Rule 85 in the Washington State Commercial Lines Manual deals with class- and specifically rated risks. Class-rated risks are buildings with occupants that can be fit into a similar category due to their similar exposures to loss and probability of sustaining damage. Certain assumptions are made about buildings and occupants placed in this category. Specifically rated risks are not eligible for class rates and have unique operations, hazards, or other conditions not allowing them to be class rated. These risks also tend to be much larger and more hazardous.
Read MoreTopics: property rating, Rule 85, GIS Mapping, insurance, Insurance loss cost inspections
The decision to rate a lower level as a basement instead of a first floor can mean the difference between treating a building as class rated or specifically rated. For an insured, this can have an effect on how their premium is calculated. However, the distinction isn’t always obvious, especially in the hilly Northwest.
Here is a quick guide to how we treat lower levels in our loss cost reports:
Read MoreTopics: property risk inspections, Building Construction, GIS Mapping, Inspections, Insurance loss cost inspections
On November 4th of 2013, WSRB celebrated its 121st anniversary of its very first inspection. Back then we were known as the Office of the Washington Surveyor, but our functions have remained the same. Since 1892, WSRB has grown, expanded and strived for the same goal which is providing the best information possible to help our customers properly price and assess risk.
Because it’s been 121 years since our first inspection, it got us wondering how many inspections we’ve done over the years and that brought us to ‘WSRB – By the Numbers!’
Read MoreTopics: rating bureau, Building Construction, GIS Mapping, Inspections, insurance, Insurance loss cost inspections
The end of the construction class road is learning how to handle mixed construction. It’s common to see buildings of varied construction types all over Washington. Some buildings are built using different construction methods, while others are added on to over time. As someone trying to learn construction classes it’s important to understand the ground rules before diving into mixed construction classes. And if you need a reminder, you can find our articles on Construction Classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 by following those links.
Read MoreTopics: property risk inspections, Building Construction, GIS Mapping, insurance, Insurance loss cost inspections
My job can be difficult to explain to people outside of the insurance industry. Whenever I meet someone new, they will invariably ask, “So, what do you do for a living?” Generally, I tell them that I inspect commercial properties for fire insurance companies. On one particular occasion, someone then followed up with, “What do those diamonds on flammable liquid containers mean?” The answer is a long one, but certainly helps to make my job quicker and easier.
Read MoreTopics: property risk inspections, GIS Mapping, Inspections, insurance, Insurance loss cost inspections, Home Fire Protection
The insurance inspector (aka: field representative, loss control/prevention engineer) is part reporter, part technical consultant, and part educator. Their inspection should produce the following:
a) An identification of hazards with the potential to lead to or contribute to loss,
b) An enhanced outlook toward loss prevention by those in charge of the insured location, and
c) A record of the findings and actions resulting from the inspection.
Read MoreTopics: Insurance underwriting, Property and Casualty Loss Control, rating bureau, GIS Mapping, Inspections, insurance, Insurance loss cost inspections
Review of the 2010 United States Fire Loss Clock:
- A fire department responded to a fire every 24 seconds.
- One outside fire was reported every 50 seconds.
- One structure fire was reported every 65 seconds.
- One home structure fire was reported every 85 seconds.
- One vehicle fire was reported every 146 seconds.
- One civilian fire injury was reported every 30 minutes.
- One civilian fire death occurred every 2 hours and 49 minutes.
Topics: Casualty and Property Loss Control, P&C, rating bureau, Insurance loss cost inspections, fire departments, Home Fire Protection
In our last article, we discussed the importance of a very small and inexpensive item that can cost an insured in unnecessary increased premiums; covers for the extinguishing nozzles. In this piece, we will talk about an issue that is not really suppression but prevention.
Every qualified hood cover for cooking appliances has some sort of filtration system. We will focus on one.
Read MoreTopics: Insurance underwriting, property risk inspections, rating bureau, GIS Mapping, Inspections, Insurance loss cost inspections, Home Fire Protection
