FIRE is one of the major causes of outright insured losses in South Africa, yet it is also one of the most underestimated and underinsured risks. Your home and everything in it are likely to constitute your single biggest investment, so make sure you take all the necessary fire mitigation steps, and that you are correctly insured for a worst-case scenario.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDrought conditions and water restrictions in many parts of the country, faulty electrical installations and wiring, substandard and non-compliant electrical appliances and fittings, unattended electrical appliances such as heaters and fireplaces and even climate change are some of the leading causes of fires in homes that can lead to devastating losses,\u201d said Mandy Barrett of insurance brokerage and risk advisors, Aon South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe precarious state of many municipalities, and in turn firefighting capacity and equipment, could also see the outright loss of your assets rise exponentially, should a fire break out, as these systems may not be reliable or even arrive on time for firefighting purposes,\u201d said Barrett <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking the necessary precautions to prevent a fire from starting is foremost, as is insuring your fixed and moveable assets for an outright loss should the worst occur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aon South Africa provides a handy check list of what you need to know about fire risks and insurance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Faulty Wiring and Appliances<\/b>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faulty wiring and appliances are the leading cause of fires at homes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why it is crucial to always utilise the services of a qualified electrician to ensure that any electrical work is done correctly according to standards and that you get a certificate of compliance for any work done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n Overloading and unattended appliances and fireplaces<\/b>
\n \n<\/b>\n<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n .<\/span> Overloading sockets with too many adaptors and\/or extension cords can potentially cause a fire. Hairstyling tools such as flat irons also pose a risk. Always make sure that you unplug these devices once done and use a heat proof mat. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n \n .<\/span> Never leave electrical devices such as ovens, heaters and fans on and unattended in your home. The likes of \u2018fairy lights\u2019 also pose a fire risk if they overheat and should be unplugged if you are not home. <\/p>\n \n . <\/span>An additional risk is posed by load shedding \u2013 check to see that switches and devices are turned off so that when power returns, you don\u2019t have devices coming back on that could be a fire risk. <\/p>\n \n .<\/span> Candles and fireplaces are a significant fire risk and should never be left unattended. Keep all flammable items away from any open flames and never leave them unattended. <\/p>\n \n . <\/span>When it comes to home fireplaces, have your chimney flue cleaned regularly for ventilation and fire mitigation; don\u2019t place any combustible or flammable objects close to the fire, such as carpets, blankets, curtains and the like. Use a fire screen to prevent any cinders or sparks from flying across the room and never leave a fire unattended. <\/p>\n \n Gas Safety in and around your home<\/b>\n<\/p>\n \n You may not even be aware that there is a SANS regulation that stipulates the amount of gas allowed to store in and around your property: <\/p>\n For flats, townhouses and cluster homes:<\/p>\n =< 9kg gas bottle can be stored inside a building.<\/p>\n > 9kg gas bottle must be stored outside a building.<\/p>\n Free-standing house:<\/p>\n =< 19kg gas bottle can be stored inside a building.<\/p>\n > 19kg gas bottle must be stored outside a building.<\/p>\n Many of us store a backup bottle of gas in the garage and the most crucial part to note is that if your garage adjoins your home, then the limitations set on indoor gas storage include your garage. <\/p>\n \n .<\/span> Remember that gas is a fire propellent, so these regulations are there to protect you and reduce the amount of \u2018fire fuel\u2019 on your premises. <\/p>\n Your insurance policy will also stipulate the amount of gas that can be stored on your premises \u2013 make sure to check these terms and conditions in your policy to ensure that you are in good standing with your insurance safety requirements at home.<\/p>\n \n Clean out the clutter<\/b>\n<\/p>\n \n Minimise your home\u2019s risk of fire by cleaning out the clutter \u2013 or fire fuel \u2013 to rid your home of unnecessary flammable materials such as leaves, dead branches and trees, boxes, leftover paint and chemicals and the like. <\/b><\/p>\n Give your garden shed and garage a regular clean out and make sure that any chemicals and the like are stored safely. <\/p>\n \n Insure for a worst-case scenario<\/b>\n<\/p>\n \n Make sure that your home and moveable assets are insured for replacement value. Market value is what you are likely to get in the open market if you sold your home today. <\/b><\/p>\n However, the replacement value is about what it would cost to rebuild your home as it stands at today\u2019s building prices. This will include additional costs such as demolition and professional fees and removal of debris; new architectural plans and so on need to be factored into the equation. <\/p>\n Don\u2019t forget to insure the contents of your entire home, not just what you think may be lost or stolen as a result of an insured peril such as a burglary. <\/p>\n A fire is a completely different story and has the potential to destroy everything in your home. <\/p>\n \u201cRemember, if your home is underinsured at the time of a major catastrophe, such as a fire, you may only be paid partially for the loss due to the average formula being applied. <\/p>\n \u201cFor example, if you insure your household contents for R250 000 but the replacement value is actually R500 000, you may only be paid 50% of the claim value. This is where the help and guidance of an expert broker is invaluable to ensure that your most prized possession is correctly covered, no matter what comes your way,\u201d concluded Barrett. <\/p>\n \u2013 ISSUED BY TS COMMUNICATIONS ON BEHALF OF AON SOUTH AFRICA<\/p><\/b><\/b><\/b><\/b>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FIRE is one of the major causes of outright insured losses in South Africa, yet it is also one of the most underestimated and underinsured risks. Your home and everything in it are likely to constitute your single biggest investment, so make sure 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\n .<\/span> Thanks to loadshedding and rocketing electricity prices, the inclusion of gas appliances in our households such as fireplaces, heaters and ovens is becoming very popular. It also means that we\u2019re storing more gas-filled bottles on our properties that could potentially pose a fire risk. <\/b><\/p>\n