IICRC FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician)

Fire Damage Restoration Requires Specialized Knowledge

Fire damage claims are among the most complex in the restoration industry. They involve structural damage, smoke and soot contamination, water damage from firefighting, contents damage, and persistent odors. The IICRC FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician) certification trains technicians to handle this full scope of work following industry-accepted standards and procedures.

Fire restoration is not just about tearing out burned materials. A significant portion of the work involves cleaning and restoring salvageable structure and contents. Understanding smoke behavior, cleaning chemistry, and deodorization methods is what separates qualified fire restoration technicians from general contractors who happen to accept fire jobs.

What the FSRT Course Covers

The FSRT program covers the science and procedures behind fire and smoke damage restoration:

• Fire damage types: Understanding the differences between protein fires, complex fires, and natural substance fires, and how each produces different residues.
• Smoke behavior: How smoke travels through a structure, the types of residues it leaves, and why different surfaces require different cleaning approaches.
• Structural cleaning: Methods for cleaning soot, char, and smoke residue from different building materials and surfaces.
• Contents restoration: Assessment, pack-out procedures, cleaning methods, and documentation for personal property affected by fire and smoke.
• Odor control: Deodorization principles and techniques, including thermal fogging, ozone treatment, and hydroxyl generation.

Career Impact

Fire damage claims average significantly higher dollar amounts than water damage claims. For restoration companies, adding fire restoration capabilities expands revenue potential per job. Carriers and TPAs that route fire losses need certified technicians, and FSRT certification puts you on their qualified vendor lists. The credential also pairs well with OCT (Odor Control Technician) certification, since odor removal is a major component of fire restoration.

How to Get FSRT Certified

Find an IICRC-approved training provider at iicrc.org. Confirm current prerequisites, course duration, and pricing with the training school. The FSRT course includes a proctored exam. Maintain your certification through IICRC's continuing education program.