Get an Indoor Air Quality insurance quote now.
Poor Indoor Air Quality exposures are specifically in places where we live, sleep, and play – habitational buildings such as condominiums and cooperatives. With an IAQ policy, indoor air concerns and mold-related conditions can be addressed.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend the majority of their time indoors, where pollution levels can be 2x to 5x greater! 👀
How pollution conditions can effect indoor air quality.
- Contractors working in an occupied building using materials like paints, adhesives, laminates or glues without proper ventilation or precautions can cause harmful vapors inside a building.
- Legionella is an airborne pathogen that can develop in stagnant water and be inhaled through water droplets, causing an illness similar to pneumonia. In buildings it may be found in improperly maintained cooling towers, hot tubs, ice machines, or fountains.
- Mold can develop in wet and moist areas on building materials and surfaces, whether due to improper ventilation/ cooling, water infiltration from weather events, mechanical issues, improper construction, or improper selection of building materials.
- Vapors from spills at gas stations or dry cleaners can affect the indoor air quality of nearby buildings.
CONSIDER THIS…
Claim scenarios
Building Unit 24A
In a local condominium complex, a serious health hazard emerged when lead contamination was
discovered in the drinking water supply. The building’s aging plumbing system, which used lead
pipes and fixtures, had been gradually leaching lead into the water, exposing the residents to
potential health risk. As a result of this lead contamination, several residents experienced bodily
injuries and health issues.
The ventilation system in the condominium complex fails, leading to inadequate air exchange,
poor air quality, or an accumulation of harmful pollutants. This can result from mechanical failures,
lack of maintenance, or improper design. The condominium files an environmental insurance
claim to cover the costs associated with the defense of resultant legal actions. This may involve
hiring legal representation, conducting investigations into the cause of the ventilation system
malfunction, repairing, or replacing the system, and ensuring proper ventilation and air quality
control measures are in place to prevent future issues.
A water leak goes unnoticed in one of the condominium units, leading to excessive moisture
and mold growth. The mold spreads to adjacent units, causing health issues for residents and
necessitating remediation efforts. The condominium files an environmental insurance claim to
cover the costs of mold assessment, removal, and restoration of affected units. This may include
hiring mold remediation specialists, conducting air quality testing, removing affected materials,
and restoring the affected units to a safe and habitable condition.
A condominium complex uses a storage room to house cleaning chemicals. Due to improper
handling or a storage mishap, a significant chemical spill occurs. Accidental spills or improper
storage practices result in the release of toxic substances into the air. The condominium files an
environmental insurance claim to cover the costs to clean up the affected area, which may include
hiring specialized cleanup crews, disposal of contaminated materials, and decontamination
procedures. Additionally, the insurance claim may cover the defense of resultant legal actions if
any third parties are affected or file lawsuits due to the chemical spill.
What does an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) policy cover?
Environmental insurers are seeing an increased demand for coverage as a result of concerns related to indoor air quality (IAQ) such as the potential for vapor intrusion claims, mold claims, and Legionella claims, among others.
An IAQ policy addresses indoor air concerns such as odors, smoke, hazardous vapors, legionella along with mold to name a few. Coverage includes bodily injury, property damage, legal expense and building-related clean-up costs resulting from pollution releases, spills, or growth on, at, or within a building on a covered location.
An IAQ policy addresses indoor air concerns such as odors, smoke, hazardous vapors, legionella along with mold to name a few. Coverage includes bodily injury, property damage, legal expense and building-related clean-up costs resulting from pollution releases, spills, or growth on, at, or within a building on a covered location.
Policy
Benefits
- Coverage for new releases, spills or growths.
- Coverage provided for both gradual and sudden and accidental events.
- Coverage is triggered by the discovery of release of toxic substances, or an allegation of bodily injury or property damage by a third party.
- Clean-up cost coverage for the unintentional disturbance of asbestos or lead-based paint.
- Definition of Bodily Injury includes building-related illness and medical and environmental monitoring.
- Toxic substances encompass solid, liquid, or gaseous irritants or contaminants, including but not limited to smoke, vapors, odors, soot, fumes, dusts, acids, alkalis, toxic chemicals, hazardous substances, allergens, asbestos, lead, arsenic, mercury, PCBs, legionella, mold, mildew, or any type or form of fungi.
- Definition of toxic substances includes unlawful abandonment of toxic substances at a Covered Location.
Avoid any future headaches, with this valuable coverage.
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