BOILER AND MACHINERY INSURANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS

What equipment does boiler and machinery coverage protect?

Depending on the terms and conditions of a policy, boiler and machinery policies may cover multiple types of equipment:

• Boilers, hot water heaters and turbines
• Electric motors and compressors
• Transformers and voltage regulators
• Furnaces and air conditioners
• Other equipment with pressure gauges or valves
• Other electrical equipment

What breakdowns do boiler and machinery coverage offer protection against?

Boiler and machinery policies can protect against a fairly wide range of risks if their terms allow it. Some causes of breakdown that a policy might cover are:

• Mechanical breakdown
• Internal malfunction
• User error
• Electrical malfunction
• Artificial electrical current
• Explosions

What costs does boiler and machinery coverage help pay?

In the event of a covered malfunction, boiler and machinery policies might help cover a variety of costs. These can include:

• General repair costs and emergency repair surcharges
• Labor costs for repairs made by employees
• Replacement costs if the equipment can’t be repaired
• Losses of supplies and inventories
• Revenue losses due to the breakdown
• Other costs associated with restoring business operations

Does boiler and machinery coverage mean the same as equipment breakdown coverage?

Boiler and machinery policies are similar to equipment breakdown policies in many ways, and some insurers almost exclusively now offer only equipment breakdown coverage. There is a historical distinction between the two types of insurance, however, and that distinction still sometimes holds true today.

Boiler and machinery policies have historically been limited to boilers and machinery such as those listed above. It’s most often purchased by factories and large buildings that have this equipment. 

Equipment breakdown policies tend to have broader terms that allow them to cover more diverse equipment. These policies might cover boilers and machinery, as well as food refrigeration and cooking equipment, point of sale equipment, electronics and more.

To further add to the confusion, boiler and machinery policies are sometimes simply called equipment breakdown policies. In order to accurately understand what equipment a policy will cover, it’s necessary to closely review the specific policy’s terms and conditions.

An insurance agent who specializes in these coverages can help review the terms of different policies. They’ll have the expertise needed to make sure a policy provides good protection for a business’s equipment, whether the policy ends up being a boiler and machinery policy, or an equipment breakdown one.

How can businesses in Massachusetts get boiler and machinery insurance?

For help insuring boilers, machinery and other major equipment, contact the independent insurance agents at Garrity Insurance. Our agents are well-versed in these policies, and they can recommend the best boiler and machinery insurance options regardless of which Massachusetts insurance company offers them. With our assistance, you can have confidence that your equipment is protected against many causes of malfunction.