Study 9 - Commercial Property Exposures Flashcards
What is COPE?
Construction
Occupancy
Protection
Exposure
What are the additional perils recognized?
SWILER
Smoke Windstorm/hail Inpact from aircraft, spacecraft or land vehicle Leakage from fire protective equipment Explosion Riot
What are the common items reviewed under Construction?
Material type
- Fire resistive, non combustible masonry, masonry, brick veneer
- Building age
- Buildin size
- Material quality & workmanship (fire barriers)
- Interior finish and insulation
- Concealed spaces
What makes a building fire resistive?
Walls, floors and roofs are constructed with masonry or steel beam material
Explain the three different ranges of building age
15 years or newer
Typically in very good condition
16 to 40 years
Acceptable lifespan, as long as maintenance has been completed
40 years or older
Deterioration can produce cracked wiring, plumbing deficiencies, settling of foundation and roof leaks
What is considered a high rise building?
Taller than the firefighting in the town can handle
Typically buildings over six stories
What are the five elements of fire barriers?
Fire division
(seperation between two buildings)
Fire walls
(fire resistive rating of three to four hours)
Fire cut offs
(low ratings, act to slow down the fire)
Fire stops (elements used to delay spread of fire in concealed spaces, internal walls in attics, above ceilings or around electrical conduits)
Fire dampers (movable metal plates in a duct or flue arranged to automatically interrupted air flow and restrict the passage of heat and smoke)
What are the common items reviewed under Occupancy?
- Activities and operations
- Contents
(Non combustible, limited combustibility, combustible, free burning, rapid or flash burning) - Housekeeping and maintenance
Why is occupancy information useful?
- Helps identify hazard and the presence of controls
- Assists in risk selection
- Helps identify correct occupancy line
- Assists in risk pricing
- Key factor in estimating contents susceptible to loss
What are the characteristics of contents that are susceptible to rapid or flash burning?
- Burn with a great intensity
- Spontaneously ignite and are difficult to extinguish
- Give off flammable or explosive vapours at ordinary temperatures
- As result of industrial process, produce large quantities of dust or other finely divided debris
What are the common items reviewed under Protection?
Fire protection:
Public protection: water supply, fire department, fire safety control, fire service communications
Private protection detection: automatic fire alarm systems, security guard services
Private protection extinguishment: fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems
Theft protection:
Public protection
Private protection: building construction, lighting, locks, doors, windows, fencing, burglar alarm systems, security guards
What is FUS?
Fire Underwriters Survey
National organization that provides data on public fire protection for fire insurance stat work and underwriting purposes of subscribing insurance companies
What is PFPC?
Public Fire Protection Classification
Used by FUS, scale of 1 to 10, also known as “town grades”
What are the major grading features that make up PFPC?
- Water supply
- Fire department
- Fire safety control
- Fire service communications
What are factors that increase the reliability of a water supply?
- No shortages during periods of peak demand
- Type of water source (reservoirs, elevated water tanks, rivers)
- Adequacy of pumps
- Age and size of piping
- Types of water lines
- Number, location and condition of fire hydrants
What are the three types of protection and how are they defined?
Protected - fire hydrant within 300m, full time fire department within 5km
Semi-protected - no hydrant, full time fire department within 5km
Unprotected - no hydrant or fire department
What are the basic types of alarms?
Local, auxiliary, remote, proprietary & central station
What are the two main types of fire extinguishers?
- Standpipe & hose systems
- Portable fire extinguisher
- Sprinkler systems
What are the classes of fires and their extinguishing agents?
A - anything that leaves ash B - anything in a barrel, gas, oil, etc C - current D - for "ding" things K - kitchen
What are the different types of sprinkler systems?
Wet pipe
- Piping consistently filled with water, immediately discharges when sprinkler head opens from fire melting the fuse
Dry pipe
- Initially filled with pressurized compressed air, valve also opens to fill system with water
Pre action
- Must be operated before use
Deluge
- Sprinklers open at all times, connected to a dry pipe connected to main water supply
Antifreeze loop
- Protects areas prone to freezing
Foam water
- Foam concentrate and water supply
What are the three types of locks?
Spring latch
- Very poor protection, opened with a credit card
Dead latch
- Minimal protection, latch can be forced
Dead bolt
- Needs a key to lock, unlock, the best protection, cannot be forced
What are the common items reviewed under Exposure?
FIRE
- Adequate seperation
- Openings in the exposing building
- Height of the exposing building
- Private protection of the risk
- Explosion possibilities
- Wind conditions
- Grass and vegetation
BURGLARY
- Location
- Character of merchandise
What is a common exclusion of smoke?
Agricultural smudging and industrial operations
What does windstorm/hail not include?
Waves, floods, weight, pressure or melting of ice/snow
