Broad Form

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This page contains examples of the standardized language developed by the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) for property insurance policies that have been used by most insurance companies in most states since the mid 1970s. The following is an example of what you can expect a typical policy:

PERILS INSURED AGAINST

Insurance companies insure for direct physical loss to the property covered caused by a peril listed below, unless the loss is excluded in the General Exclusions

1. Fire or lightning.

2. Windstorm or hail.

This peril does not include loss:

a. to the inside of a building or the property contained in a building caused by rain, snow, sleet, sand, or dust, unless the direct force of wind or hail damages the building causing an opening in a roof or wall and the rain, snow, sleet, sand, or dust enters through this opening; or

b. to the following property when outside of the building:

awnings, signs, radio or television antennas or aerials, including lead-in wiring, masts, or towers;
canoes or rowboats; or
trees, shrubs, plants, or lawns.

3. Explosion.

4. Riot or civil commotion.

5. Aircraft, including self-propelled missiles and spacecraft.

6. Vehicles.

This peril does not include loss to a fence, driveway or walk caused by a vehicle owned or operated by you or a resident of the Described Location.

7. Smoke, meaning sudden and accidental damage from smoke.

This peril does not include loss caused by smoke from agricultural smudging or industrial operations

8. Vandalism or malicious mischief.

This peril does not include loss:

a . by pilferage, theft, burglary, or larceny; or

b. to property on the Described Location, if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately before the loss. A dwelling being constructed is not considered vacant.

9. Damage by Burglars, meaning damage to covered property caused by Burglars.

This peril does not include:

a. theft of property; or

b. damage caused by burglars to property on the Described Location, if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately before the damage occurs A dwelling being constructed is not considered vacant

10. Falling Objects.

This peril does not include loss

a. to the inside of a building or property contained in the building, unless the roof or an outside wall of the building is first damaged by a falling object.

b. to outdoor radio and television antennas and aerials, including their lead-in wiring, masts and towers, outdoor equipment, awnings, and fences.

Damage to the falling object itself is not covered.

11. Weight of Ice. snow, or sleet which causes damage to a building or property contained in the building.

This peril does not include loss to an awning, fence patio, pavement, swimming pool, foundation, retaining wall, bulkhead, pier, wharf, or dock.

12. Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam from within a plumbing heating air conditioning, or automatic fire protective sprinkler system or from within a house - hold appliance. We also pay for tearing out and replacing any part of a covered building necessary to repair the system or appliance from which the water or steam escaped.

This peril does not include loss:

a . to a building caused by constant or repeated seepage or leakage over a period of weeks, months, or years;

b. on the Described Location, if the dwelling has been vacant for more than 30 consecutive days immediately before the loss. A dwelling being constructed is not considered vacant;

c. to the system or appliance from which the water or steam escaped;

d. caused by or resulting from freezing, except as provided in the peril of freezing below; or

e. on the Described Location caused by accidental discharge or overflow which occurs off the Described Location.

In this peril, a plumbing system does not include a sump, sump pump, or related equipment.

13. Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of a steam or hot water heating system, an air conditioning or automatic fire protective sprinkler system, or an appliance for heating water.

This peril does not include loss caused by or resulting from freezing, except as provided in the peril of freezing below.

14. Freezing of a plumbing, heating, air conditioning, or automatic fire protective sprinkler system or of a household appliance.

This peril does not include loss on the Described Location while the dwelling is vacant, unoccupied, or being constructed, unless you have used reasonable care to:

a. maintain heat in the building; or

b. shut off the water supply and drain the system and appliances of water.

15. Sudden and accidental damage from artfficially generated electrical current.

This peril does not include loss to a tube, transistor, or similar electronic component.

16. Volcanic Eruption other than loss caused by earthquake, land shock waves, or tremors.

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GENERAL EXCLUSIONS

Insurances companies generally do not insure for loss caused directly or indirectly by any of the following. Such loss is excluded regardless of any other cause or event contributing concurrently or in any sequence to the loss.

1. Ordinance or Law, meaning enforcement of any ordinance or law regulating the use, construction, repair, or demolition of a building or other structure, unless specifically provided under this policy.

2. Earth Movement, meaning earthquake, including land shock waves or tremors before, during, or after a volcanic eruption; landslide; mine subsidence; mudflow; and earth sinking, rising, or shifting; unless direct loss by:

a. fire;

b. explosion; or

c. breakage of glass or safety glazing material which is part of a building, storm door, or storm window;

ensues and then the company will pay only for the ensuing loss.

3. Water Damage, meaning:

a. flood, surface water, waves, tidal water, overflow of a body of water, or spray from any of these, whether or not driven by wind;

b. water which backs up through sewers or drains or which overflows from a sump; or

c. water below the surface of the ground, including water which exerts pressure on or seeps or leaks through a building, sidewalk, driveway, foundation, swimming pool, or other structure.

Direct loss by fire or explosion resulting from water damage is covered.

4. Power Failure, meaning the failure of power or other utility service if the failure takes place off the Described Location. But, if a Peril Insured Against ensues on the Described Location, we will pay only for that ensuing loss.

5. Neglect, meaning your neglect to use all reasonable means to save and preserve property at and after the time of a loss.

6. War, including undeclared war, civil war, insurrection, rebellion, revolution, warlike act by a military force or military personnel, destruction or seizure or use for a military purpose, and including any consequence of any of these. Discharge of a nuclear weapon will be deemed a warlike act even if accidental.

7. Nuclear Hazard, to the extent set forth in the Nuclear Hazard Clause of the Conditions.

8. Intentional Loss, meaning any loss arising out of any act committed:

a. by or at the direction of you or any person or organization named as an additional insured; and

b. with the intent to cause a loss.

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See: Conditions

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