2009-09-01

By Editor, CIR

Fire damage claims are at an all time high, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), whose statistics show that fire claims rose again by a further 20% between the first half of 2007 and the first half of this year, with arson contributing prominently to the cost.

Indeed, claims data for this year from Aviva shows that over 40% of all fires in industry and commerce are now started deliberately. Allister Smith, property risk manager for Aviva, comments: "Fire claims are at their highest and we are seeing an increasing number of arson claims crossing our desks.

Fire damage to unoccupied and unfinished properties is a major concern for insurers. Each year there are around 9,000 fires in empty buildings. If a vacant property is not regularly inspected, re-secured and repaired as required, an escalation in the frequency and size of incidents can be expected.

"The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) 2005 (RRO) emphasises that the owner or employer in every workplace has a legal responsibility for implementing and complying with the Order. Businesses and should have a strategy in place for managing fire safety, which includes identifying the risk of arson and acting to reduce it," Smith added.

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