Heat Claims Denied: Insurer Cites 'Oven Effect' in Container Dispute

5

The information on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Consider seeking personal advice from a licensed adviser before acting on any information.

Earlier this year, the business owner observed deformation and melting of the pool covers, which transpired shortly after the containers were relocated from the business factory to an outdoor yard. Duration matters here, as they remained positioned in the open for several weeks, during which extreme heat took its toll.

Hollard Insurance identified heat as the culprit and argued that an "oven effect" raised the internal temperature of these enclosed containers to as much as 50-60 degrees Celsius in warm conditions. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the business location had multiple days exceeding 27 degrees Celsius, hinting at significant exterior influence.

Supporting the insurer's stance, the pool cover supplier acknowledged that the type of damage incurred typically aligns with temperature fluctuations, thereby highlighting an overlooked vulnerability in container storage without adequate temperature control.

The exemption referenced by Hollard centers on excluding coverage where loss occurs due to "variation in temperature." Insistently, the claimant outlined that these variances were consequential to the containers being stationed outdoors, not due to ambient temperature destabilization at any given point.

The business owner contended that proper ventilation was in place, enhancing his argument that the incident was an accidental anomaly. Nonetheless, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority concluded, through evidence, the heart of the issue was indeed temperature variation-induced damage.

In the words of the ruling's ombudsman, “In this case, the pool covers were exposed to variations in temperature when the shipping containers were moved from the factory to the yard, and when they were subjected to variations in the external temperature.” This commentary PM underscores a foreseeable yet underestimated hazard of transferring goods without accounting for temperature shifts.

Further elaborating, they stated that, “These variations include an increase in temperature sufficient to cause damage to the covers. I also acknowledge the complainant says the shipping containers were ventilated. But the ... shipping containers had clearly increased to a high enough temperature to cause the damage, regardless of whether they were ventilated or not.”

This outcome emerges from critical interpretation of insurance policy exclusions, leading to Hollard's rightful denial of the claim. The exhibitive concordance among influencer feedback and data from sources such as the Bureau and product suppliers reiterates a nuanced understanding in managing similar risks in the future.

Original source: Insurance News.

Published:Thursday, 5th Dec 2024
Source: Paige Estritori

Please Note: If this information affects you, seek advice from a licensed professional.

Share this news item:

Insurance News

Clear

Australian Insurers Falling Behind in Cyber Risk Preparedness

26 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

Recent findings from the PwC Insurance Banana Skins Survey reveal that Australian insurers are trailing their global counterparts in preparedness for emerging risks, particularly in the realms of cyber threats and artificial intelligence (AI). This lag poses significant challenges as the industry confronts an increasingly complex risk landscape. - read more

Australian General Insurers Report Decade-High Return on Equity

26 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

Australia's general insurance industry has reported a remarkable 19% return on equity (ROE) for the financial year 2025 (FY25), marking the highest level in a decade. This significant achievement is detailed in the latest Optima Report by actuarial consultancy Finity, which attributes the strong performance to a combination of favorable factors. - read more

Australian Life Insurance Market Set for Steady Growth

26 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

Australia's life insurance sector is on track for moderate expansion over the next four years, with gross written premiums (GWP) forecasted to increase from $26.2 billion in 2025 to $30.5 billion by 2029. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%, according to recent analysis by GlobalData. - read more

EQT's Bold Move: A $3.41 Billion Bid for AUB Group

18 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

In a significant development within the Australian insurance sector, Swedish private equity firm EQT has extended a takeover offer for AUB Group, valuing the insurance broking company at A$5.25 billion (US$3.41 billion). This proposal includes a price of A$45 per share, representing a 25.1% premium over AUB's last closing price. Following an earlier bid of A$43 per share, AUB has granted EQT exclusive access to its financial records for six weeks starting October 8 under a confidentiality agreement. - read more

Suncorp's Strong Financial Performance: $1.49 Billion Profit and Share Buyback

18 Dec 2025: Paige Estritori

Australian insurer Suncorp has reported stronger-than-expected full-year cash earnings of A$1.49 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, surpassing the consensus estimate of A$1.47 billion. Statutory profit surged 52% to A$1.82 billion due to one-off gains from the sale of its banking operations. The company, now solely a general insurer, benefited from improved insurance margins, higher policy prices, and increased investment returns. - read more

Click for more Insurance News