Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company

Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection And Insurance Company

The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company (HSB) founded in 1866 and headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S., is a global specialty insurer and reinsurer. The company is the largest provider of equipment breakdown insurance and related inspection services in North America serving over five million commercial locations.

Hartford Steam Boiler subsidiaries include the Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company of Canada (BI&I), the largest insurer of equipment breakdown insurance in Canada and HSB Engineering Insurance Limited of the U.K., which provides engineered lines coverages and inspection services to clients in the UK., Ireland and other EU countries.

The Hartford Steam Boiler group is part of Munich Re, one of the world’s largest reinsurers. Munich Re completed its acquisition of HSB in April, 2009.

Hartford Steam Boiler Group is rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company. On October 11, 2010, A.M. Best Co. affirmed the ratings of the Hartford Steam Boiler group and its member companies.

Hartford Steam Boiler (U.S.) provides equipment breakdown coverage through a network of brokers and agents and also through other insurance companies who partner with HSB and who include equipment breakdown as a value added element of their insurance products for commercial lines and personal lines customers.

Equipment breakdown insurance, also known as “boiler and machinery,” covers physical and financial damage that results from an accidental equipment breakdown to a range of equipment, machinery and technology. Standard property coverages typically exclude perils of mechanical and electrical breakdown. Equipment breakdown coverage was originally designed for business and industry. In recent years, HSB has extended the product concept to the farm owners and home owners markets.

The company also provides a range of other specialty insurance products including insurance for identity recovery, data compromise, employment practices liability and miscellaneous professional liability that it designs and distributes through other insurance companies in reinsurance service agreements.

Hartford Steam Boiler employs over 1,200 engineers, inspectors and technicians, approximately 50 percent of its total workforce. The company uses its engineering knowledge and technical skills to help customers understand risk, reduce the potential for loss and speed business recovery if they do experience loss.