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If you are doing a large renovation or addition to your existing home, you will obviously need to report the increase in values at completion. But what type of insurance is needed during the course of construction?  The answer may depend on from whose perspective you view the risk.   Contractor Perspective If you have a contractor doing the renovation of addition, they may carry a builders’, risk policy or an installation floater policy on the values of their work. This type of policy insures not only the materials, but also the labor and profit associated with the project. This protects the contractor, but these policies typically have an exclusion for the existing structure, so your home is not insured under these programs. The contractor is covered for his interests, but you may be left in the cold at claim settlement time. Since you are not the policyholder, you do not have any control over the claim process or have any ability to influence coverage terms and conditions. Ask to be named as an additional insured on the contractor’s policy. If possible, obtain a copy of the policy declaration page and share that with your insurance agent. The dec. page will have form information so a review of policy terms could be undertaken on your behalf.   Homeowner Perspective Option One – Existing Homeowners’ policy You can report increased values to the insurance company at the beginning of the project. This would seem to offer the homeowner coverage on the same terms as the existing policy during the course of construction. This is a practical approach if your insurance carrier blankets coverage for real and personal property. In this case there will not be a gap for the difference between real property values and personal property values.   If your policy has separate limits for real and personal property, reporting these values is the complicating factor. If you report all of the values as an increase in building value, you may create a coverage gap. The gap in this coverage may be for materials that have been ordered and not yet installed. If your custom woodwork or materials that are off premises are stolen or destroyed, you may not have coverage for off premises materials.   You would need to cover the project by separating items between real property and personal property to have off-premises coverage. Since installed materials would then be considered building values, this is a difficult balancing act. It would require significant recordkeeping; multiple policy changes and your personal lines carrier may not be happy with the extra processing. Their displeasure may be expressed at renewal.   In either case, covering the course of construction on a homeowner’s policy will also highlight the change in risk when construction activity is underway. Some insurance companies see this as a significant increase in risk and will apply a surcharge to your homeowner’s policy for the duration of the project. We have seen surcharges approaching a 100% increase in premium for the term of the project. In addition to an ongoing accounting and value endorsement process, you will be paying a substantial cost for this coverage. Understanding this additional cost is important to evaluate if a separate builders’ risk policy would be advantageous.   Option Two – A Builders’ Risk Policy We always recommend to our clients that they place the builders’ risk or installation floaters for thier property. This way we know the terms and conditions of each program and can have some control and input to the claims handling process. You may be able to secure a builder’s risk policy from your homeowners’ carrier. It will be from another part of the company but would allow better coordination of coverage and claims handling. If your personal lines insurance carrier does offer a builder’s risk or installation floater, consider a monoline inland marine carrier.   There are monoline renovation inland marine forms that would allow you to insure the existing building during the course of construction. You would need to keep your homeowners in place for contents coverage, but you may find the premiums to competitive and the coverage more comprehensive that trying to adjust your building and contents limits on a homeowners’ policy during the project term.   A monoline policy may be subject to a minimum premium charge. Knowing the potential upcharge for your homeowner’s policy will allow you to determine if the minimum premium charge is cost competitive.   The Driehaus Difference We have helped our clients navigate these scenarios and can help you make the best choice for coverage and cost. There is not a one size fits answer to this situation. The ongoing construction process needs to be properly insured and the cost effectively controlled.  We have learned this and can use our experience to protect your interests.  We want to be your insurance provider, so call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us online at www.driehausins.com

You see a lot of commercials selling service line protection. You may also get official looking mailers that ask you to sign up for this type of program. Before you sign up for this, here are some things to consider. Limits can be low These products have specific limits for each type of service line or home system covered by the program. A review of a major provider’s product indicated separate limits for different home systems and service lines. The limits were a maximum of $5,000 per incident / annual aggregate. Limits for some exposures were less than this figure. For underground lines a $5,000 limit was also applicable to opening and closing public streets and roadways. Depending on the type of pavement present, this could be insufficient for the repairs. Claims handling You may be obligated to use the service line recommended contractors to do the repairs. This removes control over the claim from the customer. If you ask for a second opinion, any costs related to providing that second opinion are deducted from your per event limit. If you engage your own contractor to make repairs the program may not respond to those costs. If you dispute the claim settlement you have to choose between small claims courts or binding arbitration. The small claims court is to limit the size of any recovery. One agreement even had a hammer clause that if you disputed the settlement and the outcome of the settlement was less than the original offer, you paid the legal fees for the service line company. Cost These programs are priced by zip code, and not with any real detail on the property being covered. There is no rating worksheet provided so you cannot see how the premium was developed. This is not insurance These programs are a warranty program, not insurance. There may be a surety company standing behind the program who would step in if the warranty program fails to perform, but there are steps to follow and time frames related to determining a default by the warranty company. You do not have the protection of state regulators as with admitted insurance companies. Your Homeowners Policy Personal lines insurers are offering service line coverage on some comprehensive homeowners’ forms. A previous article on homeowners forms, What's in the form?, discusses the different homeowners coverage forms. One carrier offers a $25,000 limit for this exposure and the claim handling and settlement terms are the same for the balance of the policy.  The cost for this is imbedded in a broadening endorsement that has other coverage extensions.  This is a better limit, cost and claim situation for you. The Driehaus Difference We take time to help you understand the options that are available to you in protecting your home. We can help you find the right carrier, the right policy forms, and the most competitive costs. We do not provide prices based solely on your zip code. We need to spend some time with you to understand your exposure to loss and how we can build a program to protect your interests. This is not a “fifteen minutes will save you 15%” undertaking. We are willing to invest our time and expertise to help you. You need to invest your time in sharing information with us to get you to the right insurance program. Call us at 513-977-6860 or use the contact tools at www.driehausins.com to get the process started. We want to be your insurance provider.

The roof of your home protects your possessions from wind, rain, snow, ice, hail, and fire. Roofing constitutes about 7% of the total building cost of the home with the roof covering accounting for ½ of that amount or 3.5% of the cost. This is a big-ticket item when it needs to be replaced, so choosing the right material is essential for your safety. Shingle roofs constitute the majority of residential roofs. Insurance and shingle roofs The insurance industry has a love / hate relationship with roofs. They love it when the roof does what it is designed to do and prevent a loss. They hate it when there are roof problems that allow water intrusion, wind uplift, ice dam formation, collapse from snow loads and allow fire spread. Insurance company roofing related actions Roofs represent a major loss source for insurance carriers, and they are taking steps to control their exposure to loss. The use of aerial imagery that is reviewed by an artificial intelligence program to score your roofs condition is now common. Every insurance company has their own internal processes to evaluate this data. Your score from this process can determine the deductible offered and if coverage is extended at all. There may be an age-related factor that will be considered in the decision-making process. If you do not know the age of your roof, you are at the mercy of the third party estimate of age. Insurance companies are frequently applying a percentage deductible or a higher dollar deductible to roof and wind claims. The percentage deductible is based on total building value, so it can be a substantial amount for a deductible. Another direction for handling roof exposures is to apply Actual Cash Value (ACV) on roofs over a specific age or that meet a certain scoring threshold in the third-party evaluation. Appealing the insurance company decision Since the roof evaluation is automated, the person handling your account may have no input on the decision reached. Overruling the third-party data may require a lot of documentation about your roof. This data should include date of installation, installer, name of shingle manufacturer, name of shingle product to allow verification of properties for this product. Many homeowners cannot produce this level of documentation on demand. Evaluating roofing shingles for your home The first consideration for roofing materials deals with appearance. Shingles are available in flat three-tab, architectural shingles that have an additional layer of material and architectural shingles that are intended to mimic the appearance of a wood shake roof or a slate roof. Based on the desired appearance, you move into varying price points for the shingles. A review of literature from a major shingle roofing manufacturer and the distinct types of shingles they offer and the variation in warranty, wind uplift, hail resistance and styles available are shown below. A previous article on roofing warranties discussed the typical terms in these warranties and how it impacts insurance claim handling. Many warranties depend on the roofer using all products from the manufacturer of the shingle. This can include underlayment, starter strips, hip, and ridge shingles. Warranties can also require a certified installer. Warranty terms may vary based on the price point of the shingle selected. Wind uplift is a significant performance point for your roof. The higher the roof uplift rating, the better your roof can resist shingle loss in a storm. While the building code has minimum requirements, a code review may not be conducted.  Many roofing projects are considered maintenance, so no building permit and related inspections and reviews are performed. Your agreement with the roofer may shift the responsibility of securing any needed permits to the owner. If this is the case, check with your local code official for their regulations. If there is no code review by the building official, you should ask for the highest wind uplift that is available for your chosen product. A higher wind uplift rating may be available using a six nail per shingle installation versus a four nail per shingle installation. Some shingles show two uplift speeds depending on installation processes. Ohio has a base wind uplift speed of 90 MPH. If you live in an area that is prone to hailstorms, we recommend installing impact-resistant shingles that are designed to withstand greater levels of impact. Impact-resistant shingles are evaluated and classified using the Underwriters Laboratory 2218 (UL 2218) steel ball test where a steel ball is dropped from a specified height onto an installed roofing shingle and inspected for any breaks or cracks. The highest possible rating is Class 4. To receive a Class 4 rating, a roofing shingle must withstand having a 2-inch steel ball dropped multiple times from a height of 20 feet. Using Class 4 impact resistant shingles helps to prevent or reduce the amount of damage from hail or other debris. Color Matching One common issue when a roof claim is being adjusted is the availability of shingles that are dimensionally and color consistent with the  existing roofing. A best practice is to secure a supply of the original roofing shingles and retain them for future repairs. You can specify a specific quantity such as 2 bundles in the bid for your roof. Having some additional shingles could make repair much easier in the future. Ask the shingle manufacturer about any shelf-life restrictions for their product and storage requirements. Different states have different rules regarding matching of exterior finishes. Some insurance carriers may offer a specific endorsement to provide funds for exterior matching of materials in the event of a claim. Documentation to be collected and retained There is a lot more to a shingle roof than appearance. You need to document and retain the following: Material specifications for all roofing components. This includes shingles, underlayment, starter strips, ridge and hip shingles, ventilators, and flashing. Date of installation Name of the installer and any certifications they hold in relation to your roofing materials. Proof of warranty registration You may need these details to appeal a third-party evaluation of your roof. The Driehaus Difference We track the underwriting and inspection practices of our insurance companies. We can help you select a company that will work with your specific roofing situation. We can also helps gather the data needed to get the best treatment from the insurance company for your roof. We can also assist in reviewing any contracts you may be considering for a roofing installation. We are focused on providing feedback on risk transfer and any insurance-related needs that may arise. Call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us via our website at www.driehausins.com . We want to be your insurance provider.

Driving safely is a full-time job. Many believe the car is another place to do business, return calls and answer texts and questions. When we take attention away from driving, we increase our risk of a crash. Recent changes in state laws have focused on the distraction from using smartphones when driving. It is estimated that 1 in 7 traffic accidents are related to distracted driving. Over $400 billion dollars are lost to distracted driving accidents What causes distractions? Distraction falls into three distinct categories – each category of distraction alone is a hazard. Some activities have multiple categories of distraction. Hands – This is when you are manually using your hands to adjust controls on the radio, comfort system, reaching for an item or manipulating a device. Your hands are not on the wheel and often your attention is now directed at the manual task. Eyes – This is when you take your eyes off the road. It can be looking at a passenger, a navigation device, reading a text or looking for something inside the or outside of the vehicle. Your eyes are not focused on the road ahead and you are at risk of a crash. Looking away to read a text message or e mail is a high-risk behavior. Mind – you take your mind off driving to focus on another subject. Cognitive distractions can be your talking on your cell phone, processing the discussion at your last meeting, talking to your passengers, or daydreaming about your vacation. Your mind is not focused on safe driving. Texting involves all three types of distractions. You are manipulating the device, looking away to read and processing the message and your response. This is a crash waiting to happen. More states are making texting while driving a primary traffic violation. You do not have to violate any other traffic laws to be cited for texting while driving. Studies have shown that when you are distracted from driving with a complex phone call or discussion, your driving behaviors are similar to a drunk driver. Here is a short video you can share: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6uepXw9gZA#action=share What you should do: Everyone can make the choice to use do not disturb feature on their phone. You can decide to adjust music and entertainment systems when stopped. Ask your passengers not include you in discussions or other exchanges that would take your mind or eyes off the road. Avoid eating and drinking while driving. You make the choice to focus on safe driving. Employers should have a company policy that cell phone use and texting during vehicle operation is not permitted. If you have drivers of commercial motor vehicles, these restrictions are part of the DOT regulations.

Key Steps for Ensuring Proper Maintenance of a Dry Pipe Sprinkler System In areas that are subject to temperatures below 40 deg F, you will find a dry pipe sprinklers system. This sprinkler system has a dry pipe valve that holds back water from the supply source. The valve is held in the closed position by air pressure in the system piping. When a sprinkler head opens, the air pressure drops, and the valve opens allowing water to fill the system and flow from the open sprinkler. This system requires maintenance to ensure reliable operation. Piping Since the piping is subject to freezing, it must be installed to allow complete draining of the system. This involves proper sloping of the pipe back to the riser and the use of remote auxiliary drains. The proper drainage of the system is a critical installation and maintenance consideration. Small areas with trapped water will freeze and cause the pipe to burst and cause water damage. Ice plugs that do not burst the pipe will prevent water from traveling through the system and impair protection. The inspection process should verify proper drainage and slope of the pipe to drain. Maintenance and verification of proper pipe draining is key to preventing water damage claims. Use of drum drip assemblies on drains requires routine inspection and maintenance during freezing weather. Failure to perform these maintenance tasks will result in a frozen system and water damage. Dry Pipe Valve The dry pipe valve holds back water until a sprinkler opens and lowers air pressure and allows the valve to open. This is a mechanical device that must be able to operate quickly and reliably. It needs routine testing to ensure the internal components operate promptly. Testing standards call for an annual trip test. Two years of these tests can be done with no full flow into the piping system. Every third year the piping system must be filled to allow the timing of water to the remote test point. The testing also allows internal maintenance of the valve seats that are at the air/ water control point. Routine cleaning of these valve seats will provide more reliable sealing of the valve and operation of the valve. Data gathered during the testing will include air pressure at start of test, air pressure at valve trip point, time to trip and time to discharge water at the test point. All of these are important test points and can be tracked over time to give an indication of interior pipe condition. If the time for water to travel is increasing, then the interior of the pipe is getting more corroded. This can lead to the need for a system flush to restore proper flow. Slow trip times for the valve may indicate valve maintenance is needed to assure proper operation. Dry Valve Enclosure The dry pipe valve must be kept at over 40 deg. F at all times. This requires an insulated and heated valve house. The maintenance should include inspection and maintenance of the heating system. A best practice is to have a low temperature alarm in the valve enclosure to alert you to heat loss. A frozen dry pipe valve will cause severe water damage. Air Supply The dry pipe system must have an adequate size air compressor or other supply of air to hold back the dry valve. The amount of air pressure is based on the valve specifications and normal supply pressure. Routine maintenance of the air supply involves verifying that the air pressures are proper. Mechanically the compressor must function and deliver the correct volume of air to allow reset of the valve. If there are automatic air supply systems, the electrical and sensors involved must be maintained and tested. Some systems use nitrogen as the system gas to prevent internal corrosion. If using air pressure, consider that the air entering the system will contain water vapor relative to humidity. A drier may be needed to prevent water from being added to the system via compressed air. Failure to properly maintain the drier can result in ice plugs in dry pipe systems that can impair protection. Obstruction Investigation As the internal pipe surfaces are alternately wet and dry from testing, there is inherent corrosion inside dry pipe sprinkler system. Pipe scale can accumulate and cause slower transit time for water or cause test outlets to plug. There is a requirement for five-year testing for obstructions. There are procedures to follow when systems show signs of obstructions. Dry Sprinklers While not part of a dry pipe system, these sprinklers are used to protect areas subject to freezing when the balance of the building is protected with a wet pipe sprinkler system. Since these sprinklers are subject to freezing at the operating end and building heat at the supply end, they can fail and cause water damage. These sprinklers are on an accelerated testing schedule needing to be tested or replaced every ten years after being in service for fifteen years. Why focus on dry pipe system maintenance? The dry pipe sprinkler system introduces a number of extra components to the sprinkler system. The dry valve has internal moving parts that can fail. The system itself can corrode and slow water travel and reduce flows needed for proper discharge. Piping systems that freeze can cause damage. Air supplies that are not maintained can allow systems to trip or high moisture in the air supply will cause excess corrosion and ice plugs. All of these conditions are unique to a dry pipe sprinkler system and need careful attention to assure reliable operation. Lack of maintenance and testing is a common source of risk control recommendations, removal of sprinkler credits and the source of water damage claims. If your inspection and maintenance providers cannot detail how they have looked at these items, question the thoroughness of their work. The Driehaus Difference We know how insurance companies approach maintenance of sprinkler systems and dry pipe systems specifically. We can offer you assistance in arranging proper testing and maintenance to provide the best of system reliability and property protection. Call us at 513-977-6860 or reach out to us using the contact tools on our website, www.driehausins.com. We want to be your insurance agent and welcome your questions and calls.

Why do you need builder’s risk insurance? When a building is under construction it does not qualify for traditional property insurance. Builder’s risk or course of construction insurance is designed to cover buildings under construction all the way through to the project’s completion. A builder’s risk policy may also be in place during renovation of a building. This policy may or may not extend coverage to the existing building. A standard property policy covers building materials used in a renovation but excludes coverage for materials that are owned by subcontractors or have not yet been installed. A standard property policy may extend coverage for the actual value of materials owned by the building owner but would not cover the labor and overhead associated with that installation. This is a significant coverage gap that could derail your renovation project. Builder’s risk policies are intended to accommodate the increase in values during construction. The values will start small and increase through the course of the project. The pricing methodology for a builder’s risk policy reflects this ramping up of values. A traditional property policy would charge for the full value from the start of the project. In many cases multiple subcontractors are providing the materials and labor. As such, you are depending on the insurance program for each entity to respond at the time of loss. This creates a cumbersome claim scenario where several insurers are arguing over who is responsible for paying the claim. Who should carry the policy? We recommend that the project owner be the holder of the builders’ risk insurance. This addresses several concerns. The first is that the owner knows the in-force status, policy limits, and provisions of coverage. The owner is not relying on a third party to select coverage and pay premiums. The second reason for the owner to hold the policy is to have control over any potential claims. The owner can be sure to have their interests front and center during the claim settlement negotiations. If you are not the policyholder, you are along for the ride as someone else is in control. What is covered in a builder’s risk policy? Many insurers will offer several policy forms that vary based on what property is covered. The most basic forms will cover buildings in the course of construction or newly constructed buildings. These forms do not provide coverage for a standing or existing building. Renovation based forms will cover renovations or rehab projects and also extend coverage to the existing building. This is a critical coverage term that must be considered to ensure coverage is extended to the existing portions of a building. There are forms that add additional insurance coverage that provide broader coverage for other exposures. These exceed the scope of this article. Policy Variations Most policies are consistent and include the major exclusions around civil authority, earth movement, flood, fungus and mold, sewer back up, ordinance and law and war and military action. The variation comes into play with the next tier of exclusions. The forms may be different around exclusions related to freezing, materials and workmanship, losses from rain, snow, ice, or sleet and settling cracking or bulging. The forms that have more restrictive language are slightly less expensive. The next level of variation between policies is the number of coverage extensions and supplemental coverages that are included. Typical coverage extensions are debris removal, emergency removal, fraud and deceit, waterborne property, and a nominal fungus sublimit. The second area is supplemental coverage that can include ordinance and law, expediting expenses, fire department service charges, limited pollutant cleanup, sewer back up, property in transit or in temporary storage. The forms may add or subtract this supplemental coverage and change the limits. What the policy will pay Every builder’s risk policy is based on replacement cost. This is the cost to repair, replace or rebuild the property with materials of like kind and quality. The policy may have a coinsurance clause. If your limits are found to be inadequate, your loss recovery will be reduced by the ratio of insufficiency. We have an article on coinsurance that expands this discussion. Coinsurance article - click here When coverage may end Coverage ends when the policy expires, you fail to pay the premium or the project is completed. Your builders’ risk policy may no longer provide protection if the building is partially or fully occupied for its intended purpose without the permission of the insurer. For phased construction projects or projects where some units may be completed and occupied earlier than others, you must manage this notification process. The loss exposures in an occupied structure are different from a construction site and the carrier may or may not want to assume those exposures. The Driehaus Difference Insurance for a construction project is not something to leave to the lowest bidder. Different policy forms, different coverage needs and knowing which insurance company has the appetite for your project are where we bring our expertise to focus on your needs. Call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us via our website at www.driehausins.com  We want to be your insurance provider.

Owning a second home and renting it out is a common situation. This can be a vacation home or a piece of investment property. As a landlord for one of two properties, you may not have considered the risk management issues that you need to consider. As your real estate portfolio grows, these risks will be more significant to you. Proper Insurance Coverage It may be easy to tell your agent to add another address to your homeowner’s policy. Carefully review the language in the homeowner’s policy to see if a residence that is not being occupied by the policyholder is covered by the policy. You may need a specific landlord’s policy or a commercial insurance policy to cover a home that you own but do not occupy. This concern would not apply to a single building with up to 4 units, one of which is occupied by the policyholder. Property Insurance Considerations The most critical issue for property insurance is setting the correct limit for the building. We have discussed proper valuation in previous articles. See What is My Property Worth? Beyond the basic value of the structure, consider the income loss that would occur with a loss. Also consider any furnishings and supplies that you provide at the rental property. If you plan to rebuild, consider if there are any code upgrades that would be needed. Upgraded roof requirements, seismic requirements and other building code changes since the building was built should factor into this decision. If like kind and quality will not meet code, you need to have the additional coverage to protect you. Liability Insurance Whether you use a landlord’s policy of a commercial general liability product you need to review the program to consider what are the limits of coverage you need? The minimum limits offered by some programs may be inadequate to protect your interests. Low primary limits may also make acquiring excess liability more expensive. Knowing your limits will help design the most economical program. What level of medical payment coverage do you want to provide? Med pay is a no-fault coverage to pay for small claims. The intent is to limit litigation. Depending on your tenant profile, this can create a small loss frequency that will affect your pricing. Lease Agreements Written lease agreements are absolutely needed. Do not rely on handshake agreements. Many liability insurance policies will not stand behind unwritten agreements. Make the tenant responsible for obtaining and maintaining renters’ insurance for the duration of their occupancy. Ask for a certificate of insurance or a copy of the current policy year declarations page to see coverage terms. We strongly suggest you use your attorney to develop your lease. This will make sure the terms reflect your intentions and needs. Online or preprinted leases can be too generic to protect your interests. Life Safety As a landlord you are responsible for providing a safe living environment. Make sure you have installed and maintained smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your rental property. Specify who is responsible for ongoing maintenance in your lease. Be sure to have these devices tested EVERY time you access the property. Portable fire extinguishers should be provided. Scald controls As a landlord you must provide adequate hot water. If the tenants can access the hot water heating equipment, they may raise the temperature in an attempt to get more hot water. This does not create more water volume but raises the potential for scalds. This is another inspection point that should be documented. Most tub and shower valves are now pressured balanced to prevent scalds. If yours are not this type, consider upgrading. Contracts for service You may have contracts for cleaning, yard care, snow removal and other services. Have written agreements with requirements the provider carry limits of insurance equal to your own and ask that you be named as an additional insured on the provider’s liability insurance. The long-term cost of a lawsuit makes using uninsured contractors a losing proposition. Entertainment Equipment If your rental includes any entertainment equipment, pool, hot tub, spa, sauna, trampolines, or fire pits make sure they have all the required safety equipment. This includes fences, gates, proper electrical installations, water chemistry and clearance to combustibles needed for the equipment. Security Key control is critical to the safety of your tenants and your interests. Consider using locksets that can either be immediately reprogrammed for lock changes. If you use a key lock, use a lock brand that has restricted key duplication. Track who has keys and change locks when tenants change, or a key is missing. Premises inspections You should have documented inspection records for your property. This includes whenever tenants change and whenever you have access to the property for planned maintenance. Being able to document that appliances, utilities and protective devices were present and accounted for is crucial to your defending a claim. Short term rentals If your property is listed on short term rental web sites, VRBO or Airbnb, you may have less insurance company options. Since short-term tenants have very little long term interest in your property, they have a history of being less careful with their actions within your property.  Increased property damage potential and increased liability issues have made some carriers move away from this exposure. The short-term rental sites offer the renter access to physical damage insurance in lieu of putting down a damage deposit. Consider if you want to make this insurance a requirement for your property. That eliminates credit risk for damage or repairs and lets your insurance company deal with their insurance company for a claim. The Driehaus Difference Our staff know the details of risk management for property owners. We know which companies can offer the most effective insurance programs given your properties. We take time to ask the next level questions that tailor an insurance program to fit you. This is not available in online environments and where you “only pay for what you need.” You have worked hard to own property and you need an agent to work hard to help you protect your interests. Call us at 513-977-6860 or use any of the contact tools on our website www.driehausins.com. We welcome the opportunity to be your insurance agent.

Employment practices are an area that every business with employees must consider as a loss exposure. As long as employees are present, the exposure is there regardless of the number of employees, size of the business or type of structure. You should know that almost all employment-related liabilities are excluded under your standard business liability coverage. You need to have the proper risk management programs in place to protect your interests. Discrimination Exposures Being able to clearly document your employment decisions and show that you are basing your decisions on facts and performance is the key. Having clearly defined hiring standards, job descriptions and performance review processes are keys to controlling this exposure. Wrongful termination The controls for discrimination aid in controlling wrongful termination exposures. Clearly written job descriptions are a foundation. Defining what the expected behaviors and results from the position set the framework for the next control element – effective performance reviews. Having established clear and objective performance expectations via the job description, having a clear and objective review process reinforces the message that job performance is managed. When performance falls short of the set standards having a clear and documented performance management process protects you from claims of wrongful termination. Having a documented performance improvement process and reviews during this process to measure performance allows you to reach a separation decision with adequate warning and clear communication. Sexual Harassment — goes beyond a quid pro quo offer of sexual favors for employment or promotion. Sexual harassment can arise from workplace environmental issues such as sexually suggestive posters, email messages, text messages or other forms of communication that may expose an employee to content that is objectionable. Recognizing that content that is NSFW (Not Safe for Work) is not funny but creates a real exposure to loss is the key element to prevent this loss. Having a clear process to receive and investigate employee reports or concerns also demonstrates your commitment to harassment prevention. Retaliation for reporting harassment or raising a claim of discrimination can make an unpleasant situation worse. In addition to liability problems there are legal issues related to retaliation for reporting workplace safety issues that OSHA can bring forward. There are claims that can be brought under civil rights laws and investor protection laws that have serious penalties. Having a documented reporting and investigation policy for employee concerns is the best defense. Confidentiality of investigations also aids in retaliation prevention. Inappropriate Employment Conduct — or tolerating inappropriate behavior on the job can give rise to a claim for employment-related liability. Having documented workplace rules and documented progressive discipline procedures to enforce those rules is key to preventing liability. Your being able to show that your workplace rules are reasonable and that you have an impartial enforcement process demonstrates your even-handed approach to managing your workforce. The Driehaus Difference We see EPLI as an area of exposure for any company with employees. We have markets for EPLI for employers in all sizes and in all industry types. We want you to consider carrying ELPI coverage because the benefit of having this insurance in place is access to the resources of the insurance carriers to help develop the controls we endorse. From sample programs, video training and hotlines for assistance and advice, there is a network of supporting services to help you manage this exposure. We welcome the opportunity to be your insurance provider. Let us be your guide to accessing these tools via placement of your EPLI coverage. Contact us by phone at 513-977-6860 or use our contact tool on our website, www.driehausins.com to get in touch.

Rear end collisions are one of the more common types of auto losses. They account for 1/3 of all reported traffic accidents   If you strike another vehicle from behind you are assumed to be at fault for the accident. That makes rear end collisions an attractive target for claims being filed against the at fault driver. You can avoid being placed in this difficult position by practicing a few simple defensive driving behaviors. Do not drive distracted – If you are not concentrating on safe vehicle operation you can easily find yourself in trouble. Studies have shown that distracted driving reaction times are similar to drunk driving reaction times. If the phone call, text of other activity requires your attention, you need to do this when stopped. Distraction leads to longer reaction times that increase your chance for a rear end collision. Speed Control – Some collisions are the result of your not being able to stop in time at a signal, intersection or for stopped traffic. Excess speed is often the root cause of this event. Excess speed will aggravate your liability for the rear end collision if you are at fault. Excess speed will aggravate property damage and personal injuries from the collision. If your speed is judged to be excessive, your potential liability is increased. Data recorders in vehicles and telematics programs can capture your speeds and this information can either help or hurt your case. You can count on it being requested during the investigation. Following distance – Following distance is a primary way to protect you. Following distance provides you with time to react to changing conditions and enough space to change lanes or stop. The best following distance is a minimum of three (3)) seconds between you and the vehicles in front of you. This is a distance that must be actively managed. Many time others will merge into your space cushion, so you will need to adjust the distance to regain the needed separation. As road conditions become wet or slippery, expand this cushion to six (6) seconds. This compensates for increased braking distances and the additional hazards of poor road conditions. Use this greater distance for highway speed driving to allow adequate reaction time to traffic changes ahead of you. To judge following distance, let the vehicle ahead of you pass a fixed object and you then count to see how many seconds behind you are. With time and experience you will be able to judge an adequate cushion of space without taking measurements. Stopping short in traffic - When you stop behind another vehicle in traffic, leave enough space to see the rear tires of the vehicle ahead of you. This space allows you to move around a stalled vehicle or to see an impending rear end collision in your rear-view mirror and move up to avoid the impact. The extra space gives you options to use when needed. Use care when merging – Entering traffic from being parked, merging onto a highway, or changing lanes can put you in the position of being struck from behind. In many cases you do not see the oncoming vehicle that was in your blind spot. Always double check your blind spots when merging can prevent you from being struck by another vehicle. Do not rely solely on your mirrors, turn your head and look for yourself. Avoid drowsy driving – If you are tired or drowsy your reaction time will increase. Your powers of observation will be reduced, and you may not notice a hazard ahead. Get off the road and fresh yourself. Use Technology – Newer vehicles have collision avoidance features that alert you to a hazard and can apply the brakes for you. Technology can also alert you to cross-traffic hazards. Some driver behavior measurements available in telematics applications can be helpful. Repeated instances of strong brake application can be an indicator that proper following distance is not being maintained.  Telematics can also measure excessive speed behaviors. This data can be used for driver behavior improvement and some insurance companies will provide or subsidize this type of technology. Maintain your vehicle - Lack of brake lights raises the chance of your being involved in an accident. Proper maintenance of the brake system is also needed to provide safe driving conditions for your vehicle. A poorly maintained vehicle is a hazard unto itself. The Driehaus Difference We can help you identify programs and services from your insurance company to help with driver monitoring or safe driving support. Some insurance companies offer driver monitoring as part of their rating process. We can help you navigate these resources for the best program for your needs. Call us at 513-977-6860 or reach out using our website, www.driehausins.com

The insurance industry has a long history of being reluctant to pay for claims related to water damage. Claims of water damage can be traced to a number of causes. We will address the causes and the typical insurance response to these events. We will address risk management for water damage exposures. Flood Flood, surface water, waves, tidal water, or the overflow of a body of water, all whether driven by wind or not, this includes spray that results from these whether driven by wind or not. This is the exclusion language that would exclude coverage for surface water flooding, wind driven rain, and storm surge related to a hurricane. Your standard insurance policy excludes these events. You need to have a flood insurance policy to cover these events. We have previously published a number of articles on flood insurance and the data behind this hazard. Check these links out. Flood Insurance Information You Need to know Flood Insurance What do I-Need Sewer Backup Water or waterborne material that backs up through or overflows or is discharged from a sewer, drain, septic system, sump pump or related equipment is excluded from property coverage. Your insurer may offer a sublimit for back up of sewer and drains and you need to evaluate your exposure to loss from this type of event to set an appropriate limit. Many policies offer a small, $25,000, limit that is quickly exhausted by a minor event. Evaluate your interior finishes and set a limit that can cover your expected loss. Water below the surface of the ground This includes water that exerts pressure on or flows, seeps, or leaks through or into a building, structure, sidewalk, driveway, foundation, swimming pool or other structure. This is another type of water damage that is commonly excluded by a standard property policy. You may be able to obtain a limited water damage endorsement to cover this exposure. Just as the sewer back up endorsement has a sublimit, this endorsement will also offer a sublimit. Select the amount of coverage based on the exposed values. Fungi, Wet Rot, Dry Rot and Bacteria Small leaks that persist over time can be caused by improper construction, deteriorated caulking and sealing can cause water damage. This type of water damage can cause structural damage via wet and dry rot and expose you to health hazards from mold and fungi. Insurance policies have excluded coverage for this type of damage. Most policies will offer a small sublimit for this type of damage. It is often more economical to offer a small sublimit than to exclude the peril. The sublimit reduces the exposure to litigation for the insurance company. Leaking Pipes If coverage for this type of event is included in your policy, the insurance company will pay for the resulting damage from the leak but will not repair the pipe or system that was leaking. The leaking pipe must be a sudden and accidental event that was immediately noticed. Damage from leaks that persist for more than 14 days are excluded from property coverage. Water Damage Risk Management Detection systems Puck style detectors are placed near suspected leak sources and report when they detect water. Other technology of cable systems that can be placed in or around equipment and provide detection along the linear length of the cable. These systems generate an alarm signal that can be a locally supervised or if connected to the internet provide a text message or other off premises notice. Some systems can close a valve on the system or specific appliance to shut off water. A second technology is a water monitoring system that learns what are typical water flows for your property and alerts you when an abnormal flow is detected. These systems are routinely configured to shut off the water valve to prevent further damage. Planned Response Having the right tools and equipment to respond to a water damage event can significantly reduce the amount of damage. Water extraction equipment, mops, squeegees and other clean up equipment can be staged and ready to use. Valve Management Shutting off water immediately upon discovery of a leak is an immediate loss reduction step. Knowing the location of each shut off valve and exercising those valves to be sure they can be operated is a low to no cost risk reduction process. The Driehaus Difference We understand the reluctance of insurance companies to absorb water damage claims and expenses. We also understand that you need protection from the economic catastrophe that these events cause. We know the various company forms and available products to address this exposure. We can also help with identifying carriers who offer discounts or cost sharing for water detection system. This is part of your insurance program that is not easily arranged in an online environment or when you only way for what you need. Most buyers do not understand the specific language of insurance and miss getting the right coverage. Call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us via our website driehausins.com so we can be your insurance advocate.

Winter can be a tough season on your home or business. Some preparation can make your season warmer and without the frozen pipes, ice dams and system damage. Check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. Winter is heating season and any fuel fired appliances are carbon monoxide generator. Take a moment to check your smoke alarms and your escape plan. Do you have a meeting place selected? Obtain your winter snow removal supplies such as ice melt before the first snow. Given the supply chain issues this year do not get caught waiting and needing supplies. Verify snow removal agreements are up to date and risk transfer is in place. Leaves should be removed from gutters and downspouts cleaned and water directed away from your foundation. Clogged gutters can cause an ice dam that will cause roof and interior damage Drain outside faucets and disconnect hoses. A freeze may cause the water trapped at the hose connection to damage the faucet. If the faucet is not frost proof, turn off the water and drain the faucet line. Service your heating system now before it must perform at peak load. Check and replace filters in your furnace. Many service companies have warranties that last the season if you have a service and inspection. Now is the time to insulate any vulnerable water lines in crawl spaces or along exterior walls. Insulation will save you energy costs as well as reducing the freeze potential. Leaving a faucet drip when a freeze is expected can prevent pipe failure. Assess the condition of weather-stripping on doors and windows. While the weather is till nice, make repairs and replacements. Prepare your outdoor systems such as irrigation, pool, or spa systems for winter. Drain and winterize these systems to prevent system damage. The Driehaus Difference We understand that any property loss creates more than just an insurance claim. We want you to be able to prevent a loss and to enjoy the life you have built. We can help protect that life and what is important to you. Call us at 513-977-6860 or visit our website at www.driehausins.com to connect with us.

Chimneys and vent pipes are an important part of the safety system for your home or business. These devices remove the products of combustion from solid fuel or fossil fuel appliances and devices in use. Improper maintenance can lead to accumulation of deposits that can be highly combustible and reduce the efficiency of the ventilation allowing introduction of flue gases, including carbon monoxide into the structure. You should inspect your chimney and vent pipes as part of normal preventative building maintenance. When to inspect? NFPA 221 The Standard for Chimney, Fireplaces, Vents and Solid Fuel Burning Appliances recommends an annual inspection. There are three levels of inspection activity that can be done. Inspection Levels Level 1 – Inspect the readily accessible areas of the chimney. Look for evidence of obstructions or combustible deposits in the flue. Check that appliances connected are properly installed and connected to the vent.  If you burn sold fuel equipment, the Level 1 inspection may reveal the need for cleaning. Level 2 – All of the above and add evaluation of proper construction and condition of accessible areas of the flue. Check for proper clearance to combustibles for accessible areas and verify proper sizing of the flue for connected appliances. Level 3 – Inspect all of the above and include concealed spaces for inspection. Degree of access required Level 1 - requires visual inspection of immediately accessible areas. Level 2 - may require video scanning of the flu and connections to verify condition. Level 3 - may require opening the structure to gain access to the chimney and to verify proper clearance. How to choose the appropriate level? Level 1 - is appropriate to verify suitability of the chimney for continued service with the same connected appliances and devices. There have been no changes in the equipment or venting system. Routine cleaning can be part of the Level 1 inspection. Level 2 - is indicated if you have changed appliance or devices that would require additional venting capacity. This is also needed when any damage has been reported, or if you are a new owner of an existing property. Level 3 - is indicated if the chimney is in need or repairs or must be renewed to make operations safe. Who can do this inspection? The inspector should be “qualified” to do this work. This means training and experience in the type of chimney or flue involved. Professional chimney sweeps are available for cleaning and inspection work. For vents for non-solid fuel burning equipment, your HVAC contractor may be able to do the needed inspections as part of their routine preventative maintenance work. Carbon Monoxide Detection - Part of your Safety System In any building that uses fossil fuels or solid fuels there is a need for carbon monoxide detection. Carbon monoxide is a by product of combustion. It is odorless, colorless, and tasteless. It bonds to the oxygen in your system, preventing that oxygen from being used by your body. Low level exposure symptoms can mimic a cold or allergies. Headaches, coughing and a general feeling of illness are common. You should have a UL listed carbon monoxide detector near any fuel burning device. Consider adding additional carbon monoxide detectors to your sleeping areas. UL Listed devices are designed to alert to higher concentrations of carbon monoxide that persist over a period of time that could cause illness. There are other detectors that can alert you to lower levels of carbon monoxide. These can be beneficial if anyone in the household has underlying medical conditions that would be aggravated by carbon monoxide exposure. Emergency Plan for Carbon Monoxide If the detectors activate, have a plan. The plan should provide for an immediate evacuation, a head count to verify all are accounted for and call 911 for the emergency services to investigate. Since carbon monoxide gas is odorless, colorless, and tasteless, there is no substitute for a thorough investigation using carbon monoxide specific test equipment. The emergency services may also request the utility company that provides gas service to respond to the investigation. The Driehaus Difference No insurance product can replace the need for safety related inspections, maintenance, and planning. We encourage our clients to recognize hazards and take appropriate actions to protect themselves. Our series of Insight articles have covered a range of hazards and their potential controls. We offer this advice to help you avoid the need to consider if there is applicable insurance.  If you have questions or need insurance or risk management advice, call us at 513-977-6860 or contact us via our website at www.driehausins.com