Fire Insurance For Different Businesses
In today's time, almost all businesses, big or small, should cover risk through a fire insurance policy. Below are a few business entities for whom fire insurance policies are a must:
- Industrial and manufacturing units
- Godown owners
- Traders in stock
- Owners of expensive artifacts
- Shop owners
- Financial institutions
- Hotels and restaurants
Fire Insurance Plans
The number of fire insurance plans for businesses available in the market today is increasing. Before we take a plunge to comprehend which factors affect one's decision to buy a particular type of fire insurance, however, there are three types of fire insurance policies available in India:
- Bharat Sookshma Udyam Suraksha: This policy provides coverage to the property for a sum insured up to Rs 5 Crores.
- Bharat Laghu Udyam Suraksha: This policy provides coverage to the property for sum insured between Rs 5 Crores and Rs 50 Crores.
- Special Fire & Special Perils (SFSP): This policy provides coverage to the property for a sum insured beyond Rs 50 Crores.
However, the assets in fire insurance plans can be divided into two, namely fixed assets and non-fixed assets. Fixed assets would include assets like buildings and, plants & machinery. In comparison, non-fixed assets consist of goods, stocks and other valuable items. Depending on the nature of the assets, you can pick the type of fire insurance plan for business. Let us talk about the non-fixed assets policies first as they come under Special Fire & Special Perils.
Policies For Non-Fixed Assets:
- Floater policy: A floater policy is ideal for goods located at different locations. However, to avail of this policy, the goods should belong to the same person.
- Specific policy: As the name suggests, this policy only covers the risk up to a specific sum, and it is usually lower than the asset's actual value.
- Comprehensive policy: This policy covers multiple and maximum risks making it one of the most recommended fire insurance for various businesses.
- Valued policy: The sum insured under this policy is specified at the time of purchase of the policy.
- Valuable policy: This policy works opposite to the valued policy. The claim amount is decided as per the current market price of the damaged property and not at the time of purchasing the policy.
- Consequential loss policy: Fire can disrupt your regular business. This policy can help cover losses suffered from this disruption.
Policies For Fixed Assets:
- Replacement value policy: The insurer pays the replacement value of the asset damaged due to fire or allied peril.
- Reinstatement value policy: A reinstatement value policy is similar to a replacement value policy. It is an added clause to the policy mentioned above. The insurer replaces the damaged property to its original condition before the loss.
Factors Determining The Choice Of Fire Insurance Plan
As we are now aware of the types of fire insurance plans available in the market, the question is, which kind of fire insurance should you buy for your business? Which one is best suited for your business? To clear this doubt, we help you assess the following factors to choose the right fire insurance plan for your business:
- Type of risk to be covered: It is essential to determine what kind of risk you face and wish to cover with the fire insurance policy. For example, a floater policy can be the best choice if you have goods stored in warehouses in two different locations. Whereas, a valued policy would make more sense for assets whose value cannot be easily ascertained.
- Type of asset to be insured: As mentioned earlier, different assets can be covered under different fire insurance policies. You can opt for a replacement or reinstatement value policy for fixed assets. Whereas, for non-fixed assets, you can opt for comprehensive, floater, valued or anyone from the above list.
- Duration of the cover: Before selecting fire insurance plans for business, it is vital to know the period for which you need to take the coverage.
Conclusion:
Losses in business can sometimes be inevitable. However, they can sometimes be less impactful if the businesses are safeguarded with a proper fire insurance policy. With expert advice at every step, quick and hassle-free processes and a dedicated team to ensure speedy claims, Policybazaar can help buy the right fire insurance plans for businesses.
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