View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/10/11/428923.htm
Church Mutual Insurance Co. has partnered with The Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) Inspection and Insurance Company, part of Munich Re, to provide eligible customers temperature and water sensors connected to a 24/7 monitoring system. This technology is designed to alert customers to take action before damages and disruptions to their ministries can occur.
Thousands of houses of worship experience frozen pipes each year. No house of worship wants to be surprised by potential water damage that could lead to mold or even structural damage. Nevertheless, it is always a threat when facilities have limited occupancy during the week and no easy way to monitor temperature loss or water presence.
Cheryl Kryshak, Church Mutual’s vice president, risk control, said the Internet of Things technology will help prevent potential damages for customers and avoid disruption to their ministries.
According to the company, Church Mutual customers participated in a two-year pilot program testing the temperature and water sensors in their worship centers. Church Mutual says more than $250,000 in damages was prevented at 14 houses of worship in areas of the country susceptible to low temperatures and frozen pipes.
Church Mutual said many houses of worship are inhabited only one day a week making them vulnerable to losses from the elements. The temperature and water sensors are set up in vulnerable areas of a building or in areas where priceless and often irreplaceable items are stored. The sensors are monitored remotely, so no one has to be on the premises. Alerts are sent via text message, email or phone to one or several contacts if a temperature or water sensor relays a low temperature or presence of water reading.
Church Mutual Insurance Company, founded in 1897, offers specialized insurance for religious organizations of all denominations, as well as schools, camps, denominational offices and senior living facilities. Church Mutual markets most lines of commercial property and liability insurance, including multi-peril, workers’ compensation and commercial auto insurance.
Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB) Inspection and Insurance Company is a specialty insurer providing equipment breakdown, other specialty coverages, inspection services and engineering-based risk management.