A policy is eligible for a premium discount (5 - 10%) on the wildfire peril if the property's current FireLine Score is greater than or equal to 2, and if the dwelling meets and maintains a combination of defensible space and home hardening requirements.
Defensible Space
Defensible space is divided into four zones and is evaluated based upon the disantce of the dwelling to vegetaion, including vegetative material like wood chips and wood piles. This includes, but is not limited to, plants, shrubs, bushes, weeds, trees, overhanging branches, leaves and pine needles. It does not include a properly maintained lawn (properly watered and cut). Defensible space zones will be evaluated based upon a site inspection, photographs and/or other imagery. The four zones are:
Home Hardening
Home hardening is evaluated based upon a home's structural characteristics. Homes that qualify for a discount are those constructed with non-combustible and ignition resistant materials. Home hardening criteria will be confirmed at inspection, with photos or other types of documentation. Qualifying criteria:
- Year build
- If the home was built in 2008 or later, no further action is needed for the home-hardening evaluation. The home is automatically receiving th ebest available structure score (1 out of 3) based upon buiding codes in effect at the time the home was built.
- For homes built prior to 2008, the score will be determined by the home's structural characteristics listed below:
- Roof type (required)
- Concrete or clay tile, asphalt fiberglass, architectural composition, metal
- Siding type (required)
- Non-combustible or ignition resistant (e.g. stucco, metal, fiber cement, brick)
- A combination of at least two of the criteria below (homes meeting the required criteria above and having at least three of the criteria below will qualify for the highest structure rating):
- Multi-paned windows
- Gutters (if present) made of metal and covvered with non-combustib corrosion resistant metal mesh
- If gutters are not present, the lack of gutters will count as meeting one of the criteria.
- Exterior vents (if present) covered with qualifying ember-resistant 1/8th or 1/16th metal mesh screens
- If vents are not present, the lack of vents will count as meeting one of the criteria.
- Decks, patios, porches, fences, outbuildings and/or balconies (if present) constructed with non-combustible or ignition resistant material. Examples of non-combustible ignition resistant material: fiber cement and metal.
- If none of these items are present, the lack of these items will count as meeting one of the criteria.
Community Level Discounts (All Forms)
The policy is elegible for a premium discount (8%) on the wildfire peril if the property is located within a community that meets at least one of the following designations or criteria:
- Recognized by the Firewise USA Recognition Program
(https://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/Fire-causes-and-risks/Wildfire/Firewise-USA)- Mercury receives annual updates from the NFPA to confirm which communities are currently recognized under the Firewise program. If a home falls within such a community at new business or renewal, the discount will automatically be applied or retained.
- Designated as a shelter-in-place community (https://www.rsf-fire.org/shelter-in-place/)
- Underwriting will verify that the insured location is part of a known shlter-in-pace community.
- A community with active annual fuel mitigation efforts in place, including, but not limited to, burns or vegetation thinning to establish buffers of defensible space. Proof of mitigation efforts will be required annually before renewal.
- Documentation is required to support this option in all cases.
- Examples of supporting documentation include: HOA CC&Rs, evidence of current brush clearance contracts for the community, proof of active California Fire Safe Council projects involving fuel mitigation efforts.
Thanks to our company, Mercury Insurance for this wonderful breakdown of potential Wildfire Mitigation discounts, stay tuned for a follow up from our agency in next week's blog!