All Risk.  An "all risk" policy is not an all loss policy.  To qualify for "all risks of physical loss" coverage, the cause of loss must meet these requirements:

•  The loss is direct, not consequential;

•  The loss must have been fortuitous, not an inevitable consequence;

•  The loss was not the result of an illegal enterprise;

•  The loss was not a result of the insured's willful or fraudulent act; and

•  The cause of the loss was due to an extraneous agency, not an inherent deficiency.

If a "specified perils" form is applicable these requirements also apply.  Additionally, there is no coverage unless the cause of the loss was one of the specified perils.

Fire.  Fire is covered unless the fire has remained in the place intended, such as a fireplace, water heater, or furnace.

Lightning.  Lighning is covered whether the damage is by a direct hit or a near miss.

Wind or Hail.  Damage to the interior of the building or its contents caused by rain, snow, sand or dust is usually not covered unless the building first sustains damage by wind or hail in such a manner as to permit entry of the rain, snow, sand or dust.  Trees, shrubs, plants and lawns are usually not covered.

Explosion.  Explosion is usually not defined in the policies, but an explosion is generally considered to have four elements: a sudden and rapid combustion; a sudden and violent expansion of air; a sharp noise or loud report, and a fragmentation of the object.  Each of these elements may have a variable intensity.  Explosion does not include sonic boom.

Aircraft, spacecraft, missile and vehicle damage.  A vehicle is defined as that in or on which a person or thing is or may be carried and any moving support or container for the conveyance of bulky objects.  The loss covered is that resulting from actual direct physical contact of aircraft, vehicle, or self-propelled missile with the insured property.  Covered also is damage due to an object thrown up by a vehicle.  Note: damage due to a vehicle owned by the insured is not covered.

Riot -- Civil Commotion.  The policies do not define "riot."  A majority of states in the USA define "riot" by statute.  Generally, it is defined as three or more persons assembled together for the common purpose of doing an unlawful act in a violent or tumultuous manner to the disturbance of others.  "Civil commotion" is generally defined as an uprising of a mass of people for the purpose of defying civl authority and order.  It is generally a disturbance on a larger scale than a riot.  Check statutes in the jurisdiction of the loss.

Vandalism and Malicious Mischief.  Vandalism is defined as "malicious or ignorant detruction of works of art, public property, etc."  Malicious Mischief is a wilful and malicious damage or destruction of property.  Note: Most Homeowners policies do not cover Vandalism and Malicious Mischief if the building has be vacant for more than 30 days.

Smoke.  Smoke is the gaseous product of burning organic materials made visible by the presence of small particles of carbon which settle as soot.  The smoke should also be the result of combustion, not simply a gaseous vapor emanating from a chemical substance. Damage by smoke must occur suddenly and accidentally.  A gradual accumulation of soot is not considered covered.     Smoke damage from a contained as intended fire may be covered if the damage is sudden and accidental.  

Theft - Burglary - Robbery.  Theft is the fraudulent taking of personal property belonging to another, with the intent to deprive the owner permanently of the value or use of such property.  It is any act of stealing.  Burglary is the forcible entry into a room or building of another, of which there shall be evidence of forcible entry, with the intent to commit felony, whether the felony be actually committed or not.  Robbery is the fraudulent taking of personal property by actual violence, threat of violence, or other overt act of which the custodian or messenger is aware.  Note: there may be special limitations on money, boats, stamp and coin collections, furs, jewelry, securities, watercraft, etc.  Check the special limits section of the policy.

Artificially Generated Electrical Currents.  Artificially generated electrical currents are normally carried into the building by way of the electrical wiring system.  The most common causes of electrical current injury are power surges and the short circuiting of an electrical unit.  Damage to television picture tubes is not covered.

Glass Breakage.  Any damage resulting from breakage, including the cost of replacing the glass, is covered.  Glass breakage and consequent damage is covered even if the breakage was not due to another covered peril.

Leakage or Overflow of Water or Steam from a Plumbing, Heater of Air Conditioner.  Leakage or overflow from any of these systems is generally covered.  Covered also is the repair or replacement of the system.  Some business forms specifically provide coverage for Automatic Sprinkler Systems.  Sweating of pipes is not covered. Note: There is no coverage for wet rot resulting from repeated leakage from any domestic appliance, air conditioning, or plumbing system.

Sinkhole Collapse.  A sinkhole is defined as a sudden sinking or collapse of land into underground empty spaces created by the action of water on limestone or dolomite.  This peril does not include sinking or collapse of land into manmade underground cavities. Coverage for this peril does not include the cost of filling the hole.

Volcanic Action.  Direct loss resulting from the eruption of a volcano if the loss is caused by blast or airborne shock waves, by ash, dust or particulate matter, or by lava flow.  Not covered is the removal cost of ash, dust or particulate matter that does not cause direct physical loss or damage to the insured property.  Note:  Each volcanic eruption is not considered a separate occurrence if the multiple eruptions are within a time period stipulated in the form.

Falling Objects.  This peril covers objects impelled by the force of gravity.  This does not include an object falling inside a building.  Additionally, personal property inside a building is not covered unless the exterior of the building sustains damage.  Lawns, shrubs and plants are not covered.  Note: The expense to remove a fallen tree is covered as debris removal, but not the removal of the stump.

Collapse of Building.  The loss to the insured property must be the direct result of collapse of buildings including collapse due to weight of ice, snow or sleet.  The damage to the insured structure must result in an impairment to its structural integrity.  This does not include a mere bowing cracking or settlement in most jurisdictions is not considered a collapse.

Domestic Steam or Hot Water Heating System.  The covered peril is a sudden and accidental tearing asunder, cracking, burning or bulging of a residential steam or hot water heating system or hot water heating appliances.

Freezing and Change of Temperature.  Physical damage to either real or personal property is covered under some homeowners forms when due to freezing or change of temperature.  Not covered is freezing or thawing damage to fences, pavements, patios, swimming pools, foundations, retaining walls, bulkheads, piers, wharves or docks.

Weight of Snow, Ice or Sleet.  Damage to an insured building due to this peril does not include gutters and downspouts.  Personal property is not covered if it is outside the building.

Removal.  Damage to insured property that is the result of removing it from the premises when the premises is endangered by a specified peril.  Coverage is extended to the insured property at the remote location, but only for a limited period.