Downloadable Saftey Tips

Are you considering adding Spray Foam Insulation to an existing building? Building a new garage or shop and having it insulated with Spray Foam?

Did you know most plastic(Polyurethane & Polystyrene) insulation products must be protected with a thermal barrier to meet fire insurance underwriting requirements. Thermal barriers will protect plastic insulation from igniting and will prevent rapid fire spread if properly installed and maintained. 

Check out this link of two videos where a burn test was done on how quickly a fire spreads with Polyurethane spray foam without a thermal barrier vs Polyurethane spray foam where the thermal barrier DC315 is applied.

For more information about insulation, and thermal barriers and the difference between a thermal barrier, an ignition barrier, and fire-retardant coatings, click here.

Coverage  for solid-fuel burning is excluded from all policies unless added by endorsement. 

If you are using or thinking about using any type of wood, corn or pellet burning stove to heat your home or outbuilding, please contact us so that it can be determined if coverage for loss from solid fuel heating can be added to your policy.

By contacting Bray-Gentilly Mutual Insurance Company prior to a new installation, we are able to discuss with you any problems that we may see and help prevent a serious fire or smoke loss to you property. 

If your installation is already in place, please contact us so we may look at it to determine if the installation is within the acceptable range for clearances and to check for proper chimney types.

All wood, corn or pellet burning devices must be inspected and approved by our Fire Safety Representative prior to offering coverage for your wood, corn or pellet burning devices. 

Electrocution is a peril with livestock, especially in cold weather if electrically heated water units are improperly wired or have ice buildup around them. Keep livestock off frozen ponds to prevent drowning. 

Check pastured cattle frequently during the summer for possible losses by theft or animal kill. 

Cattle on pasture during a thunderstorm? Check for possible lightning kills right away. 

We need a vet's necropsy report to confirm the loss.  Be aware that most vets won't touch a decomposing carcass. 

In times of heavy snowfall, remove deep snow from roofs if possible. Prevent ice dams on house roofs by scraping snow off the lower portion of house roofs.

If you do clear a roof, do not try to remove the last layer of ice or snow that is attached to the roof. Remove the weight above it, but leave the layer to protect the roof membrane or shingles. Trying to go right down to the roof will most likely cause the roof to leak when things begin to thaw.

If hiring a professional to remove snow or ice? Do they have liability insurance? 

Make sure tractors, skid loaders and combines have good fire extinguishers. 

Check equipment for hay, straw, and chaff buildup. 

Check wiring for bare spots; they're a frequent cause of fire.

Replace worn or out of alignment moving parts. 

Carry a 10-pound or larger dry-chemical fire extinguisher with you in the operators compartment.

Check all Fire extinguishers regularly to make certain they are property charged.

Extinguishers should be removed from mounting brackets and turned upside down several times to prevent the powder from compacting.

With more appliances connected to home water systems, leaking hoses have become an annoying and expensive problem. Prevent water damage by checking plumbing regularly. These connections should be replaced every 3 to 5 years or when they have cracked or hardened.

 Water claims are inconvenient, and can disrupt your already busy life and can displace your family for weeks or even months. 

Consider purchasing a water alarm, click here for a few options that are available .