absolute pollution exclusion
The standard pollution exclusion in post-1986 ISO commercial general liability
(CGL) policies. This exclusion earned its name due to its removal of the "sudden
and accidental" exception to the 1973 CGL's standard pollution exclusion. While
it does remove coverage for most pollution events that would occur in the course
of an insured's business operations, coverage is preserved for some significant
exposures, primarily for certain incidental pollution (including hostile fire)
damages, products and completed operations liability, and certain off-premises
work by contractors. Since the exclusion is not truly "absolute," a more appropriate
moniker for it is "broad form pollution exclusion," and this is used in some
IRMI publications. See also Total pollution exclusion.
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