E. Additional Coverages
Section I of the Special Form policy provides
several coverages in addition to coverage parts A through D.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, the coverage amounts that appear in this
section are unchanged from the HO 2000 edition of the Special Form Policy.
8. Collapse
This provision has undergone editorial changes in
the 05 11 Edition. This is likely due to the ongoing difficulty in
providing a clear explanation of coverage intent.
a. The provision opens with a statement that coverage
is only meant to respond to loss involving abrupt collapse. Since the form is
making this distinction, it may have made more sense to title this item - 8.
Abrupt Collapse.
b. The Special Form policy includes an explanation of
what is meant by collapse. Collapse is explained as an abrupt falling down of
an entire building or part of a building. The collapse has to be severe enough
to make the building or part of the building unusable for residential purposes.
c. Neither a building nor a building part that is in
danger of collapsing NOR a part of a building which remains standing is
considered as being in a state of collapse. The nonexistence of a collapse
condition applies even when the remaining structure shows evidence of cracking,
bulging, and sagging, bending, leaning, settling, shrinking or expanding.
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Example: After being
built, a house starts to settle and this causes cracks in the walls and
foundation. Damage of this type would not be covered in the policy.
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d. This additional coverage protects against direct
physical loss to covered property involving collapse of a building or any part
of a building caused only by one or more of the following:
(1) Perils insured against in personal property
(Coverage C). These perils apply to covered buildings and personal property for
loss insured by this additional coverage
(2) Hidden decay
(3) Hidden insect or vermin damage
Note: Under items (2) and (3), coverage is barred
if any insured is aware of such damage before a collapse occurs.
(4) Weight of contents, equipment, animals, or people
(5) Weight of rain that collects on a roof
(6) Use of defective material or methods in
construction, remodeling or renovation if the collapse occurs during the course
of the construction, remodeling or renovation.
e. Loss to an awning, fence, patio, deck, pavement,
swimming pool, underground pipe, flue, drain, cesspool, septic tank,
foundation, retaining wall, bulkhead, pier, wharf, or dock is not included
under items (2) through (6) above unless the loss is a direct result of the
collapse of a building.
f. This coverage
does NOT increase the limit of insurance that applies to the covered property.
Related Court Cases:
“Collapse Held
Covered Only According to its Popular Meaning”
“Insect Damage Not
Collapse Unless Total”
