Key Changes to the Intact Insurance Commercial Property Wording Effective 01 January 2026.

Our mid-market Property Wording just got a serious upgrade.

At Intact Insurance, our expert commercial property underwriters in Dublin, Galway and Belfast, backed by the global strength of 31,000 colleagues worldwide, are united by one clear goal: delivering wordings that are technically robust, transparent and built to outperform.

This article is the first in our new Commercial Property Series. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be releasing focused updates, risk management guides, and detailed risk appetite documents that break down the real-world impact of these changes.

Watch this space for clearer insights, sharper tools, and everything you need to place and renew mid-market property business with complete confidence.

This refined Commercial Property wording is a direct result of our commitment to our brokers. Every change has been shaped by broker feedback and our deep claims experience, giving you and your clients clearer cover, stronger protection and the certainty that only a market-leading wording can provide.

Below is a clear, broker-focused overview of the key technical changes in our refreshed Commercial Property wording. Every enhancement has been designed specifically for the Irish mid-market commercial property market, widening cover where it matters, removing outdated restrictions, and delivering the transparency and strength that today’s commercial property clients and their brokers expect.

General Structure and Navigation

Our new wording has been completely re-engineered for clarity and speed of use. Every section follows an identical, logical layout and all definitions are consolidated at the front. Brokers can now navigate complex mid-market property risks faster, reducing placement time and improving accuracy at quotation stage.

• Each section of the policy now follows the same clear structure: Covers – The Insurance Provided – Extensions – Exclusions.
• A Table of Contents has been added at the front for easy navigation.
• All definitions are now consolidated in one dedicated section at the beginning of the document.

Definitions

The Buildings definition has been materially widened and key monetary limits within General Contents have been substantially increased. These technical enhancements reflect our deep claims experience in Irish property losses and ensure mid-market clients receive realistic, up-to-date protection without constant mid-term adjustments.

• Buildings definition redrafted to provide wider cover.
• New definitions added: Computer System, Cyber Act, Cyber Incident, Cyber Loss, Electronic Data, Fire Alarm System, Ground Heave, Insured’s Contribution, Intruder Alarm System, Maintenance Agreement, Risk Control Programme, Statement of Fact, Tenant’s Improvements, Unoccupied.
• General Contents limits significantly increased:
• Documents, manuscripts and business books: €50,000 (previously €31,800)
• Directors, partners, employees personal effects: €1,000 per person
• Money and securities: €2,500 (previously €1,270)
• Wines, spirits, cigarettes and tobacco (for entertainment): €1,000 (previously €640)

Policy and Claims Conditions

The wording is now warranty-free. All conditions are grouped into two clear sections, removing the previous patchwork of warranties and memoranda. This delivers genuine underwriting flexibility on mid-market property risks while maintaining the technical discipline our claims and survey teams require.

• All conditions now grouped into two clear sections: Policy and Claims Conditions and General Conditions.
• The new wording is warranty-free – all warranties removed.
• Observance of Terms condition replaced with a fair-proportionate approach to non-compliance.
• Removal of 7-day riot notification requirement.
• New requirement to notify us if the Insured becomes aware of information that may support or prejudice a claim.
• Money in Transit limits improved:
• Up to €5,000 – 1 adult
• €5,000 – €10,000 – 2 adults
• €10,000 – €15,000 – 3 adults
• Cooking condition now applies as standard across all trades.
• New Alterations condition
• New Risk Management condition allowing cancellation or additional terms if agreed risk control programmes are not implemented.
• Financial/Trade Sanctions wording updated (group mandated).
• Misrepresentation and Fraudulent Claims redrafted
• Cancellation notice period reduced to 14 days.
• New Company’s Liability condition clarifying single-limit application across extensions and multiple insured parties.

Policy Extensions

A new dedicated Policy Extensions section introduces Claims Preparation Costs as standard. This addition, borne directly from broker feedback and our deep claims experience, removes a frequent pain point on large mid-market property losses.

• New dedicated section for extensions applying to multiple sections.
• New Claims Preparation Costs extension added.

Property Damage / Business Interruption Covers

Fire now automatically includes smoke, Escape of Water extends to oil, and Storm and Flood are separated for precision. Computer Breakdown is introduced at €50,000 and Public Authorities compliance is capped at a workable €500,000. Every change strengthens the technical integrity of the cover while maintaining the broad appetite that defines our mid-market property proposition.

• Cover 1A (Fire) now extended to include smoke.
• Cover 4 split into 4A Storm and 4B Flood for greater clarity.
• Cover 5 (Escape of Water) extended to include oil.
• Unoccupied premises exclusions removed from individual covers and consolidated into a single Unoccupied Premises exclusion.
• New Computer Breakdown cover – limit €50,000.
• Glass now automatically included within the Building’s definition.
• Public Authorities compliance costs now limited to €500,000 for greater clarity
• Alterations and Additions limit increased to €750,000 (previously €650,000).
• Numerous valuable new extensions added including Clearance of Drains (€100,000), Contract Works (€250,000), Involuntary Betterment (€100,000), Landscaped Grounds (€100,000), Trace & Access (€100,000), and many more.
• Property at Other Locations increased to €500,000 (previously €325,000) plus automatic worldwide cover up to €50,000.
• Insured’s Contribution increased to €500 (all causes except Subsidence €2,500).
• 133.33% inflation provision on Gross Profit/Gross Revenue.
• Increase in Cost of Working increased to €500,000 or 10% of sum insured (previously €325,000 or 5%).
• Outstanding Debit Balances now an item under Business Interruption (previously Book Debts section).
• Consistent 10%/€750,000 limits across key extensions (Contract Sites, Suppliers/Customers, Prevention of Access, Public Utilities, etc.) with maximum 3-month indemnity period.

Money

Out-of-hours safe limits, private residence limits and assault benefits have all been materially increased. These enhancements reflect actual loss patterns seen across our mid-market property portfolio and remove the need for constant special endorsements.

• Out-of-hours limits in premises significantly increased:
• In specified safe: €2,500 (previously €1,270)
• Not in locked safe: €500 (previously €320)
• Private residence safe limit: €1,000 (previously €640)
• Non-negotiable money: €500,000 (previously €325,000)
• Assault benefits substantially enhanced (e.g. Death/PTD Permanent Total Disablement (PTD) €25,000)  

Our refined Commercial Property wording combines technical underwriting excellence with the practical improvements Irish mid-market brokers have asked for. Same strong appetite. Clearer structure. Better outcomes.

Ready to see the difference for yourself?

We’ve made the new Commercial Property wording and the updated IPID available for immediate download below. These documents give you the full technical detail – clear, modern language with every limit and extension laid out exactly as your mid-market property clients will see it.

Behind this refined wording stands the same Intact Insurance team you already trust: empowered underwriters in Dublin, Galway and Belfast ready to lead or follow on the largest risks, write facultative reinsurance layers, structure global programmes, or deploy our specialist pre-quote survey team for mid-market and complex property placements.

Stronger wording, deeper capacity, faster decisions, everything you need to win and retain the best commercial property business

Contact your Intact Insurance representative today for more information on commercial property risk.

Global Expertise, Local Roots.