Finding insurance for office buildings in commercial offices could be a challenge in today’s toughening insurance market. Every commercial underwriter needs to look at specific elements when evaluating the building insurance application. What are the main factors that commercial insurance underwriters employ to determine the insurance coverage for commercial offices? Let’s first discuss what commercial underwriters look at when assessing office structures.
Which Risks Do Insurers Look for in Office Building Exposures?
The insurer will often inspect the property before the extension of insurance coverage. During the inspection, the inspector will review the property’s improvements. The inspector will be focusing on specific aspects during the inspection. Examples include electrical improvements, the fire protection system installed, and the neighboring properties to assess any potential effects on the building. As the property owner of commercial buildings, you must follow any recommendations made by the inspector to avoid cancellation or rejection.
- Construction – What materials get used in the construction of the building? Below are the different categories of construction materials that classify your structure.
- Class 1 – Frame Frame
- Class 2 – Joisted Masonry
- Class 3 – Noncombustible
- Class 4 – Masonry Noncombustible
- Class 5 – Modified Fire Resistive
- Class 6 – Fire Resistant
- Fire Protection – The inspector will examine both individual and societal fire safety. Public safety is impacted by how far your building is from the fire station. The inspector will evaluate the area’s emergency readiness and water supply based on recognized national criteria. On-site fire suppression tools like sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers get included in private fire protection. If you have restaurants in your building, Ansul fire suppression systems that are well maintained can increase the security of the bank account.
- Maintenance and Upkeep – Are the buildings tidy, well-lit, and generally in good shape?
- Location – Are you exposing your property to wildfire risk, or is it in a tornado area? Also, a property near a structure with a risky exposure could be more challenging to obtain insurance than one near a less hazardous building.
- Liability Exposures – Do you have security on-premises? Are the handrails and staircases in good condition? Are you in a high-crime region where people may face more than typical risks as they leave and enter the building?
- Value of Insurance – Insurers want to ensure that you have the correct value for your home for insurance replacement costs in the event of a loss.
What Do Commercial Office Building Insurance Cover?
Commercial property insurance offers protection for your structure, commercial office furniture, fence structures, signs on your property, for example, storage buildings, and many other structures.
Most insurers provide the following three property policy forms for your building property coverage.
- Basic Form – The most basic form of coverage covers the majority of natural catastrophes. It also covers vandalism, smoke, and theft.
- Broad Form – The general form offers coverage beyond the standard format. It guards against damage from the weight of snow and ice, water damage, and protection against falling objects and specific structural collapses.
- Special Form – The particular form offers the most complete and comprehensive insurance that can cover most losses that get explicitly excluded. Please make sure you look at this form since its cost isn’t that more expensive than the two other forms.
What Do I Get My Building Liability Insurance Will Cover?
The liability insurance shields the building owner from injury and property damage that occurs within the building, like the parking lot, the halls, and elevators. Tenants may have clients or other vendors who come to their offices, so they’ll require separate liability insurance. The tenant’s liability insurance protects them from any liabilities resulting from the portion of your building. Although the manager or owner of the building should be held harmless by your leases, owners frequently look for additional insurance protection under their tenant’s general liability insurance.
Insurance agents recommend purchasing hired and unowned auto insurance if you don’t have insurance for commercial vehicles. Business owners are all exposed to the risk of being told if they hire cars or allow their employees to do tasks for them in the vehicle of their employees. Your employee’s auto insurance will be the first victim in the case that there is an accident. But, not having enough liability limits on your employee’s vehicle exposes your company to the liability of non-owned vehicles.
What Is Additional Commercial Office Building Insurance Protection Available?
As well as the usual liability and property insurance, you may ask for a quote on these additional insurances.
- Equipment breakdown is a significant factor for commercial office insurance for buildings.
- The cost of ordinances or changes to your building that could arise following an event of loss
- Additional sign coverage
- Protection against backups of water or sewer
- Employee dishonesty protection is essential protection for the modern commercial business owner.
- Protection for wind-driven rain
An in-depth discussion of your losses history, the type of business in your building, and the tour of your premises, including photos, will allow you to determine the best policy for your needs. We’re more than happy to discuss your insurance needs with you.
Contact Commercial Insurance Ottawa at (613) 454-5640 or email us at info@commercialinsuranceottawa.com for a quote on your commercial office building insurance.