Production line.

Insuring factories continues to be a very competitive line of business. Simon Threadgold considers the current attitudes to underwriting.

The recent fire at a Norfolk poultry factory provided a sharp
reminder that contemporary buildings are not fire-proof. Building
legislation still permits the use of composite panels, which are efficient
for thermal control and cleanliness, but when fire takes hold of the
polystyrene in the panels, the whole structure can collapse. In the case
of a factory fire, the fire brigade will do its best to prevent spread but
will not go into the building, as safety considerations dictate that it
must be