AU 61-Assignment 3- Taking Building
Occupancy into Consideration
Common Hazards: - answer Hazards existing in almost every class of business
occupancy, usually referring specifically to (1) housekeeping, (2) heating equipment, (3)
electrical equipment, and (4) smoking.
Special hazards of the class: - answer A characteristic typical of all occupancies in a
given class that can cause or aggravate a loss. An example is the hazard of cooking,
common to the restaurant class.
Special hazards of the risk: - answer A condition that can cause a loss but that is not
typical of an occupancy. An example is the use of a welding torch in an auto repair
shop.
Basic occupancy charge: - answerA rating system factor that reflects the relative hazard
of an occupancy for pricing purposes and is expressed as a percentage of the base rate
(ranges from 10 percent to 1,000 percent).
Combustibility: - answerThe ability of something to ignite and burn; a major determinant
of the overall fire hazard.
Susceptibility: - answerThe extent to which fire and its effects will cause damage to
materials.
Ignition source: - answerItem, substance, process, or event capable of causing a fire or
explosion, such as open flames, sparks, or static electricity.
Fuel load (fire load): - answerThe expected maximum amount of combustible material in
a given area of a building, including both structural elements and contents, commonly
expressed in terms of weight of combustibles per square foot.
Flashover: - answerA stage in the development of a contained fire in which all exposed
surfaces reach ignition temperature at approximately the same time, causing fire to
spread rapidly throughout the space.
What is the leading cause of fires in hospitals, medical facilities, and educational
facilities? - answerCooking equipment is the leading cause of fires in these facilities.
Explain how welding can act as an ignition source: - answerWelding can act as an
ignition source because it produces sparks, which, unless shielded, can fly several feet.
, Institutional occupancies include: - answerSchools, colleges and universities, churches,
municipalities, hospitals, and prisons.
Mercantile occupancies include: - answerWholesale and retail stores such as
department stores, clothing stores, hardware stores, specialty shops, and grocery
stores, as well as outdoor shopping centers and indoor shopping malls.
What hazards should the UW investigate in regard to the forklifts used to move raw
materials and finished products around the aluminum-can manufacturing plant? -
answerWhether the forklifts run on electricity or gasoline, as well as how and where the
forklifts are refueled and what safety measures are taken during the process.
Friction: - answerThe heat and static electricity generated when two surfaces rub
together.
Spontaneous Heating: - answerAn oxidation process in which the temperature of a
material is increased without drawing heat from its surroundings.
Habitational Occupancies: - answerFacilities that provide residences for groups of
people for extended periods. Examples include apartments, hotels, motels, and nursing
homes.
Given the apartment building's location in the middle of a busy city, what are some fuel
load factors the UW should pay special attention to when assessing the coverage
application? - answerBecause the building is in the middle of the city, storage may be at
a premium. The UW should take care to consider what sort of storage accommodations
are provided to the building's residents, as well as what materials are allowed to be kept
there.
While inspecting the coverage application for the apartments, the UW noted that the
relatively new construction of the building presented low fire risk from its wiring, heating,
and trash disposal systems compared with older complexes. Explain what degree of risk
might be presented by the building owner's financial interest in the property. -
answerBecause the building has been at full occupancy since its construction and is
located in a densely populated area, it's unlikely the owner would be tempted to set it on
fire for the insurance money. The owner's financial interest in the building would be
considered a positive underwriting attribute because it is a thriving, profitable business.
When analyzing an office occupancy for commercial property insurance, an underwriter
should focus on: - answerIgnition sources and fuel loads common to office spaces.
The primary ignition sources for fires that originate in office occupancies are: -
answerFaulty or malfunctioning wiring and electrical and lighting equipment,
underwriters should make themselves familiar with the age, type, and condition of an
office's electrical equipment and wiring.
Occupancy into Consideration
Common Hazards: - answer Hazards existing in almost every class of business
occupancy, usually referring specifically to (1) housekeeping, (2) heating equipment, (3)
electrical equipment, and (4) smoking.
Special hazards of the class: - answer A characteristic typical of all occupancies in a
given class that can cause or aggravate a loss. An example is the hazard of cooking,
common to the restaurant class.
Special hazards of the risk: - answer A condition that can cause a loss but that is not
typical of an occupancy. An example is the use of a welding torch in an auto repair
shop.
Basic occupancy charge: - answerA rating system factor that reflects the relative hazard
of an occupancy for pricing purposes and is expressed as a percentage of the base rate
(ranges from 10 percent to 1,000 percent).
Combustibility: - answerThe ability of something to ignite and burn; a major determinant
of the overall fire hazard.
Susceptibility: - answerThe extent to which fire and its effects will cause damage to
materials.
Ignition source: - answerItem, substance, process, or event capable of causing a fire or
explosion, such as open flames, sparks, or static electricity.
Fuel load (fire load): - answerThe expected maximum amount of combustible material in
a given area of a building, including both structural elements and contents, commonly
expressed in terms of weight of combustibles per square foot.
Flashover: - answerA stage in the development of a contained fire in which all exposed
surfaces reach ignition temperature at approximately the same time, causing fire to
spread rapidly throughout the space.
What is the leading cause of fires in hospitals, medical facilities, and educational
facilities? - answerCooking equipment is the leading cause of fires in these facilities.
Explain how welding can act as an ignition source: - answerWelding can act as an
ignition source because it produces sparks, which, unless shielded, can fly several feet.
, Institutional occupancies include: - answerSchools, colleges and universities, churches,
municipalities, hospitals, and prisons.
Mercantile occupancies include: - answerWholesale and retail stores such as
department stores, clothing stores, hardware stores, specialty shops, and grocery
stores, as well as outdoor shopping centers and indoor shopping malls.
What hazards should the UW investigate in regard to the forklifts used to move raw
materials and finished products around the aluminum-can manufacturing plant? -
answerWhether the forklifts run on electricity or gasoline, as well as how and where the
forklifts are refueled and what safety measures are taken during the process.
Friction: - answerThe heat and static electricity generated when two surfaces rub
together.
Spontaneous Heating: - answerAn oxidation process in which the temperature of a
material is increased without drawing heat from its surroundings.
Habitational Occupancies: - answerFacilities that provide residences for groups of
people for extended periods. Examples include apartments, hotels, motels, and nursing
homes.
Given the apartment building's location in the middle of a busy city, what are some fuel
load factors the UW should pay special attention to when assessing the coverage
application? - answerBecause the building is in the middle of the city, storage may be at
a premium. The UW should take care to consider what sort of storage accommodations
are provided to the building's residents, as well as what materials are allowed to be kept
there.
While inspecting the coverage application for the apartments, the UW noted that the
relatively new construction of the building presented low fire risk from its wiring, heating,
and trash disposal systems compared with older complexes. Explain what degree of risk
might be presented by the building owner's financial interest in the property. -
answerBecause the building has been at full occupancy since its construction and is
located in a densely populated area, it's unlikely the owner would be tempted to set it on
fire for the insurance money. The owner's financial interest in the building would be
considered a positive underwriting attribute because it is a thriving, profitable business.
When analyzing an office occupancy for commercial property insurance, an underwriter
should focus on: - answerIgnition sources and fuel loads common to office spaces.
The primary ignition sources for fires that originate in office occupancies are: -
answerFaulty or malfunctioning wiring and electrical and lighting equipment,
underwriters should make themselves familiar with the age, type, and condition of an
office's electrical equipment and wiring.
