Free lead magnet by Tygart Media. Duplicate this page. Tape it in the van.

Not official IICRC. Not a certification. Not S500/S520. If the call is messy, open the standard or use the paid IICRC Protocol Lookup.

How to use this page

  1. Click Duplicate (you need a free Notion account).
  2. Print the two tables, or keep the page on your phone.
  3. On scene: pick Category, pick Class, put on the PPE floor, take the one photo.

Category — how dirty is the water?

Call Typical source What you do The photo
Cat 1 Supply line, sink overflow, rain from a clean roof Move fast. Materials can often be saved. Source + how far it traveled
Cat 2 Washer discharge, toilet overflow with urine, dishwasher PPE up. Time + heat can push this toward Cat 3. Source + standing water + affected finishes
Cat 3 Sewage, river/flood, toilet with feces, standing dirty water Full PPE. Think containment. Do not call this “just water.” Sewage / flood evidence before you move anything

If the homeowner says “it was clean” but it sat, came through a ceiling, or mixed with sewage — do not call Cat 1.

Class — how much is wet?

Call What you see
Class 1 Part of a room, little wicking
Class 2 Whole room, water wicked up the walls
Class 3 Overhead source — ceiling, walls, and floor wet
Class 4 Hardwood, plaster, concrete, masonry holding water

Class is not category. Dirty water in a small room is still Cat 2 or 3.

PPE floor

On-scene script (20 seconds)

  1. What is the source? → Category
  2. How much of the assembly is wet? → Class