Texas commercial insurance: Commercial fire protection
12/30/2011 10:15:00 AM
According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), the number of wildfires in Texas has been on the increase recently. This is partly believed to be due to the current drought and more buildings being erected in fire-prone areas has meant more damage. In Texas, commercial insurance is clearly very important to protect business enterprises from financial ruin if they are hit with fires or other natural disasters. Don’t wait until the warmer weather arrives before you begin preparing.
While it may not be possible to totally eradicate wildfires from occurring, actions can be taken to minimize the damage they do. The recommendations of the Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) include the use of non-combustible materials for roofing and decking, double-pane tempered glass for windows, vent coverings, reducing “fuel” from around the property such as wooden items, creating a 30-foot defensible space around the building, clearing gutters of debris, taking care in the type of material used for mulch and avoiding planting vegetation that produces a lot of dry leaf matter.
It’s also important to have fire equipment such as extinguishers and smoke detectors, and sprinklers inside the building where appropriate, and to have procedures and an evacuation plan in place in case a fire does occur.
Finally, make sure to regularly review your Texas commercial insurance policy each year to ensure the coverage remains adequate. After a fire isn’t the time to discover that the level of coverage on your policy is the same as it was ten years ago.
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While it may not be possible to totally eradicate wildfires from occurring, actions can be taken to minimize the damage they do. The recommendations of the Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety (IBHS) include the use of non-combustible materials for roofing and decking, double-pane tempered glass for windows, vent coverings, reducing “fuel” from around the property such as wooden items, creating a 30-foot defensible space around the building, clearing gutters of debris, taking care in the type of material used for mulch and avoiding planting vegetation that produces a lot of dry leaf matter.
It’s also important to have fire equipment such as extinguishers and smoke detectors, and sprinklers inside the building where appropriate, and to have procedures and an evacuation plan in place in case a fire does occur.
Finally, make sure to regularly review your Texas commercial insurance policy each year to ensure the coverage remains adequate. After a fire isn’t the time to discover that the level of coverage on your policy is the same as it was ten years ago.
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