking (Correct answer)
- To make the room look staged
- To anchor the furniture
Correct answer: To prevent finish transfer, stains, and further wicking
Furniture left on wet carpet can transfer dye and finish to it and wick moisture up the legs. Blocking prevents these problems.
Question 3: Before discarding items that are not salvageable, the technician should:
- Place them at the curb immediately
- Obtain the owner's written authorization and document them (Correct answer)
- Donate them to charity
- Sell them to recoup costs
Correct answer: Obtain the owner's written authorization and document them
Items belong to the owner or insurer. The technician should document them and obtain written authorization before disposal.
Question 4: What is the main purpose of a pack-out?
- To remove contents to protect them and allow cleaning, drying, and access to the structure (Correct answer)
- To permanently discard the contents
- To increase the dryer load
- To avoid inventorying items
Correct answer: To remove contents to protect them and allow cleaning, drying, and access to the structure
A pack-out moves contents to a safe location, often off-site, to protect them from damage and give technicians room to work.
Question 5: What should be done with a wet electronic device?
- Plug it in to see if it still works
- Place it in direct heat
- Do not power it on; have a qualified technician evaluate it (Correct answer)
- Wipe the screen and use it immediately
Correct answer: Do not power it on; have a qualified technician evaluate it
Powering a wet device can cause short circuits and shock. The technician should leave it off and refer it to a qualified electronics specialist.
Question 6: Porous contents such as upholstered furniture exposed to Category 3 water are generally:
- Dried in place
- Sprayed and returned immediately
- Considered non-salvageable (Correct answer)
- Fully salvageable with deodorizer
Correct answer: Considered non-salvageable
Porous contents cannot be reliably decontaminated after contact with Category 3 water and are generally treated as non-salvageable.
