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Reasonable Underwriting Standards

  1. No risk shall be declined for neighborhood or area location or any other environmental hazard beyond the control of the property owner.
  2. A risk to meet reasonable underwriting standards must be free of hazardous conditions. The most frequently found hazardous conditions and conditions which affect the reasonable underwriting of the risk while not inclusive are set forth below:
    1. Heating
      1. Substandard Heating Device(s) not in good working order; unsafely arranged on wood floor; cut off switch not marked and not safe distance; COMMERCIAL hot air ducts in contact with combustible partitions, ceilings, stock, etc.
      2. Substandard Fuel Supply (unsafe piping; subject to damage; leak in supply line, etc.)
      3. Substandard Venting (if required) (vent in contact with combustible partitions, ceiling, wall, roof, stock, etc.)
    2. Wiring - Unsafe or Inadequate Wiring (loose, exposed or damaged wiring, not on proper supports; broken or missing switches or receptacles, plates missing, missing covers on junction boxes).
      1. Nonstandard Extensions (exposed, damaged; splices; fastened to walls or ceilings; extensively used).
      2. Overloading or Over fusing (inadequate circuits; oversized or bridged fuses).
      3. Other Substandard Features (damaged lighting fixtures or lamps; damaged appliances - heaters, cooking equipment, fans, motors, etc.)
    3. Conversion - Use of premises beyond designed occupancy limits.
      1. Subdivision or conversion of original living or other occupancy spaces into multiple units with overcrowded occupancy.
      2. Unsafe arrangement of cooking devices including (where applicable) grease hoods or ducts in contact with combustible partitions, ceilings, walls, roof or stock, inadequate program for cleaning same and lack of automatic fire extinguishing system in commercial cooking areas.
      3. Violation of law or public policy.
    4. Physical Conditions - Building not in good repair (broken windows or plaster; sagging floors or roofs; deteriorating walls; loose wallpaper, etc.)
      1. Roof or chimney deteriorating.
      2. Exterior wood surfaces unpainted or decaying.
      3. Garages or porches not well maintained.
      4. Excessively combustible interior finish, decorations, etc.
      5. Evidence of previous fire damage.
    5. Housekeeping - Rubbish, litter or debris in:
      1. basement (or under open foundation);
      2. floor (specify which);
      3. hallways or stairways;
      4. attic; or
      5. yard (of property).
        1. Commercial Risk - Congested Interior Stock Arrangement (minimum three foot aisle not maintained, etc.)
        2. Other substandard housekeeping conditions (combustibles stored near heating devices, etc.)
    6. Outside Fire Exposures - Adjacent building(s) in deteriorated condition.
      1. Brush exposure.
      2. Rubbish accumulation in adjacent yards or buildings.
      3. Street or alley congestion creating potential impairment of fire-fighting facilities.
    7. Other Hazardous Conditions - Unoccupancy - in whole or in part and is accessible to unauthorized persons.
      1. Building open to trespass.
      2. Size and type of construction adversely affecting fire-fighting efficiency or fire extinguishment.
      3. Large undivided areas or lack of proper fire cutoffs increasing loss probability and severity or probable maximum loss.
      4. Insufficient fire extinguishers.
      5. Insufficient metal waste cans with lids.
      6. Insufficient "No Smoking" signs.
      7. Excessive storage or use of flammable liquids, or gases.
      8. Building structural features or maintenance susceptible to windstorm or hail or wind-driven waters.
      9. Operating conditions or maintenance resulting in unusual or extreme exposure from inherent explosion.
      10. Inadequate security measures involving excessive exposure to pillage and looting or vandalism.
      11. Unusual or extreme exposure from aircraft or vehicles.
      12. Unusual susceptibility to arson.
      13. Use or occupancy of a building that violates laws, ordinances, rules or regulations of government subdivisions or reasonably appears to be a probable violation of the foregoing.
      14. Use and occupancy within the control of the applicant that increases the potential of loss.