Keyword
building code
Why Barrie’s 2021 tornado damage was “largely preventable”
May 4, 2022 by Jason ContantMore than 35 years after a deadly tornado in Barrie, Ont. – the site of another strong tornado last year – the industry is still looking for modernizations to the Ontario Building Code and tornado protection construction practices. “Since before…
Recent NatCats reveal need to boost construction standards
February 4, 2022 Greg MeckbachEnforcing existing building codes, bringing in new construction standards and improving community planning are among the measures governments can take to mitigate the cost of property losses from natural catastrophes, industry watchers say. And arming consumers with better information about…
Too little, too late? The devastating consequences of natural disasters must inform building codes
November 10, 2021 The Canadian PressBy Anastasia Athanasiou, Postdoctoral fellow, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site.…
One simple way to reduce the severity of barn fires
March 4, 2019 by Jason ContantEnhancing building codes to include early detection systems could help generate a faster response in the case of farm fires, said Ken Worsley, who leads Cowan Insurance Group’s national agri-commercial industry practice. Early response systems include things like heat, fire…
Insurer involvement urged in the building code process
January 24, 2019 by Jason ContantThe Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) and Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) want to restore direct insurance industry involvement in the building code process. “At some point in the distant past, perhaps four decades ago or more, the Canadian…
Could this new construction method hike insurance costs?
August 27, 2018 by Greg MeckbachA client occupying a tall wood building could face higher insurance costs, a group of masonry producers claims, while one fire insurer confirms such a building deserves closer scrutiny from an underwriter. Your insurance premiums would be higher as an…
Property Loss Update: A review of recent cases, Part 2
November 17, 2017 Glenn GibsonThis is Part 2 of the property loss review that began in the Feb-Mar issue of Claims Canada. Carter et al V. Intact Insurance Company, Ontario Court of Appeal, December 6, 2016 On March 16, 2011 a fire caused…
How small code changes can reduce big water claims
November 15, 2017 Jason Contant, Online EditorWith severe weather expected to get worse in the years ahead, introducing small changes into building codes is critical, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction’s (ICLR) managing director told Canadian Underwriter on Wednesday. “We are not talking about totally revamping…
Stilling quake risk in eastern Canada demands greater focus, awareness and effort: Swiss Re
July 11, 2017 by Angela StelmakowichRisk awareness is severely lacking and not enough attention is being paid to quake risk in eastern Canada, a region with “huge” loss-inflicting potential that a Swiss Re model projects could produce the country’s largest nat-Cat loss ever if the…
Getting Realistic
June 23, 2017 Sandra Weber, Partner; and Colin Flynn, Associate, McLennan Ross LLPA recent ruling by Alberta’s Court of Appeal, finding insurers are not guarantors of construction, could have an impact on insurers facing large claims for pre-existing deficiencies or long-standing building code infractions revealed by inspections after damage from an insured peril. Does the reasoning mean insurers in Alberta no longer need to pay for deficiencies never realistically contemplated as being part of the insured risk?
Construction of mitigation infrastructure to protect against flood should be seen as nation-building projects: Australian insurers
April 12, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterThe Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) cited the Canadian government’s budget commitment to create a Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund in a recommendation to its own federal government to treat the construction of mitigation infrastructure to protect flood-prone towns as…
Ontario should adopt ‘multi-provider insurance system’ for new home warranties: Cunningham
April 3, 2017 by Canadian UnderwriterWarranties that new homes in Ontario are free from defects should be available from multiple providers and treated as insurance products, former judge J. Douglas Cunningham recommended in a recent report. Warranty coverage currently available from Tarion Warranty Corp. “should…