Have you or your business been affected by the heatwave? As the weather changes and becomes warmer, there’s the potential for damage to property as a direct result of the heat. In our experience, this might be the warping of metal panels, the melting of laptop keys from sunlight reflected off a mirror, or subsidence caused by more frequent and hotter spells of extreme weather. Melted tarmac being walked into a carpet from a poorly laid driveway is another example of heatwave related damage we have come across.
At Everywhen, we understand how disruptive heat-related damage can be and are here to help wherever we can. If you need to make a claim following heat-related damage, we've listed some steps and tips below.
Directly after a heatwave
Document all heat-related damage - Take detailed photos of any damage to buildings, equipment, stock or infrastructure before repairs begin.
Keep damaged equipment and stock - Including any items that may have failed due to overheating or spoiled due to refrigeration failures. Make a list of everything that has been damaged in the heatwave.
Check electrical systems carefully - High temperatures can damage electrical systems and create fire hazards. Have qualified professionals inspect any systems showing signs of heat stress.
Monitor building structures - Extreme heat can cause expansion and structural issues that may not be immediately visible. Look for signs of warping, cracking, or other damage.
If equipment has overheated - Don't attempt to restart it until it has been properly assessed by a qualified technician.
Write down a detailed description – Document all damage and any actions you have taken.
If perishable stock is spoiled - Dispose of it quickly after taking a record and photographing it.
Following a heatwave
Make sure you only carry out emergency repairs and keep invoices for consideration. Take photos of the damage to support this and photos of the emergency repair.
To help you get back to normal as quickly as possible, please ask a tradesperson/company to provide a quotation, verbally and then to follow up on headed paper with a breakdown of costs, the labour costs, materials, and cause of the damage. Insurers may ask for a secondary quote for works, but please do not delay notification as an insurer may only require one quotation.
If the incident has left you unable to trade, let your staff and customers know in plenty of time and remain in communication until you're back up and running.
Making a claim
Report the damage as soon as possible - If you haven't already, please notify us as soon as possible so we can update your insurer and start your claim to ensure a swift and fair outcome subject to your policy cover conditions.
Gather your information - To get the ball rolling, ensure you have your policy details to hand, including your policy number. Obtain any available CCTV footage to support the claim.
Document everything you can - Ensure to take lots of pictures of the damage. This will assist in identifying the extent of damage for an insurance claim down the line, as memories alone aren't always reliable.
Keep receipts - Ensure to keep receipts for everything.
Let’s talk
After an incident occurs, it's a good idea to review your current risk assessments and health and safety procedures to help prevent a similar incident happening in the future. We know that making a claim can feel stressful and risk assessments may be the last thing on your mind right now, but when you're ready, please feel free to give your local Everywhen team a call to discuss our risk assessment offering. We're here to help you better protect your business.
The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute legal or other professional advice and cannot be relied upon as such. Should you have any queries, we recommend that you consult the appropriate professional adviser.