Print Monthly

A number of insurance companies are informing businesses that materials used in these types of projects adhere to a Loss Prevention Standard certified by the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), with cases of insurers refusing to insure wrapped buildings that fail to conform to these guidelines already recorded.

David Catanach, director of the BSGA, explains: “An LPS is an insurance driven standard devised by the Association of British Insurers, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the London Fire Brigade and the Contractors Legal Group.

“It is a joint Code of Practice designed to reduce loss levels for insurers in the event of a fire as well as addressing health and safety issues. The Code applies where the total project costs are above a certain value.

“In these projects any sheeting, netting or wrap material attached to the scaffolding must meet the approved specification and the standard will be insisted on by the insurers as part of their terms of cover.”

While there is a British Standard for wind loading on scaffolds, nobody, including the sign company, the material supplier, the client or the BSGA, was aware of this insurance condition”

The BSGA became aware of the situation when a member who was producing a building wrap using printed PVC banner material was advised by the insurer that the material in question does not hold an LPCB certificate and is therefore ineligible for insurance.

Catanach continues: “While there is a British Standard for wind loading on scaffolds, nobody, including the sign company, the material supplier, the client or the BSGA, was aware of this insurance condition. This is not really that surprising as there seems to be a general lack of knowledge about these particular standards outside the insurance industry.”