Snow and ice, while both water, are two different things. (Photo: Shutterstock)
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Question: My insured is covered by an HO3 10/00. Behind his home he has a large boat dock with a boat lift and metal canopy. My reading of the form indicates that this dock would not be insured for damage (collapse) caused by weight of ice or water, but would be covered for weight of snow. I thought snow might be considered “ice”; However, snow is omitted from the limitations to docks under the collapse peril, even though it is listed separately as a covered peril under Coverage C perils insured against. Do you agree?
—Ohio Subscriber
Answer: Snow and ice, while both water, are two different things. According to Merriam Webster, “snow” is “precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals formed directly from the water vapor of the air at a temperature of less than 32°F (0°C), while ice is frozen water, or a substance resembling ice; especially: the solid state of a substance usually found as a gas or liquid.”
Weight of ice, snow or sleet is a coverage C named peril. The restriction for docks under collapse does not include b.(1), the coverage C perils. The freezing, thawing or pressure of water or ice exclusion doesn't apply to snow. If the dock is damaged by snow that fits the parameters of the collapse coverage, there is coverage.
Analysis provided by FC&S Online, the authority on insurance coverage interpretation and analysis for the P&C industry. To find out more or to have your coverage question answered, visit www.nationalunderwriter.com/FCS.
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