Water category & class reference

Cat-1/2/3, Class 1-4.

IICRC S500 water categories (contamination) and classes (amount of water / evaporation load).

Inputs

Result

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Category 1
Clean / sanitary source (broken supply line, rainwater).
Category 2
Grey — significant contamination (appliance overflow, sump pump).
Category 3
Black — grossly contaminated (sewage, ground / surface water).

Class 1
Least water; low porosity; <~5% of the area affected.
Class 2
Large amount; wicking up walls <24 in.
Class 3
Greatest amount; from overhead; wicking >24 in.
Class 4
Specialty / low-evaporation (hardwood, plaster, concrete).