Feature Article

When lightning strikes

A more efficient, cost-effective way of handling lightning claims.


lightning bolts over city skyline

As a true partner, FM Boiler Re is always looking for opportunities to bring our partner companies value beyond Equipment Breakdown coverage. Though we don't provide coverage for lightning damage, many of our partner companies’ base policies do. In addition, we recognize that lightning damage can often look a lot like electrical damage. The cause of loss can be confirmed with lightning strike reports, though this can become costly over time. To help alleviate these costs and promote a more efficient claims handling process, FM Boiler Re is pleased to offer complimentary lightning reports to our partners on claims involving insureds that have the equipment breakdown endorsement and have the potential to be an equipment breakdown loss.

Benefits of our complimentary reports

  • Efficient. At no cost to our partner companies, these reports are available to help identify lightning as a potential cause of loss early in the claims handling process. The sooner the cause of loss is identified, the sooner any claim can be adjudicated for the insured. And all of this can be done before a loss is submitted to FM Boiler Re for equipment breakdown review.
  • Comprehensive data. FM Boiler Re partnered with Verisk to provide lightning reports that contain cloud to ground plotting for a time span of 12 weeks. This enhanced reporting process searches for cloud to ground strikes one week after the selected Date of Loss and 11 weeks prior. In addition, the reports break out cloud to ground strikes under one mile as well as a count for all strikes spanning from 1–5 miles.
  • Quick, easy delivery. Receiving complimentary lightning reports from FM Boiler Re is as simple as sending an email. Reports will then be sent back to the requestor via email as a PDF. Contact your reinsurance territory manager for more details on this process.

Who can use it?

As a benefit of our partnership, FM Boiler Re is proud to offer these reports to all of our interested partner companies. It is important to note that these reports are intended to be used only for claims that involve an insured for a program that we reinsure and claims that involve the potential for an equipment breakdown.

Contact us to learn more about how to get started.