During a webinar titled “The New Edifice of Vacant Property: Protecting Asset Value as Commercial Real Estate Slowly Recovers” presented by PropertyCasualty360.com, Zurich's Jeff Shearman, senior risk-engineering consultant, reviewed a host of security best practices for idle and vacant properties.
When preparing to idle a facility, “do a vulnerability analysis” to identify areas that natural elements can affect, such as roof hatches and windows, as well as areas that human elements can affect, he says, referring to human actions ranging from setting fires to squatting.
Shearman distinguishes between idle and vacant properties, giving slightly different definitions for risk-engineering purposes. Idle properties are those with contents and systems left in place so that the facility can be used for the same purpose in very short order.
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