What’s In This Articles

• Introduction
• Fire Losses In Commercial Fire Damage Insurance?
• How to Handel Soot and Smoke?
• How to Handel Structural Damage?
• What Items Should You Assess?
• Can Fire Suppression Cause Damage?
• What Kinds of Additional Costs Can You Get Into?
• What is Business Interruption Insurance Coverage and How Can It Help You?
• What does Business Interruption Insurance Cover?
• Should You Consider A Public Adjuster For Commercial Fire Insurance Claims?

Unfortunately, one in four building fires occurs in commercial, institutional or public buildings. Handling a commercial fire damage insurance claim is complicated and time-consuming. For instance, you may have experienced a fire that only damaged a section of your building.

Conversely, you may have had a fire that caused a total loss. 

In either case, you may need the help of an experienced public adjuster to file your claim. In addition, the public adjuster can gather evidence of your company’s losses. An adjuster can also negotiate a fair settlement with your insurance company. 

What are the Fire Losses in a Commercial Fire Damage Insurance Claim?

There are many damages that a fire can cause to a business.

Soot and Smoke

Smoke, soot and ash can spread throughout a building. Indeed, smoke and soot will reach parts of the building that were never touched by flames. 

Of course, the existence of smoke, ash and soot is a health hazard. Therefore, the business owners may have to hire a company to completely clean the building. In addition, the company will remove soot and any other hazardous materials caused by the fire. Certainly, this will have to be done before the business can be fully operational. 

Structural Damage

The flames and heat generated by the fire can damage walls, ceilings and flooring. Likewise, intense heat can warp, melt or otherwise damage the internal structure of the building. For example, support beams, floor joists, or load-bearing walls can be severely damaged. 

Building Equipment, Furniture, Inventory and Machinery

Whatever the business, the interior of the building and its contents can be damaged significantly. Flames, heat, smoke and soot can combine to destroy machinery in a factory.

Likewise, a fire can damage the inventory in a warehouse.

Similarly, a fire can destroy or make inoperable computers and other electronics in an office building. The fire can also destroy furniture, office supplies and copy machines throughout the building. 

Fire Suppression Efforts 

Certainly, all communities praise their fire departments who routinely respond to a house fire or a business fire. Of course, we all recognize they save property and possibly lives. 

However, fire suppression efforts also cause damage to properties. For instance, there is usually a great deal of water damage to the building. Similarly, doors and windows may be broken.

Likewise, holes might be punched out in walls and ceilings to allow ventilation. 

Lastly, firefighters often use foam or powder to put out the fire. These substances can cause damage to furniture, electronics, etc.  

Restoration/Repair

Your building may have to undergo substantial repairs. However, if it is an old building, you may face additional costs regarding the current building codes in your area. Indeed, unless you have building code insurance coverage, your standard policy may not cover the costs of the upgrades your contractors will need to make. These upgrades may be necessary so that your building complies with the current code and/or “Green” building requirements.

Business Interruption Insurance Coverage

Business interruption coverage is available to companies. It can be purchased as an endorsement to their standard business insurance policy.

In fact, it is a good idea for companies to purchase that coverage.

For instance, a covered event triggers business interruption insurance, like a fire. Therefore, a business may have to shut down because of a fire. In that case, business interruption insurance replaces business income lost because of the fire. 

For example, business interruption insurance covers:

• Lost profits;
• Fixed expenses;
• Employee salaries;
• Costs related to moving to a temporary location; and
• Any extra expense the company incurs because of the fire.

If You Need a Public Adjuster for Commercial Fire Insurance Claims, Call AllCity Adjusting

We are a family-owned claims company with five decades of combined adjusting experience. As a result, if there’s one thing we understand, it’s that you need 100% of your claim value.

As a business owner, you have already gone through a tumultuous event. For this reason, get an agency that gets you more.

At AllCity Adjusting we work to ensure you get 100% of your commercial fire damage insurance claim value. Equally important, with over 50 years of combined experience as insurance adjusters, we know insurance companies and understand where they cut corners. 

As a matter of fact, the commercial fire claim process can be complicated and messy. However, we can help organize your records and your proof of damage. In addition, we can help you get the evidence to support your business interruption claim. 

In short, we help you build a larger business insurance claim and maximize your claim value. Indeed, we get you back to normal fast. 

To sum up, don’t get fooled. Get the company that gets you more.

Therefore, if you have filed a claim but only received a low-ball offer from the insurance company, or they are taking too long to process your claim, call us at 844.692.3587. Or you can email us at info@allcityadhjusting.com.