Type of claim – Fire

Category – Dry Cleaners

Cause – Self combustion of clothing

Liability – The most likely cause of the fire was considered to be self-combustion of clothing that had been removed from dryers and folded and packed while still warm. The policy required that all warm clothing be aired for 20 minutes before it is folded and packed. Insurers instructed a forensic investigator to establish the cause of the fire and to take statements from the employees and interrogate the alarm and CCTV footage of the night of the fire.

As these investigations continued, it was clear that the cause of the fire could result in the insured being in breach of the requirements under the policy but certain mitigating factors needed to be presented to insurers for them to consider. We therefore advised our clients that they should instruct their own firm of forensic investigators and we provided them with details of a company whom we would recommend. Upon our advice, the investigator was instructed and he attended site and conducted his own investigation into the fire. He also began the task of analysing the conclusions of insurers forensic and met with him to review the statements and CCTV recording.

The report from our investigator advised that whilst self-combustion was the most likely cause, other factors had to be considered, such as the possibility of a fluorescent light fitting above the packed clothing being the cause. Additionally, he advised that safety features were built into the dryers, such as a cooling period at the end of the drying cycle, which ensured the clothes were cool once they were removed from the dryer.

Following the submission of our findings to the loss adjuster and after further discussions, insurers agreed to accept liability and deal with the claim under the terms of the policy.

There are also two photos of the shop showing it after it had been repaired.

Type of claim – Fire

Category – Dry Cleaners

Cause – Self combustion of clothing

Liability – The most likely cause of the fire was considered to be self-combustion of clothing that had been removed from dryers and folded and packed while still warm. The policy required that all warm clothing be aired for 20 minutes before it is folded and packed. Insurers instructed a forensic investigator to establish the cause of the fire and to take statements from the employees and interrogate the alarm and CCTV footage of the night of the fire.

As these investigations continued, it was clear that the cause of the fire could result in the insured being in breach of the requirements under the policy but certain mitigating factors needed to be presented to insurers for them to consider. We therefore advised our clients that they should instruct their own firm of forensic investigators and we provided them with details of a company whom we would recommend. Upon our advice, the investigator was instructed and he attended site and conducted his own investigation into the fire. He also began the task of analysing the conclusions of insurers forensic and met with him to review the statements and CCTV recording.

The report from our investigator advised that whilst self-combustion was the most likely cause, other factors had to be considered, such as the possibility of a fluorescent light fitting above the packed clothing being the cause. Additionally, he advised that safety features were built into the dryers, such as a cooling period at the end of the drying cycle, which ensured the clothes were cool once they were removed from the dryer.

Following the submission of our findings to the loss adjuster and after further discussions, insurers agreed to accept liability and deal with the claim under the terms of the policy.

There are also two photos of the shop showing it after it had been repaired.