What are the 12 named perils?

Editorial team Published on

The 12 standard named perils typically refer to the baseline coverages found in a Standard Fire and Special Perils (SFSP) insurance policy (though US homeowners policies often feature basic or broad variations of 10 to 16 perils).

The 12 standard named perils are:

  • Fire: Destruction or damage caused by a hostile fire (excluding natural heating or fermentation).
  • Lightning: Direct strikes and resulting surges.
  • Explosion or Implosion: Sudden and violent bursting (with specific exclusions for certain steam boilers/machinery).
  • Aircraft Damage: Impact from aircraft, spacecraft, or falling aerial objects.
  • Riot, Strike, and Malicious Damage (RSMD): Vandalism or civil disturbances.
  • Storm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Flood, and Inundation (STFI): Severe weather and related rising waters or flooding (depending on regional standard definitions).
  • Impact Damage: Damage caused by rail/road vehicles or animals not owned by the insured.
  • Subsidence and Landslide: Ground movement, sinking, or rockslides.
  • Bursting or Overflowing of Water Tanks, Apparatus, and Pipes: Sudden plumbing or water system failures.
  • Missile Testing Operations: Damage arising from government or commercial missile tests.
  • Leakage from Automatic Sprinkler Installations: Accidental discharge from fire suppression systems.
  • Bush Fire: Damage from nearby brush or scrub fires (distinct from general forest exclusions).

(Note: In US homeowners insurance, basic forms often list 10 to 14 named perils, while broad forms (HO-2) expand to 16 named perils like falling objects, weight of snow/ice, and freezing of plumbing.)

What are the 11 named perils?

The 11 basic named perils typically found in standard commercial property or basic form insurance policies include fire, lightning, explosion, windstorm or hail, smoke, aircraft or vehicles, riot or civil commotion, vandalism, sprinkler leakage, sinkhole collapse, and volcanic action.

The 11 Basic Named Perils

  • Fire: Accidental or destructive fires that cause property loss.
  • Lightning: Direct damage caused by a lightning strike.
  • Explosion: Sudden combustion or pressure explosions (such as within a furnace or gas line).
  • Windstorm or Hail: Damage from high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, or hailstorms.
  • Smoke: Sudden and accidental smoke damage from an external source.
  • Aircraft or Vehicles: Physical damage caused by striking or falling objects from aircraft, spacecraft, or vehicles.
  • Riot or Civil Commotion: Damage resulting from public demonstrations, disturbances, or striking workers.
  • Vandalism: Intentional defacement or destruction of property.
  • Sprinkler Leakage: Accidental discharge of water from an automatic fire protective sprinkler system.
  • Sinkhole Collapse: Sudden sinking or collapse of land into underground cavities.
  • Volcanic Action: Direct damage from volcanic eruptions, ash, or lava flow.

(Note: Basic homeowner forms or DP-1 policies traditionally cover a subset of these—often 10 to 11 core perils—while broader standard homeowners policies like HO-2 or HO-3 expand this list up to 16 named perils by adding water damage, falling objects, and theft).

What are the 12 fire perils typically covered by fire insurance?

A standard Standard Fire and Special Perils Policy typically covers 12 specific perils that can cause physical loss, damage, or destruction to a property.

The 12 Standard Perils

  • Fire: Accidental or unintended fires that spread and destroy property.
  • Lightning: Direct lightning strikes that cause structural damage or electrical fires.
  • Explosion or Implosion: Sudden bursting or inward collapsing of structures due to pressure.
  • Aircraft Damage: Harm caused by falling aircraft, aerial devices, or dropped debris.
  • Riot, Strike, and Malicious Damage (RSMD): Property harm from vandalism, civil unrest, or violent acts during a strike.
  • Storm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Flood, and Inundation (STFI): Severe weather events and water accumulation.
  • Impact Damage: Contact from external objects, including road/rail vehicles or non-owned animals.
  • Subsidence and Landslide: Ground sinking or sudden shifts of earth and rock masses.
  • Bursting or Overflowing of Water Tanks, Apparatus, and Pipes: Sudden indoor water leaks or flooding from plumbing systems.
  • Missile Testing Operations: Incidents arising from authorized military or defense missile tests.
  • Leakage from Automatic Sprinkler Installations: Accidental water discharge from fire-suppression sprinkler heads.
  • Bush Fire: Open-air fires from nearby shrubs or scrublands spreading to the property (forest fires are usually excluded unless endorsed).

What are the top 5 worst homeowners insurance companies?

Based on recent industry surveys like J.D. Power's property and satisfaction studies, the lowest-ranking homeowners insurance companies for customer satisfaction and claims include Universal Direct, Tower Hill Insurance, National General, Homesite, and Foremost.

Lowest-Ranking Home Insurers

  • Universal Direct: Ranks at the very bottom of major customer satisfaction and claims surveys due to slow response times and service issues.
  • Tower Hill Insurance: Frequently scores near the bottom for overall customer experience and policyholder satisfaction.
  • National General: Scores poorly on consumer satisfaction metrics regarding communication and payout handling.
  • Homesite: Routinely lands at the bottom of J.D. Power claims satisfaction rankings for property coverage.
  • Foremost: Receives below-average customer satisfaction scores for handling claims and policy value.

What are the 16 named perils?

The 16 named perils commonly listed in broad form (HO-2) and standard homeowners insurance policies for personal property are specific causes of loss explicitly covered by the plan.

The 16 Named Perils

  • Fire or lightning
  • Windstorm or hail
  • Explosion
  • Riot or civil commotion
  • Aircraft damage
  • Vehicle damage
  • Smoke
  • Vandalism or malicious mischief
  • Theft
  • Falling objects
  • Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
  • Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam (from plumbing, heating, or household appliances)
  • Sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning, or bulging of heating, AC, or fire protective systems
  • Freezing of plumbing, heating, or AC systems
  • Sudden and accidental damage from artificially generated electrical current (like a power surge)
  • Volcanic eruption

What Is Not Covered

If a loss is not on this list—such as damage from floods, earthquakes, wear and tear, or pest infestations—it is typically excluded unless you buy extra endorsements. You can read more about how these affect your coverage through Hippo Insurance or the Tapley Agency.

The 16 Named Perils | Home Insurance 101

9 related questions found

How much should home insurance be on a $400,000 house?

The national average cost of homeowners insurance for a $400,000 house is about $3,158 per year, or roughly $263 a month.

Key Cost Details

  • Replacement Cost vs. Market Value: Insurance covers the cost to rebuild your home, not what you paid for it or its real estate market value.
  • Standard Policy Limits: This average rate usually includes $400,000 in dwelling coverage, $300,000 in liability protection, and a $1,000 deductible.

Cost Variations by Location

Where your home is located drastically changes your insurance price due to local weather risks and disaster exposure.

  • Cheapest States: States like Hawaii average around $844 a year, and Vermont averages about $1,311 a year.
  • Most Expensive States: High-risk areas like Florida can average over $9,283 a year. You can estimate your specific regional costs using the Insure.com $400K Calculator.

Ways to Lower Your Premium

  • Raise your deductible: Moving from a $1,000 deductible to a $2,500 deductible lowers your monthly payment.
  • Bundle policies: Combine your home and auto insurance with the same company.
  • Improve home safety: Install impact-resistant roofs, updated security systems, or modern electrical wiring.

What homeowners insurance to avoid?

Avoid policies and coverage traps that leave you unprotected or financially exposed when buying homeowners insurance.

Policies and Plan Types to Avoid

  • Actual Cash Value (ACV) Policies: Avoid policies that pay out based on ACV instead of replacement cost. ACV subtracts depreciation for age and wear, meaning you will receive far less than what it actually costs to rebuild your home or replace items today.
  • The Cheapest Policy Available: Do not automatically pick the lowest-cost premium. Rock-bottom prices usually hide high deductibles, low coverage caps, and severe structural exclusions.
  • Poorly Rated Insurers: Research financial stability and customer satisfaction. Companies with low A.M. Best ratings, excessive NAIC complaint ratios, or a reputation for slow claims processing (such as certain low-tier or high-complaint regional providers) can make post-disaster recovery painful.

Coverage Gaps and Exclusions to Watch For

  • Standard Flood and Earthquake Exclusions: Standard policies never cover rising natural floodwaters or ground movement. If you skip separate flood or earthquake endorsements, you carry 100% of the risk.
  • Sewer and Drain Backups: Water backup from overloaded municipal sewers or failing sump pumps is excluded by default. Always add an endorsement if your basement contains finished living space.
  • Unscheduled High-Value Valuables: Standard limits for jewelry, fine art, firearms, and collectibles are very low. Avoid leaving these items unlisted; purchase a scheduled personal property rider.

Common Mistakes During the Buying Process

  • Insuring for Market Value vs. Rebuilding Costs: Never base your policy limit on your mortgage balance or original purchase price. Insure your home for current local construction and labor replacement costs.
  • Neglecting a Home Inventory: Failing to document your belongings with photos or videos before a loss makes the claims process slow and difficult.
  • Failing to Disclose High-Risk Features: Forgetting to mention trampolines, aggressive dog breeds, or unpermitted renovations can lead an insurer to deny a claim or cancel your policy entirely.

What are the three main types of perils?

In insurance, perils are generally broken down into three main categories based on their origin: natural perils, human-made perils, and accidental perils.

Three Main Types of Perils

  • Natural Perils: Events caused by natural forces and weather patterns. Examples include earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, lightning, and hail.
  • Human-Made Perils: Incidents or intentional acts caused by people. Examples include theft, vandalism, riots, and civil commotion.
  • Accidental Perils: Sudden, unforeseen, and unintentional mishaps. Examples include accidental fires, explosions, or unintentional plumbing leaks.

(Note: In policy coverage types, insurance companies also categorize how they handle these events using Named Perils and Open Perils models, where "named" lists exact covered events and "open" covers everything except what is explicitly excluded.)

What is not covered under fire insurance?

A standard fire insurance policy does not cover damage caused by intentional acts, war, nuclear hazards, or spontaneous combustion.

Common Exclusions

  • Intentional acts (arson): Fires started on purpose by the policyholder or someone living in the home are never covered.
  • War and nuclear risks: Losses from war, invasion, nuclear radiation, or radioactive contamination are excluded.
  • Spontaneous combustion: Damage where an item self-ignites due to internal chemical changes, natural heating, or fermentation (like stored coal or damp cotton) is excluded.
  • Public authority destruction: Burning or demolition of property ordered by a government or municipal public authority is not covered.
  • Electrical breakdown: Pure electrical shorts, overvoltage, or machine damage without an actual ensuing fire are usually excluded.
  • Neglect and poor maintenance: Damage resulting from a failure to address obvious hazards, such as uncleaned chimneys or ignored structural faults, may be denied under neglect.
  • Vacant properties: Homes left unoccupied beyond a specific timeframe (often 30 or 60 days) frequently lose vacant fire protection.

What is included in special perils?

Special perils coverage is an insurance add-on that protects your vehicle or property against damage from natural disasters and severe weather, such as floods, storms, and landslides, which standard insurance policies exclude.

Common Natural Events Included

Most standard comprehensive car or property policies only cover accidents, fire, and theft. Adding special perils includes protection against these acts of nature:

  • Floods: Damage from rising water, flash floods, or submerged vehicles.
  • Storms: High winds, heavy rain, typhoons, and hurricanes.
  • Landslides and Sinkholes: Soil movement, landslips, and ground sinking that damage your asset.
  • Earthquakes and Volcanic Eruptions: Ground tremors and ash or lava damage.
  • Fallen Trees: Impact from trees knocked down by heavy winds or storms.

Full vs. Limited Special Perils

Insurers generally offer two types of this add-on:

  • Full Special Perils: Pays up to 100% of the repair costs or total loss value.
  • Limited Special Perils: Caps payouts at a lower percentage (like 25% or 50% of your total insured sum) for a cheaper price.

You can learn more about how this works by reading the Special Perils Coverage Guide or checking details on PolicyStreet.