Fire insurance business in India is governed by the All India Fire Tariff that lays down the terms of coverage, the premium rates and the conditions of the Fire Policy. The fire insurance policy has been renamed as Standard Fire and Special Perils Policy. The risks covered are as follows:

Fire:

Destruction or damage to the property insured by its own fermentation, natural heating or spontaneous combustion or its undergoing any heating or drying process cannot be treated as damage due to fire. For e.g., paints or chemicals in a factory undergoing heat treatment and consequently damaged by fire is not covered. Further, burning of property insured by order of any Public Authority is excluded from the scope of cover.

Lightning:

Lightning may result in fire damage or other types of damage, such as a roof broken by a falling chimney struck by lightning or cracks in a building due to a lightning strike. Both fire and other types of damages caused by lightning are covered by the policy.

Explosion/ Implosion:

Explosion is defined as a sudden, violent burst with a loud report. An explosion is caused inside a vessel when the pressure within the vessel exceeds the atmospheric pressure acting externally on its surface. An explosion may cause fire damage or concussion damage.

Implosion means bursting inward or collapse. This takes place when the external pressure exceeds the internal pressure. This policy, however, does not cover destruction or damage caused to the boilers (other than domestic boilers), economisers or other vessels in which steam is generated and machinery or apparatus subject to centrifugal force by its own explosion/ implosion. These risks can be covered in a Boiler & Pressure Plant Insurance Policy, which is specially designed to handle these risks.

Aircraft Damage:

The loss or damage to the property (by fire or otherwise) directly caused by aircraft and other aerial devices and/ or articles dropped there from is covered. However, destruction or damage resulting from pressure waves caused by aircraft travelling at supersonic speed is excluded from the scope of the policy.

Riot, Strike, Malicious and Terrorism Damage:

The act of any person taking part along with others in any disturbance of public peace (other than war, invasion, mutiny, civil commotion etc.) is construed to be a riot, strike or a terrorist activity.

Any loss or physical damage to the property insured directly caused by such activity or by the action of any lawful authorities in suppressing such disturbance or minimising its consequences is covered. Further the wilful act of any striker or locked out worker, in connection with a strike or a lock out, or the action of any lawful authority in suppressing such act, resulting in visible physical damage by external means, is also covered. Malicious act would mean an act with malicious intent but excluding omission of any kind by any person, resulting in visible physical damage to the insured property, whether or not the act is committed in the course of disturbance of public peace or not. Burglary, housebreaking, theft or larceny does not constitute a malicious act for the purpose of this cover.

Total or partial cessation of work or the retarding or interruption or cessation of any process or operations; or, permanent dispossession resulting from confiscation, commandeering, requisition or destruction by order of the Government or any lawfully constituted authority; or permanent or temporary dispossession of any building or plant or unit or machinery resulting from the unlawful occupation by any person of the same or prevention of access to the same, are not covered.

Storm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado, Flood and Inundation:

Storm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Tornado and Hurricane are all various types of violent natural disturbances that are accompanied by thunder or strong winds or heavy rainfall. Flood or Inundation occurs when the water rises to an abnormal level. Flood or inundation should not only be understood in the common sense of the terms, i.e., flood in river or lakes, but also accumulation of water due to choked drains would be deemed to be flood.

Impact Damage:

Impact by any Rail/ Road vehicle or animal by direct contact with the insured property is covered. However, such vehicles or animals should not belong to or owned by the insured or any occupier of the premises or their employees while acting in the course of their employment.

Subsidence and Landslide including Rockslide:

Destruction or damage caused by Subsidence of part of the site on which the property stands or Landslide/ Rockslide is covered. While Subsidence means sinking of land or building to a lower level, Landslide means sliding down of land usually on a hill.

However, normal cracking, settlement or bedding down of new structures; settlement or movement of made up ground; coastal or river erosion; defective design or workmanship or use of defective materials; and demolition, construction, structural alterations or repair of any property or ground-works or excavations, are not covered. Bursting and/ or overflowing of Water Tanks, Apparatus and Pipes:

Loss or damage to property by water or otherwise on account of bursting or accidental overflowing of water tanks, apparatus and pipes is covered.

Missile Testing operations:

Destruction or damage due to impact or otherwise from trajectory/ projectiles in connection with missile testing operations by the Insured or anyone else, is covered.

Leakage from Automatic Sprinkler Installations:

Damage caused by water accidentally discharged or leaked out from automatic sprinkler installations in the insured's premises is covered. However, such destruction or damage caused by repairs or alterations to the buildings or premises; repairs removal or extension of the sprinkler installation; and defects in construction known to the insured, are not covered.

Bush Fire:

This covers damage caused by burning, whether accidental or otherwise, of bush and jungles and the clearing of lands by fire, but excluding destruction or damage caused by Forest Fire.