High-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans are large ceiling fans designed to rotate slowly and efficiently while moving significant amounts of air across vast spaces. They have become increasingly common in various types of commercial buildings, especially warehouses, factories and gymnasiums. HVLS fans differ from traditional ceiling fans due to the extended diameter of their fan blades...
The commercial property insurance segment has been grappling with limited underwriting profitability and hardening conditions for much of the past decade, mainly due to surging catastrophe (CAT) losses, inflation issues and property valuation challenges. As such, ongoing premium jumps and restrictive coverage terms have become the norm for most policyholders. Shifting market dynamics helped ease...
Another above-average hurricane season will threaten the Atlantic this year, with as many as six storms affecting the US, AccuWeather Inc. said. Between 13 and 18 storms will at least reach tropical storm strength, and seven to 10 of those are expected to become hurricanes with winds of at least 74 miles (119 kilometers) per...
Condominium and community associations carry out several essential tasks and responsibilities, such as ensuring the facilities are maintained properly or managing the budget appropriately. However, these entities also face numerous risks. As such, they need to be aware of their exposures to enhance community safety and financial stability. This article provides more information on the...
Hard market conditions will continue through 2024 for both commercial and personal lines, but begin to ease in 2025, according to the latest sigma report from Swiss Re. “The insurance industry has reached a new equilibrium after the challenges of recent years. The global economy has surprised on the upside, which should drive more demand...
Following last year’s historically challenging property insurance market, 2024 is proving to be “a more stable and capitalized market,” USI Insurance Services reported in its latest Commercial Property & Casualty Market Outlook Mid-Year Addendum. “Large rate increases from 2023 have mostly subsided for the broader market,” the New York-based insurance brokerage firm said in the report....
The start of 2024 brought a host of changes that could impact property claims, including updates to major codes and guidelines that affect residential and commercial policyholders dealing with new construction, renovations, and replacement HVAC equipment. Adjusters should be aware of new sections in the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) as well as amendments to...
Analysts at the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and Milliman expect the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry to post a 103.8% net combined ratio for 2023, driven by the highest severe convective storm losses in decades. The III and Milliman experts shared their findings during a recent webinar discussing their quarterly report, “Insurance Economics and Underwriting Objections:...
You might often hear people—especially investors—say, “Well, what’s trending?” or “What are the current trends showing?” Before making any kind of purchasing decision, it’s important to understand how the market is currently behaving and what the projections are for the future. As we are all aware, the commercial real estate industry got a bit rocked...
Total U.S. surplus lines direct premiums written (DPW) rose by 19.2% to reach a record $98.5 billion in 2022, marking a five-year streak of double-digit growth rate increase, according to a new AM Bestreport. The new Best’s Market Segment Report, “Surplus Lines Insurers Focus on Evolving Risks to Sustain Premium Growth,” showed eight of the top...