Covers buildings, plant, stock and fit-outs against fire, flood, earthquake, riot and impact. The whole line turns on one number: the declared value. Declare less than the true rebuild cost and the average clause cuts every claim proportionately, whatever the loss.
Illustrative figures until sourced from the insurer of record.
Fire and allied perils
Flood, riot, impact, lightning
Stock and plant
Raw material to finished goods
Business interruption
Lost profit while shut
Debris removal
Clearing before rebuilding
Manufacturing unit, ₹2.6 Cr declared, Peenya
Premiums and claim-settlement ratios are illustrative until sourced from the insurer of record.
Bharat Sookshma Udyam
96.4% settledThe IRDAI standard wording, so genuinely comparable on price. Waives the average clause up to 15% under-declaration.
Standard Fire & Special Perils
93.7% settledStrongest on large industrial losses and interim payments. Slower paperwork, more reliable on big claims.
Property Protect
97.1% settledIncludes machinery breakdown and stock deterioration as standard, which are usually separate covers.
Read this before you buy.
- Gradual deterioration, wear, rust and poor maintenance
- Consequential loss unless business interruption was specifically bought
- Stock deterioration from a power or plant failure — that is a separate cover
- Undeclared locations and undeclared stock values
- Damage while a fire NOC or statutory licence is expired
A property claim is decided by a surveyor at the site. What you preserve and photograph before clearing up is the difference between a full settlement and an argument.
- 01
Make safe, then photograph
· hour 1Stop further damage, then document everything before anything is moved. For fire, the fire-brigade report is essential.
- 02
Surveyor appointed
· 1–3 daysOn larger losses, an independent loss assessor. They establish cause, quantum, and whether your declared value was adequate.
- 03
The average clause is applied
· week 1–4If you declared ₹1.8 Cr against ₹2.6 Cr of assets, every claim is settled at 69% — even a partial loss well inside the sum insured.
- 04
Settlement and interim payment
· 4–12 weeksOn large losses ask for an on-account payment to start rebuilding. Business interruption is paid against actual trading records.
Declaring the book value of plant after depreciation. Insurance rebuilds at today’s prices, not at your balance-sheet number — and the gap between them is exactly what the average clause takes off your claim.