A new Australian standard for water damage restoration will advance national claims handling consistency, work quality and consumer protection, an industry professional says.

RIC Solutions MD Jeremy Stamkos, chair of the Standards Australia committee responsible for adoption of AS-IICRC S500, says its formalisation is a “game-changer”.

“The S500 provides a science-based, internationally recognised framework for how water damage should be properly assessed and restored,” he said.

“Its adoption in Australia sets a new benchmark for best practice, one that will help elevate quality across the industry and reduce variability in restoration outcomes.”

Mr Stamkos says weather and escape-of-water events are two of the fastest-growing claim categories in Australia and the standard is expected to help reduce disputes, streamline claims processing and enhance risk management.

The standard, developed by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, aligns local processes with global best practice and supports collaboration between insurers, contractors and consultants by reinforcing a shared technical baseline, he says.