Older buildings were often constructed with materials that contained asbestos, lead paint, silica and mercury. Some old commercial or industrial buildings may also contain PCBs or other hazardous substances. A water damage incident, building fire, or other claim, may require that these materials be disturbed or removed. Although these may be excluded from a policy the contractor may be required to handle them during the restoration work.
Presence of Hazardous Substances Can Impact a Loss
Often Strict Regulatory Requirements
There are often strict regulations and guidelines that must be followed when handling these hazardous materials. DEI has the training, knowledge and experience to assess building materials for the presence of these substances and to provide an expert opinion on how to effectively handle and remediate them.
Are They Actually Impacted by the Loss?
Since these hazardous substances can result in significant incremental costs to a claim, confirming that they were impacted by an insured peril is important. DEI can assess the extent of impacts from the insured peril and determine if the hazardous substances were affected. If they were impacted, DEI can prepare an expert opinion and recommendations on how to handle the hazardous substances safely and effectively.