Why read this guide?
Damage always occurs when you have the least time: smoke odours settle in the walls, mould flourishes behind the panels, or sewage water fills the basement. Your goal is simple – to stop or freeze the damage and prevent depreciation quickly and safely, without creating new problems. This guide will help you from the initial inspection to the documented final result. It consists of a checklist, open dosage tables, HSE tips and field-based cases taken from Proff Norway's professional catalogue and course material.
1 | Assess the damage before you start
Always start by identifying the type and extent of damage and the time you have available. Use a simple checklist (such as the one in the subject catalogue) to document the source, temperature, moisture and odour intensity/degree. This will help you choose the method and chemistry – microbiology, wet chemical odour remediation or oxidation.
Short checklist
- Vent or apply negative or positive pressure to prevent spread.
- Remove loose soot, mould or sludge mechanically, using the right equipment and protective gear. Remember to use an approved, certified vacuum cleaner for this purpose.
- Measure the temperature and relative humidity; heat to 25 °C before chemical treatment.
- Select products from the Bio series, ProffOx series or Wet and Dry odour remediation chemicals from the tables below.
2 | Soot grade 1–3 – choose the right method, avoid secondary damage
Fire damage is classified here into three degrees of soot – from light surface coating to deeply penetrated odour. Overestimating chemistry at degree 1 or underestimating degree 3 leads to wasted time, unsatisfactory results and, in the worst case, complaints.
| Soot grade | Characteristics | Recommended procedure | Dosage / Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Light | Surface cleaning; thin soot film, often from minor fires, cigarette smoke or cooking fumes | Step 1: Wipe washable surfaces with a chemical cloth. Then wash with Allrent HP 1:100 alt. Food residue: Smoke Clean 1:6-1:30 in water; rinse. Odour removal with wet odour removal: see the product catalogue for a choice of Citrus, Boc, etc. | Chemical cloth, micro cloth, mops, low-pressure sprayer |
| 2 – Moderate | Soot in pores, etc.; visible soot layer and smell of smoke | Vacuum. Wipe surfaces with a chemical cloth. Preheat rooms to 25 °C; wash with Smoke Clean 1:6-1:30; wet fog surfaces with ProffOx 1:5 if necessary. Finish with dry fogging using ProffOx Pf in furnished rooms. | Use an approved certified vacuum cleaner for hazardous dust Chemical cloth, ULV wet fogger, thermal fogger PN1500 |
| 3 – Serious | Charring after fire, Strong odour deep within materials | Mechanical removal + cleaning, vacuuming; see procedure for cleaning surfaces. Heating to 25-30 °C; Dry fog ProffOx PF or ProffOx Max; allow fog to stand ≤ 24 hours. Consider whether surfaces that have been charred need to be sealed. |
Approved vacuum cleaner. Cleaning equipment, cleaning chemicals: SmokeClean –Proff Nautilus Thermal foggers, heat important |
Tip: Ensure that the room is warmer than normal – the pores open up and the odour escapes more easily, along with the chemicals. Not increasing the temperature during the odour remediation process is a mistake that leads to secondary damage complaints in grade 3.
3 | Mould remediation without damaging building materials
Mould thrives in damp and temperate zones. It grows after just a few days. You want to remove mould spores and odours – but also preserve surfaces. Proff Norway's five-step model ensures good hygiene and material protection.
- Identify source of moisture (leakage, cold bridge). Cause of mould growth.
- Pre-treat visible mould with ProffOx S (ready-to-use solution) using a wet fogger/sprayer. High penetration capacity dissolves/oxidises spores without sanding.
- Clean the surfaces with ProffOx Lemon 1:50 – combines citric acid and peroxide to lift deposits and reduce odours.
- Treat/disinfect with ProffOx DES 5 L 1:2; leave the product to act. Treat with Boracol 15.
- Stabilise the indoor climate: Use absorption or condensation dehumidifiers + for larger areas together with axial fans, humidity control set to 50-60 % RF or lower if necessary, depending on the use of the area.
Case – Basement wall with visible mould
Pre-treatment with ProffOx S, wash with ProffOx Lemon, disinfect with ProffOx DES 5 L, insert dehumidifier: odour-free and dry area or room in a few days (temperature 22 °C, RH 55 %).
| Product | Mixing ratio | Contact time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProffOx S | Ready for use | 10–30 m. | Spray/wet fog; do not rinse |
| ProffOx Lemon | 1:50 | 5 min | Wash; rinse lightly |
| ProffOx DES 5 L | 1:2 | Leave it | Not on textiles. ProffOx DES 5 L is used on textiles and surfaces that are sensitive to bleaching. |
| Boracol 15* | Ready for use | 24 hours | Real house paint; brush/roller/sprayer |
*Only used when laboratory tests or source checks confirm Serpula lacrymans. This is a type of rot fungus known to cause significant damage to buildings.
4 | Odour remediation – why temperature and droplet size matter
An ULV wet fogger disperses droplets ranging from 20–50 µm. (Adjustable nozzle) Small droplets cover larger surfaces and increase the chemical effect with smaller droplets and better distribution of liquid at the site of damage, reducing chemical consumption and working time and penetrating deeper into the pores of the material.
- Wet fogging (ULV): 20–50 µm → to absorbent surfaces, with strong odours to larger surfaces
- Low-pressure sprayer: 80–150 µm → Small and large surfaces, odour removal and disinfection.
- Thermal fogging (dry): < 10 µm → cavity, grade 3 burn. Final treatment after other treatments have been completed.
Always increase the room temperature to 25–30 °C before odour treatment or fogging. Field data shows up to 30% lower chemical consumption and faster drying times when the temperature is increased.
5 | The balance between the environment, health and safety, and results
Hydrogen peroxide-based oxidation (ProffOx series) leaves only water and oxygen behind – no VOC residues. The Bio series contains non-pathogenic Bacillus spores that break down organic material into CO₂ and water, without corrosion.
| Risk | Measures |
|---|---|
| Aerosols in the air | Half or full face mask with ABEK-P3 filter. See data sheet. |
| Splash on skin/eyes | Nitrile gloves, safety goggles, disposable coveralls 4600. |
| Thermal fogging | Alert neighbours, disconnect fire alarms, mark the area with signs saying "Closed due to: No entry until ventilated by professionals". |
By choosing the right combination of microbiology, chemical odour removal and oxidation, you will reduce your environmental footprint, receive fewer complaints, increase profitability and preserve value. This is why using foggers is so cost-effective.
6 | Dosage tables compiled
Quick overview – soot & odour
| Type of damage | Product | Dosage | Optimal temperature | Equipment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soot grade 1 | All-purpose HP | 1:50–1:200 | > 15 °C | Cloth / mop / low-pressure sprayer |
| Soot grade 2 | ProffOx S Smoke Clean |
Ready for use 1:6–1:30 |
25 °C | Wet fogger / low pressure sprayer Cleaning with cloth mops/low-pressure sprayer |
| Soot grade 3 | ProffOx PF | Ready for use | 25–30 °C | Thermofogger PN1500 as a finishing treatment |
| Sewer odour – Disinfection requirements | ProffOx DES 5 L | 1:2 | 20 °C | Sprayer / wet fogger … |
| Biological-organic waste | Biofresh | 1:10 | 25 °C | Wet fogger / low pressure sprayer |
Oil damage
| Step | Product | Dosage | Procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oil cleaning agent | 3-5 % in hot water up to 95°C | Scrub, leave to work, vacuum up |
| 2 | Biofresh | After odour rating 1:2, 1:10 | Low-pressure sprayer – Wet fogging 1:10, working time 10–30 minutes NOTE: Do not mix with acidic or disinfectant chemicals. Use lukewarm water or water straight from the tap. Do not use water hotter than 70 °C. |
| 3 | Pro Nautilus (only in case of spillage, no smell) |
1:20 | Clean, dirt, soot, oil, industrial, avoid drying on glass |
7 | Cases that support the methods
Case A – Smoke damage in a detached house, soot grade 2
- Problem: Dry fire in the kitchen; soot film and smoke odour.
- Measures: Vacuum surfaces – wipe with a chemical cloth and, if necessary, use an air purifier with HEPA during work. Wash Smoke Clean 1:10-20 on all surfaces; rooms heated to 25°C. Wet fog ProffOx-S/alt.ProffOx; result: odour test 48 hours later gave 0.4 OLP (odour level points) – below the insurance limit of 1.0.
Case B – Mould in the basement
Achieved < 200 cfu/m³ spore measurement after treatment, down from 15,000.
Case C – Sewer damage in commercial building
- Pumped out sludge; ProffOx DES 5 L 1:2 on surfaces; Wet fog Biofresh 1:10.
- Cost: 17 % lower chemical consumption than previous similar assignments – due to heating and the use of ULV wet foggers. Significant time savings.
8 | How to succeed every time
- First assess the situation – avoid unnecessary chemical or physical treatment such as polishing/sanding, etc.
- Heat to at least 25 °C before odour removal – the chemicals work faster and more effectively.
- Select the correct droplet size on the fogger for optimal penetration, effect, and economy.
- Use the Bio series where you can; save oxidation for tough and heavier odour challenges.
- Document dosage and temperature – it is your best insurance against complaints.
Ready for the next step?
Download the complete dosage and checklist as a PDF from the online shop. or contact our specialist team at 33 16 52 33 for free sparring.
Glossary
- ULV foggers: Ultra-Low-Volume Wet Fogger for 10–150 µm droplets.
- Hydrogen peroxide: Oxidising liquid (H₂O₂) that breaks down odour molecules and sources that are undesirable.
- CFU: Colony Forming Units – spore/bacteria measurement in air.