Directory

Restoration industry organizations

Trade associations and industry groups set standards, train technicians and help homeowners find qualified restoration professionals.

Standards and certification in restoration

Restoration has its own standards bodies and trade associations. The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) publishes the industry's best-known standards, such as S500 for water damage and S520 for mold remediation, and certifies technicians and firms. The Restoration Industry Association is a trade association for restoration contractors, with training and professional designations of its own.

For a homeowner, these are a way to check a company: ask which certifications its crew holds. For a restoration company, they are where training, standards and much of the industry's network come from.

What the organizations say about themselves

These points are quoted from the organizations' own pages, which we read on 10/05/2026. They describe the organizations; the directory does not vet them or the companies that cite them.

  • IICRC standards. "IICRC Standards are internationally recognized, ANSI-accredited guidelines that define best practices for inspection, cleaning, and restoration work." (IICRC standards, undated)
  • Water damage (S500). The standard "describes the procedures to be followed and the precautions to be taken when performing water damage restoration in residential, commercial, and institutional buildings." The IICRC says a new consensus body has begun work to revise the 2021 edition. (IICRC, S500, undated)
  • Mold remediation (S520). "The ANSI/IICRC S520 is a procedural standard for the remediation of mold damaged structures and contents." The IICRC lists the 2024 fourth edition as available. (IICRC, S520, undated)
  • RIA. The Restoration Industry Association describes itself as "the oldest and largest non-profit, professional trade association" for the restoration industry. (RIA, undated)

Sources

Each page was read on 10/05/2026; the pages show no date.

  1. IICRC, "IICRC standards."
  2. IICRC, "ANSI/IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration."
  3. IICRC, "ANSI/IICRC S520 Standard for Professional Mold Remediation."
  4. Restoration Industry Association, home page.

Common questions

Does certification guarantee good work?

No. It shows that a technician passed a course and that a firm meets a certifying body's requirements. It is a reasonable starting point, alongside the other questions on the trade pages.

How do I check a company's certification?

Ask the company which certifications it holds, then check with the certifying body; the IICRC, for one, lets you look up certified firms.

Does Restoration Advertising check these organizations?

No. The listings were supplied by the organizations themselves, and the directory does not rate, rank or vet anyone.

See also