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Claims & Insurance

Soot

The fine black powder left when fuel or building materials burn without enough oxygen. It sticks to surfaces, stains them, and carries odor, so a fire claim usually needs cleaning, sealing and deodorization lines, often followed by repaint. How far the soot traveled decides how much of the building gets cleaned.

Common questions

What does "Soot" mean in Xactimate estimating?

The fine black powder left when fuel or building materials burn without enough oxygen. It sticks to surfaces, stains them, and carries odor, so a fire claim usually needs cleaning, sealing and deodorization lines, often followed by repaint. How far the soot traveled decides how much of the building gets cleaned.

Where does "Soot" show up in a claim?

The term matters on estimates and scopes across the insurance restoration workflow. Browse the glossary for related terms.

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