Fire insurance inclusions and types that you must know 23nd January 2023
Buying a high-value fixed asset like land or property is always expensive and risky, whether commercial or residential. Several external factors are outside the control of property owners, including fire, burglary, etc., which may result in extreme losses.
Purchasing insurance against such uncertainties is a prudent mechanism. It ensures that the amount of damages or loss is covered by the insurer, which is why buying fire insurance for any property you own is essential. Irrespective of whether you buy an insurance policy online or through an offline agent, you must be aware of what fire insurance covers, its inclusions, and various types to help you make the right choice.
Read on to learn all about fire insurance inclusions and types.
What is fire insurance?
Fire insurance is a contract that protects the insured against financial losses arising from damages or loss to his property or assets. Usually, it is purchased as a supplementary cover having several inclusions apart from just fires.
Essential features of fire insurance.
● It is purchased for one year
● It covers property, heavy machinery, stock of goods, furniture and fittings, etc
● The insurer can settle a claim on actual cash value or replacement cost basis
● It only covers direct loss to the insured property, making consequential loss claims non-admissible. However, add-on covers for the same are available at an additional cost
Inclusions of fire insurance.
As stated above, fire insurance covers unintentional risks beyond the scope of just fires. These include:
1. Fire:
The most apparent risk insured against is the fire itself. It has a broad range of inclusions and covers all fire-allied accidents, making the policy highly beneficial to business premises that regularly deal with fire.
2. Lightning:
Damages or losses caused by fire or lightning are within the scope of the policy. This may include cracks that run down the buildings or roof coverings, etc.
3. Explosion:
Blasts caused by high temperatures or high-pressure gases are included under the policy. However, read the fine print before you buy an insurance policy online. Many insurers make slight changes in their offerings and may not cover damages due to centrifugal force-based machines.
4. Aircraft damages:
Any fires caused due to an aircraft or an airborne device, including the dripping of explosive cargo, crashing, etc., are policy inclusions.
5. Violent activities:
These include a broad spectrum of terrorist activities, strikes, riots, or any public violence actions that may damage or set fire to the insured property.
6. Natural calamities:
Natural calamities are beyond the scope of the control of humans and include storms, typhoons, landslides, rockslides, floods, etc.
Types of policies.
The maximum claim amount that you can raise is based on the type of policy purchased.
1. Valued policy:
In this case, the contract states a pre-decided amount to be paid by the insurer in case of damage or destruction. This amount is non-alterable post-fire, and such a policy ensures high-value personal effects.
2. Specific policy:
This type of insurance is purchased where the insurer is liable to pay either the specified amount or the actual loss incurred, whichever is lower after a surveyor's inspection.
3. Average clause policy:
If the insured intentionally purchases a policy for a value lower than the actual property value, their claim is proportionately reduced to the extent of the loss incurred. This discourages the practice of underinsurance and minimises fraud.
4. Consequential loss policy:
This covers not just the direct loss but also the loss of profit due to a halt in operations due to damages or fire. However, the insured must pay an additional premium for such insurance.
5. Replacement policy:
The asset's market value is identified and then compensated for cost post depreciation. This ensures minimal losses for both- the insured and the insurer.
Considering the plethora of options available, you must read the inclusions, exclusions, and maximum permissible claims before you buy insurance policy online or offline to protect your assets from losses due to fire.
Click HERE to buy insurance policy online and protect your property from fire damages.
Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.