Warehouse Fire, Explosion & Food Storage Risk

• Property damage cover—buildings, fixtures, machinery, and plant against fire, explosion and resultant peril.
• Stock protection, including bulk raw materials, finished pet foods, packaging, and transit cover.
• Business interruption—covers loss of revenue and extra costs while you rebuild, replace stock, or relocate.
• Equipment breakdown caused by fire, power surges, or explosion.
• Legal expenses and public liability if your incident causes impacts beyond your premises.
• Environmental clean-up following fire and explosion contamination.
• Risk survey and fire risk assessment support, unique to food storage and manufacturing.
• Flexible sums insured for seasonal and high-value stock fluctuations.

• Electrical faults—wiring issues, overloaded circuits, or faulty racking lighting causing fire ignition.
• Dust explosions—fine grain, powder, and meal dust accumulating without correct extraction or cleaning.
• Machinery malfunction—overheated motors, inadequate maintenance, and sparks from forklifts or conveyors.
• Improper storage—stacking combustible packaging too close to ignition sources or poor segregation of flammable materials.
• Arson and vandalism—targeted attacks, especially after hours or where external storage is unprotected.
• Self-heating—partially processed ingredients (animal fats, oils) stored without adequate ventilation.
• Human error—incorrect use of heating devices or negligence during repairs and refuelling.
• Hot works—welding, angle-grinding, or other high-temperature tasks carried out without controls.
• Combustible packaging—shrink wrap, cardboard, and plastic sheeting providing added fuel in a warehouse blaze.
• Inadequate fire detection—no smoke detectors, alarm systems, or monitored suppression.

• Dedicated risk consultation for pet food warehousing, process design and fire prevention.
• Specialist knowledge of combustible stock, dust explosion hazards and animal product storage.
• Access to underwriters who value robust fire safety protocols.
• Flexible, scalable cover from small depots to large regional distribution warehouses.
• Support with risk reduction—fire detection, alarms, sprinklers, compartmentation and security advice.
• Competitive premiums and quick, fair claims settlement.
• Help meeting regulatory requirements from EHO, DEFRA & local fire authorities.

• Evacuate the premises and ensure staff follow safety procedures.
• Call 999 and alert the fire brigade immediately—do not tackle large fires yourself.
• Inform your insurance provider (or Insure24) as soon as possible.
• Secure the site—prevent unauthorised access and further loss or injury.
• Document damage with photographs and written records.
• Do not dispose of damaged stock or equipment until loss adjusters have visited.
• Begin business continuity plans—communicate with staff, suppliers, and customers.
• Keep a dedicated file of all communication, expenses and emergency contractor invoices.

• Install automatic fire/heat/smoke detection and alarm systems throughout the premises, regularly serviced and tested.
• Fit sprinklers or gaseous fire suppression systems in high-risk or high-value stock areas.
• Isolate and inspect electrical systems—use only NICEIC-approved contractors for repairs and PAT test portable appliances annually.
• Implement dust extraction for all processes involving powders and fine particulates; maintain stringent cleaning schedules.
• Maintain a clear separation between combustible stock and significant ignition sources (heating, machinery, electrical panels).
• Regularly test emergency lighting and clearly mark fire escape routes.
• Store chemicals, cleaning agents or pest control products separately in secure, ventilated locations.
• Install fire-resistant doors and create fire compartments within storage zones.

Situation: A regional distributor suffered a devastating fire after an electrical fault in their main warehouse. Over £800,000 of packaged stock was unsalvageable, and the entire distribution facility was unusable for over two months.

Outcome: Insurance enabled immediate access to an alternative depot, full replacement of stock, and repairs to plant and machinery. Business interruption coverage paid lost profits and overheads. The business retained its largest retailer contracts and suffered no long-term reputational harm.

Situation: During a supply chain disruption, a pet food business stored significant volumes of finished product in an externally-rented agricultural barn lacking robust fire detection.

Outcome: Fire caused by an arson attack destroyed over two months’ output. Stock-only insurance mean that lost packaging and finished product was covered for immediate replacement, while detailed loss records and speedy reporting meant full payment within 30 days.

• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – requiring documented fire risk assessments, staff training, safe storage methods, and regular safety reviews.
• Food Standards Agency and DEFRA advice, especially for secondary contamination after a fire or explosion event.
• HSE requirements for bulk storage of combustible materials, chemical storage, and atmospheric dust extraction.
• Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations – immediate and safe disposal of fire-damaged stock to prevent environmental harm or further contamination.

Ideal for: Small depots and start-ups with basic stock and limited machinery.

• Buildings insurance for fires and explosions up to £250,000.
• Stock insurance to £100,000 and basic public liability.
• Basic risk assessment support and emergency response coverage.

Ideal for: Large and complex operations or those exporting/with high-value distribution contracts.

• Unlimited total buildings and contents cover (subject to survey and approval).
• Stock values exceeding £10M, seasonal adjustment options for trade peaks.
• High-limit business interruption (36 months+), cross-contamination, accidental product recall, and supply chain partners covered.
• Dedicated risk manager and tailored claims response.

• Immediate cover for your property, contents and stock against fire, explosion and related perils.
• Guidance on reducing risk and demonstrating best practice for lower premiums.
• Rapid claims settlement so you can get back to business after disaster strikes.
• Full support for compliance, inspections and risk survey requirements.
• Customised insurance for pet food storage, manufacturing, and logistics operations.