2023 Iowa Code › Title XIII - COMMERCE › Chapter 515 - INSURANCE OTHER THAN LIFE › Section 515.109 - Fire insurance contract — standard policy provisions — permissible variations.

515.109 Fire insurance contract — standard policy provisions — permissible variations.
1. The printed form of a policy of fire insurance as set forth in subsection 6 shall be known and designated as the “standard policy” to be used in the state of Iowa.
2. Standard policy, additions, riders, and clauses.
a. It shall be unlawful for any insurance company to issue any policy of fire insurance upon any property in this state except upon automobiles, airplanes, seaplanes, dirigibles, or other aircraft, farm crops until stored, marine and inland marine risks other or different from the standard form of fire insurance policy herein set forth.
b. There shall be printed at the head of said policy the name of the insurer or insurers issuing the policy; the location of the home office thereof; a statement whether said insurer or insurers are stock or mutual corporations or are reciprocal insurers; and subject to the approval of the commissioner of insurance, there may be added thereto such device or devices as the insurer or insurers issuing said policy shall desire. Provided, however, that any company organized under special charter provisions may so indicate upon its policy, and may add a statement of the plan under which it operates in this state.
c. The standard policy provided for in this section need not be used for effecting reinsurance between insurers.
d. If the policy is issued by a mutual, cooperative, or reciprocal insurer having special regulations with respect to the payment by the policyholder of assessments, such regulations shall be printed upon the policy, and any such insurer may print upon the policy such regulations as may be required by its home state or appropriate to its form of organization.
3. Binders or other contracts for temporary insurance may be made and shall be deemed to include all the terms of such standard policy and all such applicable endorsements as may be designated in such contract of temporary insurance; except that the cancellation clause of such standard policy, and the clause thereof specifying the hour of the day at which the insurance shall commence, may be superseded by the express terms of such contract of temporary insurance.
4. Two or more insurers authorized to do in this state the business of fire insurance, may, with the approval of the commissioner of insurance, issue a combination standard form of policy which shall contain the following:
a. A provision substantially to the effect that the insurers executing such policy shall be severally liable for the full amount of any loss or damage, according to the terms of the policy, or for specified percentages or amounts thereof, aggregating the full amount of such insurance under such policy.
b. A provision substantially to the effect that service of process, or of any notice or proof of loss required by such policy, upon any of the insurers executing such policy, shall be deemed to be service upon all such insurers.
5. Appropriate forms of other contracts or endorsements, insuring against one or more of the perils incident to the ownership, use or occupancy of said property, other than fire and lightning, which the insurer is empowered to assume, may be used in connection with the standard policy. Such forms of other contracts or endorsements attached or printed thereon may contain provisions and stipulations inconsistent with the standard policy if applicable only to such other perils. The pages of the standard policy may be renumbered and rearranged to provide space for the listing of rates and premiums for coverages insured thereunder or under endorsements attached or printed thereon, and such other data as may be included for duplication on daily reports for office records. An insurer may issue a policy, either on an unspecified basis as to coverage or for an indivisible premium, which contains coverage against the peril of fire and substantial coverage against other perils, if such policy includes provisions with respect to the peril of fire which are the substantial equivalent of the minimum provisions of such standard policy, provided further the policy is complete as to all its terms of coverage without reference to any other document and is approved in accordance with section 515.102, subsections 1 and 2.
6. a. The form of the standard policy (with permission to substitute for the word “company” a more accurate descriptive term for the type of insurer) shall be as follows:
FIRST PAGE OF STANDARD FIRE POLICY
No. ............
(Space for insertion of name of company or companies issuing the policy and other matter permitted to be stated at the head of the policy.)
(Space for listing amounts of insurance, rates and premiums for the basic coverages insured under the standard form of policy and for additional coverages or perils insured under endorsements attached.)
IN CONSIDERATION OF THE PROVISIONS AND STIPULATIONS HEREIN OR ADDED HERETO AND OF ........................ DOLLARS PREMIUM this company, for the term of ........................ from the ................ day of ............................ (month), .................... (year), to the ................ day of ............................ (month), ................ (year), at noon, Standard Time, at location of property involved, to an amount not exceeding .................................... Dollars, does insure ................................ and legal representatives, to the extent of the actual cash value of the property at the time of loss, but not exceeding the amount which it would cost to repair or replace the property with material of like kind and quality within a reasonable time after such loss, without allowance for any increased cost of repair or reconstruction by reason of any ordinance or law regulating construction or repair, and without compensation for loss resulting from interruption of business or manufacture, nor in any event for more than the interest of the insured, against all DIRECT LOSS BY FIRE, LIGHTNING AND BY REMOVAL FROM PREMISES ENDANGERED BY THE PERILS INSURED AGAINST IN THIS POLICY, EXCEPT AS HEREINAFTER PROVIDED, to the property described hereinafter while located or contained as described in this policy, or pro rata for five days at each proper place to which any of the property shall necessarily be removed for preservation from the perils insured against in this policy, but not elsewhere.
Assignment of this policy shall not be valid except with the written consent of this company. This policy is made and accepted subject to the foregoing provisions and stipulations and those hereinafter stated, which are hereby made a part of this policy, together with such other provisions, stipulations and agreements as may be added hereto, as provided in this policy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this company has executed and attested these presents.
................................ ................................
Secretary President
SECOND PAGE OF STANDARD FIRE POLICY
Concealment — fraud. This entire policy shall be void if, whether before or after a loss, an insured has willfully concealed or misrepresented any material fact or circumstance concerning this insurance or the subject thereof, or the interest of an insured therein, or in case of any fraud or false swearing by an insured relating thereto.
Uninsurable and excepted property. This policy shall not cover accounts, bills, currency, deeds, evidences of debt, money or securities; nor, unless specifically named hereon in writing, bullion or manuscripts.
Perils not included. This company shall not be liable for loss by fire or other perils insured against in this policy caused, directly or indirectly, by: (a) Enemy attack by armed forces, including action taken by military, naval or air forces in resisting an actual or an immediately impending enemy attack; (b) invasion; (c) insurrection; (d) rebellion; (e) revolution; (f) civil war; (g) usurped power; (h) order of any civil authority except acts of destruction at the time of and for the purpose of preventing the spread of fire, provided that such fire did not originate from any of the perils excluded by this policy; (i) neglect of an insured to use all reasonable means to save and preserve the property at and after a loss, or when the property is endangered by fire in neighboring premises; (j) nor shall this company be liable for loss by theft.
Other insurance. Other insurance may be prohibited or the amount of insurance may be limited by endorsement attached hereto.
Conditions suspending or restricting insurance. Unless otherwise provided in writing added hereto this company shall not be liable for loss occurring under any of the following circumstances:
[a] While the hazard is created or increased by any means within the control or knowledge of an insured.
[b] While a described building, whether intended for occupancy by owner or tenant, is vacant or unoccupied beyond a period of sixty consecutive days.
[c] As a result of explosion or riot, unless fire ensue, and in that event for loss by fire only.
Other perils or subjects. Any other peril to be insured against or subject of insurance to be covered in this policy shall be by endorsement in writing hereon or added hereto.
Added provisions. The extent of the application of insurance under this policy and of the contribution to be made by this company in case of loss, and any other provision or agreement not inconsistent with the provisions of this policy, may be provided for in writing added hereto, but no provision may be waived except such as by the terms of this policy is subject to change.
Waiver provisions. No permission affecting this insurance shall exist, or waiver of any provision be valid, unless granted herein or expressed in writing added hereto. No provision, stipulation or forfeiture shall be held to be waived by any requirement or proceeding on the part of this company relating to appraisal or to any examination provided for herein.
Cancellation of policy. This policy shall be canceled at any time at the request of the insured, in which case this company shall, upon demand and surrender of this policy, refund the excess of paid premium above the customary short rates for the expired time. This policy may be canceled at any time by this company by giving to the insured a five days’ written notice of cancellation with or without tender of the excess of paid premium above the pro rata premium for the expired time, which excess, if not tendered, shall be refunded on demand. Notice of cancellation shall state that said excess premium (if not tendered) will be refunded on demand.
Mortgagee interests and obligations. If loss hereunder is made payable, in whole or in part, to a designated mortgagee not named herein as the insured, such interest in this policy may be canceled by giving to such mortgagee a ten days’ written notice of cancellation.
If the insured fails to render proof of loss such mortgagee, upon notice, shall render proof of loss in the form herein specified within sixty days thereafter and shall be subject to the provisions hereof relating to appraisal and time of payment and of bringing suit. If this company shall claim that no liability existed as to the mortgagor or owner, it shall, to the extent of payment of loss to the mortgagee, be subrogated to all the mortgagee’s rights of recovery, but without impairing mortgagee’s right to sue; or it may pay off the mortgage debt and require an assignment thereof and of the mortgage. Other provisions relating to the interests and obligations of such mortgagee may be added hereto by agreement in writing.
Pro rata liability. This company shall not be liable for a greater proportion of any loss than the amount hereby insured shall bear to the whole insurance covering the property against the peril involved, whether collectible or not.
Requirements in case loss occurs. The insured shall give immediate written notice to this company of any loss, protect the property from further damage, forthwith separate the damaged and undamaged personal property, put it in the best possible order, furnish a complete inventory of the destroyed, damaged and undamaged property, showing in detail quantities, costs, actual cash value and amounts of loss claimed; AND WITHIN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE LOSS, UNLESS SUCH TIME IS EXTENDED IN WRITING BY THIS COMPANY, THE INSURED SHALL RENDER TO THIS COMPANY A PROOF OF LOSS, signed and sworn to by the insured, stating the knowledge and belief of the insured as to the following: The time and origin of the loss, the interest of the insured and of all others in the property, the actual cash value of each item thereof and the amount of loss thereto, all encumbrances thereon, all other contracts of insurance, whether valid or not, covering any of said property, any changes in the title, use, occupation, location, possession or exposures of said property since the issuing of this policy, by whom and for what purpose any building herein described and the several parts thereof were occupied at the time of loss and whether or not it then stood on leased ground, and shall furnish a copy of all the descriptions and schedules in all policies and, if required, verified plans and specifications of any building, fixtures or machinery destroyed or damaged. The insured, as often as may be reasonably required, shall exhibit to any person designated by this company all that remains of any property herein described, and submit to examinations under oath by any person named by this company, and subscribe the same; and, as often as may be reasonably required, shall produce for examination all books of account, bills, invoices and other vouchers, or certified copies thereof if originals be lost, at such reasonable time and place as may be designated by this company or its representative, and shall permit extracts and copies thereof to be made.
Appraisal. In case the insured and this company shall fail to agree as to the actual cash value or the amount of loss, then, on the written demand of either, each shall select a competent and disinterested appraiser and notify the other of the appraiser selected within twenty days of such demand. The appraisers shall first select a competent and disinterested umpire; and failing for fifteen days to agree upon such umpire, then, on request of the insured or this company, such umpire shall be selected by a judge of a court of record in the state in which the property covered is located. The appraisers shall then appraise the loss, stating separately actual cash value and loss to each item; and, failing to agree, shall submit their differences, only, to the umpire. An award in writing, so itemized, of any two when filed with this company shall determine the amount of actual cash value and loss. Each appraiser shall be paid by the party selecting the appraiser and the expenses of appraisal and umpire shall be paid by the parties equally.
Company’s options. It shall be optional with this company to take all, or any part, of the property at the agreed or appraised value, and also to repair, rebuild or replace the property destroyed or damaged with other of like kind and quality within a reasonable time, on giving notice of its intention so to do within thirty days after the receipt of the proof of loss herein required.
Abandonment. There can be no abandonment to this company of any property.
When loss payable. The amount of loss for which this company may be liable shall be payable sixty days after proof of loss, as herein provided, is received by this company and ascertainment of the loss is made either by agreement between the insured and this company expressed in writing or by the filing with this company of an award as herein provided.
Suit. No suit or action on this policy for the recovery of any claim shall be sustainable in any court of law or equity unless all the requirements of this policy shall have been complied with, and unless commenced within twelve months next after inception of the loss.
Subrogation. This company may require from the insured an assignment of all right of recovery against any party for loss to the extent that payment therefor is made by this company.
THIRD PAGE OF STANDARD FIRE POLICY
ATTACH FORM BELOW THIS LINE
FOURTH PAGE OF STANDARD FIRE POLICY
STANDARD FIRE INSURANCE POLICY
Expires
Property
Amount $ . .. .. .. .. . Total
Premium $ . .. .. .. .. .
Insured
____________________________________________________________
SEE INSIDE OF POLICY FOR PERILS COVERED
NO.
(Space of approximately two (2) inches for use of Agent or Insurer.)
(Space of approximately two (2) inches for use of Agent or Insurer.)
b. It is important that the written portions of all policies covering the same property read exactly alike. If they do not, they should be made uniform at once.
[C97, §1743, 1744, 1746; S13, §1742-a, 1743, 1744, 1746, 1758-a, 1758-b; C24, §8979, 8982, 8983, 8986, 8996, 9017, 9018; C27, 31, 35, §8979, 8982, 8983, 8986, 8996, 9017, 9018, 9021-a1; C39, §8979, 8982, 8983, 8986, 8996, 9017, 9018, 9021.1; C46, §515.99, 515.103, 515.104, 515.107, 515.117, 515.138, 515.139, 515.143; C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §515.138]
2000 Acts, ch 1058, §56; 2005 Acts, ch 3, §85; 2005 Acts, ch 70, §19 – 21; 2007 Acts, ch 152, §44, 73
CS2007, §515.109
2012 Acts, ch 1023, §157; 2015 Acts, ch 29, §75, 76; 2019 Acts, ch 59, §188; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §328
Referred to in §515.110, 515.111, 515.112, 515.113
Section not amended; editorial changes applied