PIB Insurance

THE SUNNY SIDE UP

Posted on May 5, 2025

With more holiday parks embracing photovoltaic (PV) solar panel systems to cut energy bills and lower their carbon footprint, protecting that investment is more important than ever.
While solar energy can provide long-term savings and environmental benefits, it also introduces new risks that require careful insurance planning.

COVER FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE
PV systems are vulnerable to damage from weather events, vandalism, and accidental impacts.
Parks should speak with their insurer to confirm that their existing property policy includes cover for storm damage (including hail and high winds), fire, electrical faults, theft, vandalism, and accidental damage from incidents like falling branches or vehicle collisions.

MITIGATING BUSINESS INTERRUPTION
For parks that rely heavily on solar power, a damaged system can impact operations.
Business interruption insurance can protect against loss of income while repairs are underway, helping to minimise disruption to guests and maintain cash flow.

LIABILITY AND COMPLIANCE
Public liability insurance is crucial for protecting against claims arising from solar panel-related injuries or property damage—such as falling panels or electrical fires from faulty installations.
It’s also essential to work with an MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified installer who carries appropriate liability cover. This helps ensure installations meet strict safety and compliance standards.

BEVERLEY HOLIDAYS CARAVAN PARK, nestled in the English Riviera, unveils the brand-new Solar Signature Eco and leads the way in eco-tourism

SECURITY AND THEFT PREVENTION
Because solar panels can be attractive to thieves, insurance should include theft protection. Parks can reduce risk by installing CCTV and motion-sensor lighting.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND FIRE HAZARDS
PV solar systems include materials—like lithium-ion batteries—that may be hazardous if damaged. Pollution liability insurance offers added protection against environmental claims.
Fire risks can also arise due to moisture ingress, dirt buildup, or substandard components. The Fire Protection Association (FPA) recommends using non-combustible roof surfaces, appropriate fire-rated materials, and ensuring inverters are installed in safe, ventilated areas.

TOP TIPS FROM PIB INSURANCE
• Choose MCS-certified installers for design, installation, and maintenance
• Consult your local fire service to flag any firefighting challenges
• Fit fire switches that isolate both AC and DC sides of the system
• Keep inverters at least two metres from combustible materials Even in low light, solar panels can generate current—posing risks during emergency response.

Understanding the hazards and putting the right insurance and safety measures in place can ensure parks reap the rewards of solar power without the pitfalls.

PIB Insurance
0330 058 9863
Dave.Moffat@pib-insurance.com

BE PREPARED

Posted on February 13, 2025

Secure your action plan for flooding risks...

Unpredictable and extreme weather conditions are having a profound effect on businesses in the holiday sector. It is vital you are prepared in the event of a disaster. Flooding is a significant risk to businesses and organisations.

A relatively small depth of flooding can cause exceptionally high losses, with a depth of flooding of around 30cm likely to cause significant/total loss. Traditionally transferring the risk has been the easiest option but insurers are increasingly cautious around flood risks due to significant losses in recent years.

Insurers also have significant concerns around climate change and the impact this may have on flood losses with greater and more regular extreme weather events being experienced. If you’re unable to get flood cover at a reasonable cost, how else can you protect your park? PIB Insurance Brokers highlights four simple steps to assess and manage flood risk:

"Floods are likely to occur outside of core opening times"

STEP 1
IDENTIFY THE RISK
There are three types of flooding which are considered as having the potential to cause significant disruption in the UK. These are coastal, rivers and streams, and surface water. GOV.UK provides services to tell you the flood risk of an area: www.check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/risk www. flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ The information can be limited but provides an overview of the flood risk.

STEP 2
ASSESS THE RISK AND IMPACT
Where a risk is identified, it is important to understand the extent of the risk and how this might impact on the business. A specialist risk advisor can assist in a number of ways.

There are various levels of attention depending upon the nature of the risk from a simple desktop review providing greater insight to the depths of flooding etc than is provided by the government backed services through a full site survey to a full hydrologists report.

When considering the impact it is important not just to consider the potential for material losses but also the associated interruption to the business and the financial impact which may occur.

FLOODING IS A SIGNIFICANT risk to holiday park businesses and organisations.

STEP 3
CONSIDER RISK TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are various ways to look at flood risk management, this can be site level providing full protection to the site or protection of key assets such as building raised plinths for the location of mobile holiday homes and ensuring site level resources such as electrical and gas/LPG supplies are located above flood risk areas and connections etc are water resistant. A permanent protection will be more likely to be effective than a measure which requires a human response.

STEP 4
PLAN TO MITIGATE LOSS
A good business continuity plan will consider how the potential for the risk occurring is monitored such as receiving alerts from the environment agency and then deciding upon when the emergency.

David Plowman, Head of Property Risk Engineering at PIB Insurance Brokers advises: “Whilst movement of holiday homes is not practical in the event of flood warnings it can be ensured that future homes and replacement homes are built in consideration of the flood risk.

He continues: “There are core service areas within holiday parks, mitigating measures should be focused on these areas as loss of these can significantly impact sales and income dependent upon the business model of the holiday park. “Floods are likely to occur outside of core opening times and the implementation of demountable flood defences could be considered to buildings not in use outside of core season,” David adds.

PIB Insurance
Tel. 0330 058 9863
E. David.Moffat@pib-insurance.com
www.pib-insurance.com

BE PREPARED

Posted on March 13, 2024

BE PREPARED

Secure your action plan for flooding risks...

FLOODING IS A SIGNIFICANT risk to holiday park businesses and organisations.

Unpredictable and extreme weather conditions are having a profound effect on businesses in the holiday sector. It is vital you are prepared in the event of a disaster. Flooding is a significant risk to businesses and organisations.

A relatively small depth of flooding can cause exceptionally high losses, with a depth of flooding of around 30cm likely to cause significant/total loss. Traditionally transferring the risk has been the easiest option but insurers are increasingly cautious around flood risks due to significant losses in recent years.

Insurers also have significant concerns around climate change and the impact this may have on flood losses with greater and more regular extreme weather events being experienced. If you’re unable to get flood cover at a reasonable cost, how else can you protect your park? PIB Insurance Brokers highlights four simple steps to assess and manage flood risk:

UNPREDICTABLE AND EXTREME weather conditions are having a profound effect on businesses.

STEP 1
IDENTIFY THE RISK
There are three types of flooding which are considered as having the potential to cause significant disruption in the UK. These are coastal, rivers and streams, and surface water.

GOV.UK provides services to tell you the flood risk of an area: www.check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/risk  www. flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ The information can be limited but provides an overview of the flood risk.

 

STEP 2
ASSESS THE RISK AND IMPACT
Where a risk is identified, it is important to understand the extent of the risk and how this might impact on the business. A specialist risk advisor can assist in a number of ways.

There are various levels of attention depending upon the nature of the risk from a simple desktop review providing greater insight to the depths of flooding etc than is provided by the government backed services through a full site survey to a full hydrologists report.

When considering the impact it is important not just to consider the potential for material losses but also the associated interruption to the business and the financial impact which may occur.

 

 

STEP 3
CONSIDER RISK TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are various ways to look at flood risk management, this can be site level providing full protection to the site or protection of key assets such as building raised plinths for the location of mobile holiday homes and ensuring site level resources such as electrical and gas/LPG supplies are located above flood risk areas and connections etc are water resistant. A permanent protection will be more likely to be effective than a measure which requires a human response.

 

STEP 4
PLAN TO MITIGATE LOSS
A good business continuity plan will consider how the potential for the risk occurring is monitored such as receiving alerts from the environment agency and then deciding upon when the emergency.

David Plowman, Head of Property Risk Engineering at PIB Insurance Brokers advises: “Whilst movement of holiday homes is not practical in the event of flood warnings it can be ensured that future homes and replacement homes are built in consideration of the flood risk.

He continues: “There are core service areas within holiday parks, mitigating measures should be focused on these areas as loss of these can significantly impact sales and income dependent upon the business model of the holiday park. “Floods are likely to occur outside of core opening times and the implementation of demountable flood defences could be considered to buildings not in use outside of core season,” David adds.

 

PIB Insurance
Tel. 0330 058 9863
E. David.Moffat@pib-insurance.com
www.pib-insurance.com