Reducing Equipment Losses Resulting from Fire

dozer experiencing engine fire damage

We often receive inquiries from insurance companies asking, "Can AFEX fire suppression systems reduce my fire loss claims from my policy holders?" Our answer: YES, but it does require a commitment to maintenance and education of the owners and operators of what to do in the case of fire.

A study of fire loss insurance claims found that equipment fires usually resulted in total losses of the machine. Oftentimes the fires occured while the equipment was unattended. An automatic fire suppression system could have prevented many of these losses. Because of this, insurance companies have begun implementing loss control programs that require that equipment be equipped with fire suppression systems before they will write a policy protecting it.

We have worked with several insurance companies to help them successfully reduce fire related losses. Successful programs have one component in common: a commitment to semiannual inspection and maintenance. Semiannual inspections normally take 1-2 hours - a small sacrifice for the reassurance that the system is working properly. These inspections are often performed during the normal vehicle maintenance schedule to reduce the down-time of the machine.


If you are an equipment owner, ask your insurance company about discounts for having a fire suppression system installed on your equipment. Sometimes an AFEX system can pay for itself in just a few years.
If you are with an insurance company, please contact us to discuss how implementing a fire suppression system requirement can reduce your fire loss claims.