A typical “sandwich panel” has a metal skin containing a core of either mineral wool, foamed polystyrene (EPS), polyurethane (PUR), polyisocyanurate (PIR) or other “hybrid” materials.

Polystyrene filled sandwich panels offer very economical solutions for achieving reliable temperature control and provide coated, hygienic surfaces that can be washed down frequently.

This type of construction is extensively used in the construction of factories, food processing plants, pharmaceutical plants and laboratories.

The down-side is that fire will spread very rapidly in buildings containing combustible cored sandwich panels because of their heavy combustible load.

Buildings containing a large proportion of insulated sandwich panels constitute a big challenge from a fire prevention / protection standpoint, and as such are generally perceived by the insurance industry as an undesirable insurance risk.

In a stable insurance market, insurance cover to insure buildings containing less than 30% sandwich panel (EPS) can be obtained from the local Australian Insurance market (albeit at a premium that represent the higher insurance risk).

In some instances however, especially in a hard insurance market where capacity is more limited and/or the cost of reinsurance is more expensive, it may be necessary to source terms for a ‘sandwich panel risk’ offshore.

Risk Broking can obtain terms from Underwriters at Lloyds of London

Our solution is in place for EPS risks that are:-

• Uninsured
• Not being offered renewal terms and unable to find local Insurer replacement
• Looking for Coinsurance following local lead terms
• Has combined asset value (inclusive of section 2) of the risk in excess of of A$10,000,000

In order for Risk Broking to approach our market and negotiate terms for cover, we will require:-

• Completion of Risk Broking’s EPL Quotation Slip
• An independent survey of the location(s).

Without this information, we cannot obtain any indication of terms from our market.