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Earthquake Coverage

Earthquake Coverage

Definition

Earthquake Coverage — typically excluded (along with other earth movement) from most property insurance policies, except ensuing fire. In most cases, earthquake coverage must be purchased by endorsement to a difference-in-conditions (DIC) policy or to an all risks policy. Normally, the coverage provided is subject to a per occurrence sublimit, an annual aggregate limit, and a separate deductible.
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Related Terms

All Risks Coverage

Property insurance covering loss arising from any fortuitous cause except those that are specifically excluded. This is in contrast to named perils coverage, which applies only to loss arising out of causes that are listed as covered. Although many industry practitioners continue to use the term "all risks" to describe this approach to defining covered causes of loss in a property insurance policy, it is no longer used in insurance policies because of concern that the word "all" suggests coverage that is broader than it actually is. Because of this concern, some industry practitioners have begun to use the term "open perils" or "special perils" instead of "all risks."

Causes of Loss Forms

Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), commercial property insurance forms that establish and define the causes of loss (or perils) for which coverage is provided. A causes of loss form is combined with one or more coverage forms, the commercial property conditions form, the common policy conditions form, and the declarations to make up an ISO commercial property policy. There are three causes of loss forms: the basic, broad, and special causes of loss forms. The basic and broad causes of loss forms are named perils forms; they provide coverage for loss from only the particular causes that are listed in the policy as covered. The special causes of loss form is an all risks form; it provides coverage for loss from any cause except those that are specifically excluded.

Commercial Property Coverage Forms

Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO), commercial property insurance forms that define, limit, and explain what property or property interest is covered. An ISO commercial property policy consists of: one or more coverage forms, one or more causes of loss forms, the commercial property conditions form, the common policy conditions form, and the declarations. The most widely used ISO commercial property coverage forms are the building and personal property coverage form (CP 00 10) and the business income and extra expense coverage form (CP 00 30).

Difference-in-Conditions (DIC) Insurance

(1) A policy designed to broaden coverage by providing additional limits of coverage for specific perils when standard markets won't provide adequate limits of coverage, providing coverage for perils that are excluded on standard coverage forms, or supplementing international policies that are written by admitted insurers in the applicable foreign countries. (2) An all risks property insurance policy that is purchased in addition to a commercial property policy to obtain coverage for perils not insured against in the commercial property policy (usually flood and earthquake). (3) An endorsement to a contractor's blanket builders risk insurance policy that fills the gaps between a policy provided by the project owner and the contractor's policy so that the contractor has insurance comparable to what it would have had if coverage had been arranged under the contractor's builders risk program. When a project owner elects to provide the builders risk coverage for all parties with an insurable interest, the project is normally removed from coverage under the contractor's policy. A DIC endorsement typically states that, to the extent a loss is not covered under the owner-provided policy but would be covered under the contractor's policy, coverage will apply on an excess basis. (4) An insurance policy that is designed to fill the gaps between the coverage provided by a multinational organization's master insurance policies (property or liability) and coverage provided by policies purchased locally in accordance with each country's insurance requirements so that the organization has uniformity of coverage regardless of location. This policy is referred to as a foreign DIC policy.

Named Perils Coverage

A property insurance term referring to policies that provide coverage only for loss caused by the perils specifically listed as covered. It contrasts with all risks coverage, which applies to loss from all causes not specifically listed as excluded.

Property Insurance

First-party insurance that indemnifies the owner or user of property for its loss, or the loss of its income-producing ability, when the loss or damage is caused by a covered peril, such as fire or explosion. In this sense, property insurance encompasses inland marine, boiler and machinery (BM), and crime insurance, as well as what was once known as fire insurance, now simply called property insurance: insurance on buildings and their contents.

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