Any blowlamp used indoors. Outdoors is OK. Also excludes working 'above gutter height' which is interesting - I have no intention of working on roofs, but when clearing gutters my head has to be 'above gutter height'.
Yup! Unless the punter specifically ststes soldered, or if I can make up assemblies outside.
So plumbing has to be with plastic or compression fittings?
Presumably they would do a blowlamp inclusive policy at significant extra premium? I guess unless you were full time plumbing it wouldn't be worth it vs the extra cost of compression fittings...
Actually there are quite a few assemblies where you can do that so I suppose not that bad.
Well this all a bit weird, and a right royal PITA.
I received my policy from the broker this morning, with an enclosed blank "Hot Work Permit" to complete. This has spaces for the name of the person issuing it, and receiving it, plus the signature of a designated Fire Watch person, who signs off the workplace as safe 1 hr after the hot works are complete. Having spoken to the broker I can apparently issue and receive my own permit - however I'm very wary of that: just imagine how *that* would look in the event of a claim! However, the Fire Watch person must be a 3rd party. Working alone is apparently no let out; so that is completely untenable for me.
I pointed out that thousands of d-i-y'ers do soldering of pipework in their own homes, and that there's no insurance issue with permits then; however the broker reckoned this is a new thing which insurers are doing (I'm their guinea pig) and that if insurers become aware that homeowners are doing their own hotworks, they will be hit with the same requirement. Not sure what to make of that one. I got caught because I'm insuring a vacant property, and was specifically asked whether renovations were ongoing, and when I said yes, I was hit with another questionnaire which included the 'hot works' issue.
Needless to say I'm looking for another insurer during my cooling-off period! Any suggestions for a buildings-only cover on a vacant property undergoing renovation? (FYI mine is AXA).
David
Crazy! Is 'hot works' *really* any more hazardous than cooking on a gas hob? How many policies require a designated 3rd party fire watcher to certify that the cooker has been turned off safely after each meal?!
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh .............
don't give Them ideas ...
Mary
I wonder if part of the problem is that the house is otherwise vacant. If you're living there, you're rather more likely to notice a fire starting.
cheers, clive
My thoughts too.
And the policy is probably designed for property developers using hired labour, who might not be so conscientious about fire safety as an owner.
Owain
But you talked about it being a specific Public Liability cover being excluded; are you a pure DIY-er, or do you do tricks for money?
Um, how long have you been reading this NG? Google for "the Medway Handyman" should give you an answer if you missed it :-)
cheers, clive
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