Documents, photographs and artwork
Preservation priorities deserve their own specialist conversation.
Make the decision material by material.
- Give each room or item a clear reference.
- Record the proposed treatment and its limitations.
- Agree what evidence will support retention or replacement.
Name the preservation priority before disposition
An illustrative contents list might include a framed family photograph, a box of business records and an original painting. “Paper and pictures” would hide three different priorities: preserving an irreplaceable image, retaining access to information and conserving an original object. Give each priority an item ID and tell the assessor what matters before authorizing treatment or disposal.
Record existing copies where known. A digital copy may help with an information need while the condition of the original remains a separate conservation question. Do not upload confidential pages or identifying photographs merely to prove that an item exists.
Create a private preservation brief
| Item | Useful brief without unnecessary disclosure |
|---|---|
| D-01: framed family photograph | Approximate size; medium if known; original/copy status; preservation priority; existing condition record. |
| D-02: business-record box | Category and quantity; need to retain access to information; named authorized recipient; private contents omitted. |
| A-01: original painting | Known artist/material information; frame/glazing noted; specialist assessment and treatment authorization. |
| Custody and options | Packing/transport provider; item IDs; proposed tests; possible changes and owner decision. |
| Completion/disposition | Condition and work report; originals and copies reconciled; unresolved conservation and claim tasks separated. |
Record value beyond a replacement price
An original photograph, paper record or artwork may have evidentiary, historical or personal importance. List those priorities before a standard contents-disposal decision is made. A high declared value does not guarantee successful conservation or insurance coverage.
From an authorized safe location, record the item’s identity, materials if known and existing condition without unnecessarily handling it. For private records, omit account numbers, legal documents and identifying images from a website enquiry.
Ask about specialist assessment
Clarify whether a conservator or specialist is appropriate, what information they need and what the proposed assessment will produce. Paper, photographic media, paint layers, frames and glazing may require different decisions. Generic household cleaning advice is not a preservation plan.
Ask how custody, packing, transport, testing and authorization will be recorded. If treatment could alter an item, understand the options and limits before agreeing to it. Keep a copy of the work and condition record.
Preserve privacy and evidence
- Which record can document the item without disclosing private contents?
- Who is authorized to handle or view it?
- What is the item-specific treatment/disposition basis?
- How are originals and copies distinguished?
- What happens if the test or treatment is unsuccessful?
Separate conservation from the claim
An insurer may need valuation or ownership information while a specialist evaluates conservation. Keep those tasks distinct. Do not treat a receipt, inventory estimate or emotional importance as a coverage decision. The actual policy and claim govern payment.
Take a useful brief
into the next conversation.
Organize your observations with a planning tool. Review the brief before choosing to share it.
References and scope
- ANSI/IICRC S700: fire and smoke restoration — IICRC.
First edition2025; published scope only. Wildfire and exposure evaluation are not comprehensively addressed. The paid standard has not been reproduced. - Wildfires and property insurance — Government of Alberta.
Policy wording and limits vary. Coverage, valuation and payment decisions require the actual policy/claim.
Source links checked September 30, 2026. General guidance and original planning questions do not establish the condition, exposure risk or clearance of a property.
Smoke damage?
Start with a clear next step.
Describe what is known, where the property is and what you need help deciding. The HAUSE team reviews the request and, with your consent, may connect you with a suitable provider if available.
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