UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK POLICY–DESIGNATED TANKS ACORD FORMS CONSIDERATIONS

(November 2022)

OVERVIEW

ACORD forms are designed primarily for use with standard insurance manuals, rules, rating plans, and policy forms. This includes the Underground Storage Tank Policy–Designated Tanks. For the most part, ACORD forms are relatively generic in nature. If the Underground Storage Tank Policy–Designated Tanks is written in combination with a specific independent specialty or company program, company specific forms may be needed for that account instead of, or in addition to, the normal ACORD forms that apply.

RELEVANT ACORD FORMS

Note: Only countrywide ACORD forms are listed in this section. State specific ACORD forms are not listed.

SPECIFIC ACORD FORM CONSIDERATIONS

Form 125–Commercial Insurance Application

All the information requested in this form is relevant. Be sure to check the appropriate boxes so the insurance company underwriter understands the lines of insurance being submitted for consideration. The first named insured and all insureds must be listed. The applicant information is important for both coverage issues and to provide the contact information for inspection, financial, and premium audit functions. The locations where coverage is to apply and the nature of the operations at each of them are extremely important items of information for the insurance company underwriter. This form contains a number of questions of a general information type that helps all parties understand the nature and extent of a number of important issues that affect or involve most risks. Loss information on larger accounts should probably be submitted in the form of copies of currently valued loss runs for the past five years, as well as for the current year to date. Accurate and currently valued loss information for the latest three full and complete years is required for experience rating on larger accounts for some lines of insurance. However, experience rating does not apply to the Underground Storage Tank Policy–Designated Tanks.

Note: Previous loss information for this policy should include any suits, claims, allegations, or incidents related to any release of petroleum products from any owned or operated tank.

Form 126–Commercial General Liability Section

This form is very comprehensive and designed to provide the insurance company with as much relevant information as possible with respect to the coverages selected, classifications, and rating. It includes detailed questions that make it very helpful as a risk management and underwriting tool. Most of the information requested will have a direct impact on the manual rating. Inaccurate or incomplete information can lead to an incorrectly rated and priced account.

Note: There is no specific ACORD form to use for underground storage tank exposures. Form 126 is used but the following additional underwriting information must be provided for each insured tank:

Note: The Defense Expense Amount must be selected in addition to the Per Incident Limit and the Aggregate Limit.

UNDERWRITING NOTES

Each of these forms is very comprehensive and detailed with respect to the type and amount of information requested. However, no single application can respond to every question that may arise for every risk, especially larger and more complex risks. It is always in the best interests of both the insured and the agent or broker to provide a cover letter that includes complete details of the operations and exposures involved, especially if the risk has characteristics and features that cannot be brought to the insurance company’s attention in any other way.