The well known Fire triangle talks of the three components of fuel, oxygen and heat combining together to produce a fire/ combustion. Generally a heat source like lighted matchstick when brought in contact with combustible material (fuel) In an environment that has oxygen in it, causes ignition and the resultant fire. Addition of the word spontaneous to this term Indicates that the ignition process is taking please on its own in certain types of materials (without an external heat source).
Thus a pile of coal left undisturbed will start smouldering after some time; this is described as a low temperature oxidation process. Even bacterial fermentation may create some degree of heat that is not able to escape from the lower levels of say a compost pile leading to rise in temperature to a level higher than the ignition point- thus causing Spontaneous combustion.
Spontaneous combustion is a peril that is excluded in the Standard Fire and Special Perils policy. Since there is a demand for the cover from the users of various goods that are susceptible to a spontaneous combustion, specific add on has been provided here as an option to be chosen.
The add on cover wordings offers an option to opt for insurance for loss or damage by fire only due to the specific causes excluded in the policy ie. - a cause of loss due to own fermentation, natural heating or spontaneous combustion.
By way of a specific note attached to the wordings, it has been reiterated that the phrase “by fire only” in the cover wording is never to be omitted. Thus the intention of providing an option to cover only for a fire caused by spontaneous combustion etc is made abundantly clear.
Classification:- Depending on the tenancy to spontaneously combust, materials are broadly divided into 4 categories:
Anyone storing the above materials especially in bulk and falling under higher categories you should assess his risk and opt for this add on cover.
Coal based power plants, cement factories storing a large amount of coal, sugar factories with the residual bagasse, Paper factories with piles of waste paper etc. are some of the examples where this cover is useful