| Infestation type | Total area | Affected area | Activity | Damage | Moisture | Score | Band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Termites | 2500 sq ft | 180 sq ft | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | ~62 | Critical |
| Mold/Fungi | 1600 sq ft | 120 sq ft | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | ~52 | High |
| Rodents | 3200 sq ft | 60 sq ft | 2/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | ~30 | Moderate |
The calculator builds a 0–100 severity score from weighted site indicators:
- Area impact (0–30): affected percentage × 0.30.
- Activity (0–20): activity level (0–5) scaled to 0–20.
- Damage (0–25): damage level (0–5) scaled to 0–25.
- Moisture (0–10): moisture level (0–5) scaled to 0–10.
- Type risk (0–15): baseline risk points by infestation type.
- Complexity modifier (0–10): adds points for entry points, rooms affected, duration, access difficulty, occupancy, and sensitivity.
Final Score = Area + Activity + Damage + Moisture + Type Risk + Modifier, clamped between 0 and 100.
- Enter total area and the measured affected area for your inspection zone.
- Select the infestation type that best matches confirmed site evidence.
- Rate activity, damage, and moisture using consistent criteria across rooms.
- Record entry points, rooms affected, and duration to reflect spread and persistence.
- Press Calculate Severity to view results above the form.
- Download CSV or PDF to attach to reports, bids, or repair scopes.
Why a severity score supports construction decisions
A consistent severity score helps teams compare conditions across floors, units, and buildings. It converts mixed observations—spread, activity, and damage—into one number that can be trended over time. For renovation planning, this reduces subjective debate and supports clear go or no go calls for demolition, containment, or staged work sequencing. Teams can align thresholds with standards and communicate risk to stakeholders without overload.
Inputs that influence scope, cost, and safety
Area affected drives labor and material quantities, while activity and damage indicate urgency and repair intensity. Moisture is a leading indicator for recurrence, especially with fungi, termites, and pests using damp pathways. Entry points and rooms affected reflect how widely the problem has migrated through assemblies and service penetrations. Recording duration and previous treatment flags chronic conditions that may need deeper access and replacement of finishes.
Interpreting the score bands in the field
Low scores typically fit routine monitoring and targeted sealing. Moderate scores suggest scheduled treatment, cleanup, and preventive enclosure work. High scores often require coordinated remediation with repair trades and potential isolation of impacted zones. Critical scores justify immediate action, access limits, and structural review if framing or load paths are compromised. When in doubt, treat bands as triggers for escalation, not final diagnoses, and confirm with specialist inspection.
Using documentation for compliance and QA/QC
Documenting dates, measurements, photos, and moisture readings improves handoffs between inspectors, contractors, and owners. Exported CSV files support audit trails, while PDF summaries fit bid packages and closeout records. Consistent reporting also helps verify that treatments reduced activity and did not simply relocate the issue to adjacent spaces. For multi-phase projects, the same dataset can justify change orders, validate warranties, and prioritize punch lists.
Reducing recurrence through building-envelope control
Severity improves when sources are removed, not only symptoms treated. Manage bulk water, capillary rise, and ventilation, then seal gaps at utilities, slabs, and openings. Coordinate housekeeping, waste handling, and material storage. After remediation, re-inspect on a fixed schedule to confirm declining scores and stable indoor conditions. Pair score tracking with humidity targets and leak-response logs to keep performance measurable after occupancy and turnover.
What does the severity score represent?
It is a 0–100 index that combines affected area, activity, damage, moisture, and type risk. Higher scores indicate greater urgency, wider spread, or higher repair complexity, helping you prioritize remediation and budgeting decisions.
How should I choose activity, damage, and moisture levels?
Use consistent criteria at each visit. Activity reflects live signs, damage reflects material deterioration, and moisture reflects dampness that supports growth or pests. When uncertain, select the lower level and add notes, then recheck.
Can I use square meters instead of square feet?
Yes. Use the same unit for both total and affected area so the percentage remains correct. The score uses the affected percentage, not the absolute unit, so results stay consistent.
Why do entry points and rooms affected change the score?
More entry routes and more impacted areas usually increase control difficulty, labor time, and the chance of hidden spread. The calculator adds a capped modifier so the final score reflects practical remediation complexity.
When should I treat a result as critical?
Treat critical results as urgent when damage is severe, spread is broad, or moisture is high. Restrict access if needed, document conditions, and involve qualified remediation and structural professionals to confirm risks and define scope.
How do the CSV and PDF exports help on projects?
CSV files support tracking across dates, zones, and contractors for audits and trend graphs. PDF summaries fit site reports, bids, and handoffs, keeping the calculation method visible and repeatable for stakeholders.