MSO Provides Personalized Training
Convenient virtual sessions.
No charge for member companies.
Ask us about CE for Ethics, Emerging Issues, and other topics.
Experienced trainers available for presentations.
Important announcement regarding MSO Inspection Services
MSO inspection services are now available to other carriers and agencies, as well as subscribing companies!
Do building codes influence roof insurance claims costs?
February 27, 2026
Building‑code alignment has become a central factor in both legitimate replacement costs and fraudulent claim inflation.
What are leading factors influencing roof damage and claims – continued?
February 27, 2026
As discussed in last month’s Underwriters’ Corner, roof insurance claims rose significantly in the past four years. This can be attributed to several factors.
Does identification of wind load effect help in understanding mitigation measures to prevent damage to roofs?
January 22, 2026
High wind loads create serious effects on vulnerable areas of roofs. The following explanation of terms helps to provide a basis for understanding mitigation measures needed to protect roofs and other structural integrity issues associated with losses and claims.
What are leading factors influencing roof damage and claims?
January 22, 2026
Underwriters’ Corner will be concentrating on various elements and mitigation measures concerning roofing losses in the U.S. as a series.
What are key components of roofing assemblies?
December 23, 2025
A roofing assembly is a complete system of interlocking layers providing weather protection and in many cases fire resistance to the elements. It includes the roof deck structure, a vapor barrier or retarder, thermal barrier, insulation, underlayment, and roof covering.
What standards provide guidance for roof components and construction?
December 23, 2025
Insurance roofing claims have increased at a significant rate this decade. Up to 90% of total residential catastrophic losses are from roof related damage.
What are examples of specific guidance provided by NFPA 909 and NFPA 914?
November 10, 2025
NFPA 909 discusses protection of “compact storage systems.” These could be dense storage of cultural resources, meaning bookshelves and files. This would include solid shelves with limited or no vertical flu space that could inhibit traditional automatic sprinklers.
What are important differences between NFPA 909 and NFPA 914?
November 10, 2025
Two previous (April 2024) Underwriters’ Corner articles discussed how NFPA 909, Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties – Museums, Libraries, and Places of Worship and NFPA 914 –Code for the Protection of Historic Structures are used in protecting culturally important properties from fire loss.
What are the preventative measures in the Construction Fire Safety Plan?
October 3, 2025
The Construction Fire Safety Plan (CFSP) developed by NFPA 241, Standard for Safeguarding Construction, Alteration, and Demolition Operations is a valuable tool for all parties trying to prevent fire loss in these buildings.
What are some of the important elements of NFPA 241’s Construction Fire Safety Plan?
October 3, 2025
Fires in buildings under construction or renovation are an ongoing problem often caused by electric ignition from power equipment and heat sources with inadequate clearances to combustibles.