Press Releases

Fortis and BIBA launch escape of water campaign

Fortis and BIBA launch campaign to help homes and businesses reduce the chances of major disruption this winter

A new campaign urging businesses and householders to consider the threat of water damage from inside buildings throughout the winter months has just been launched across the UK. Brokers are being urged to encourage their clients to download the free risk management advice guide.

Last year, escape of water from inside properties saw an increased amount of grief for businesses and householders. This year, Fortis has teamed up with the British Insurance Brokers' Association and builders Rok to help businesses and householders avoid the disruptive leaks and internal water damage that led to a massive increase in insurance claims last winter. There is a free downloadable advice guide for every business and householder to benefit from.

As much as 20-30 per cent of insurance property claims costs is for escape of water1, the most common of which is for the effects of a burst pipe. The cost of such claims to the industry increased by 13.7 per cent in 2008 to £662m2. As well as lagging pipes and checking joints there are other simple checks that need to be made, especially if premises are going to be unattended for any period. New research has shown that as many as one in five business owners and managers responsible for premises and more than one in three (34%) householders aged under 35 wouldn't know where to find the valve to shut off the water supply in the event of a leak3.

Commenting on the campaign, Adam Clarke, Underwriting Director from Fortis said: "This campaign could provide a timely and fresh talking point for brokers to speak to clients or to include it in their own PR campaigns. The more households and businesses we can all help to avoid an escape of water the better it will be for our customers and the cost of related insurance in the future." 2

Steve Foulsham, BIBA Technical Services Manager, added: "We are pleased to be involved in this important campaign to help brokers and their customers. We will do all that we can to promote the benefits of using brokers through this initiative and are delighted by the support that Fortis is providing to our members."

Download the advice guides from www.fortisinsurance.co.uk or www.biba.org.uk or contact the Fortis press office on 023 8035 2754 or for more information.

- ENDS -

Paul Lynes - Fortis UK
T: 023 8031 3152
M: 07786 061537 

E:

Leighann Burtrand - BIBA
T: 020 7397 0223 
E:

1 Source: Association of British Insurers

2 Source: Datamonitor Claims Management in UK General Insurance 2009

3 Fortis commissioned an online poll with Populus in November 2009. The research was conducted with 554 people who own or manage a business and are responsible for premises matters and 1682 householders.

Summary of Key Advice:

For Consumers:

1. If you're leaving your home unattended during the winter, turn the main stopcock off, but keep your heating on and turn the thermostat down to around 15oc.
2. When undertaking DIY, be aware of where pipes run. Use a metal detection tool before you nail or screw into walls.
3. If you have plastic plumbing joints, then remember they will probably degrade sooner than metal ones.
4. Speak to a BIBA broker who will be able to provide advice and help to find suitable insurance protection for your specific circumstances.

For Businesses:

1. Keep heating on low when premises are left unattended to prevent pipes freezing;
2. Make sure pipes, the loft and header and water tanks are appropriately insulated to stop freezing and bursting in areas most at risk;
3. Ensure staff with responsibility for the premises know where the stopcock is and have a clear plan for what to do if there is an escape of water;
4. Regularly inspect pipes and plumbing joints, especially those in vulnerable locations and those that are plastic and therefore more likely to degrade.

About Fortis:

Fortis (Insurance UK) is a leading provider of award-winning personal and commercial lines insurance solutions in the UK. Fortis UK has two main divisions, manufacturing both non-life and life products, which are distributed through a range of channels including brokers, IFAs, intermediaries, affinity partners and the Internet, as well as various wholly or partially-owned companies (RIAS, Fortis Insurance Solutions, Affinity Solutions, Text2Insure and InsureTECH Systems).

Insuring around 7 million customers and working with a range of partners, Fortis is recognised for delivering consistent and high-quality customer experiences. In 2008, its non-life profit before tax and interest was £76 million and its non-life GWP was £760 million. Fortis launched a life and protection business in July 2008.

Fortis (Insurance UK) is part of Fortis, a global insurance group of significant scale with over EUR14bn turnover, 20 million customers and 10,000 employees worldwide.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) is the UK's leading general insurance organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes 1700 regulated firms. Insurance brokers and intermediaries distribute nearly two-thirds of all UK general insurance. In 2007, insurance brokers and intermediaries generated £1.5 billion of invisible earnings and they introduce £22 billion of premium income into London's insurance market each year.

BIBA is the voice of the industry, advising members, the regulators, the Government, consumer bodies and other stakeholders on key insurance issues. BIBA provides unique schemes and facilities, technical advice, guidance on regulation and business support and is helping to raise, and maintain, industry standards. BIBA works closely with the Chartered Insurance Institute to provide training to those working in the industry and actively participates in helping the industry and its customers deal with some of the major issues of the day.

BIBA members provide professional advice to businesses and consumers, playing a key role in identification, measurement, management, control and transfer of risk. They negotiate appropriate insurance protection tailored to individual needs and operate to a very high standard of customer service with the aim of ensuring peace of mind, security, financial protection and the professional advice required.

Rok plc's shares are listed on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol ROK. The Group specialises in relationship based service delivery providing building, repairs and refurbishment, and response maintenance services that are tailored to local needs and customers' wishes supported by the resources and expertise of one of the industry's leading players.

Rok is one of the UK's leading providers of claims management and building repairs services to the insurance sector. Further information on the Group can be accessed at www.rokgroup.com.