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📋 '''Special form coverage''' is a type of [[Definition:Property insurance | property insurance]] policy structure — sometimes called "all-risk" or "open-peril" coverage — that insures against all causes of [[Definition:Loss | loss]] unless a peril is specifically excluded in the policy language. In contrast to [[Definition:Named peril coverage | named peril]] or [[Definition:Broad form coverage | broad form]] policies, which list only the covered causes of loss, the special form shifts the burden of proof: the [[Definition:Insurance carrier | insurer]] must demonstrate that an exclusion applies rather than the [[Definition:Policyholder | policyholder]] having to prove the loss falls within a covered category.

🔍 Under a special form policy, the insuring agreement is deliberately expansive — typically reading along the lines of "direct physical loss or damage unless otherwise excluded." The policy then narrows this broad grant through a schedule of exclusions such as [[Definition:War exclusion | war]], [[Definition:Nuclear exclusion | nuclear hazard]], [[Definition:Earth movement exclusion | earth movement]], [[Definition:Flood exclusion | flood]], [[Definition:Wear and tear exclusion | wear and tear]], and [[Definition:Intentional loss exclusion | intentional acts]]. Endorsements may add back certain excluded perils for an additional [[Definition:Premium | premium]] — for instance, [[Definition:Earthquake insurance | earthquake]] or [[Definition:Equipment breakdown insurance | equipment breakdown]] coverage. This structure is standard in commercial [[Definition:Property insurance | property]] lines and is the foundation of the [[Definition:Insurance Services Office (ISO) | ISO]] CP 10 30 causes-of-loss form widely used across the United States.

✅ Opting for special form coverage gives businesses meaningfully broader protection than basic or broad form alternatives, which can leave gaps for unusual or unforeseen perils. For [[Definition:Risk manager | risk managers]], this breadth simplifies the coverage analysis: instead of checking whether a specific peril is listed, they need only confirm that no exclusion removes it. The tradeoff is a higher [[Definition:Premium | premium]] relative to more restrictive forms, but many [[Definition:Underwriter | underwriters]] and [[Definition:Insurance broker | brokers]] consider the special form the default starting point for well-managed commercial accounts. When coverage disputes arise, the open-peril structure often favors the insured in litigation, reinforcing why careful [[Definition:Policy wording | policy wording]] and exclusion drafting are critical on the carrier side.

'''Related concepts'''
{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Definition:Named peril coverage]]
* [[Definition:Broad form coverage]]
* [[Definition:Property insurance]]
* [[Definition:Causes of loss form]]
* [[Definition:Policy exclusion]]
* [[Definition:Insurance Services Office (ISO)]]
{{Div col end}}

Definition:Special form coverage - Revision history

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