Property · Insurance Term
Preservation of Property
Definition
Preservation of property is an additional coverage in many commercial property policies. It covers property you move to another place to protect it from a covered loss, for a limited time after you move it.
In Plain English
If a fire or storm threatens your building, you may move equipment, records or inventory to keep them safe. Preservation of property generally covers direct loss to that property while it is being moved or temporarily stored elsewhere — in the standard ISO form, for up to 30 days after it is moved.
It works alongside your duty to protect property from further damage, often called mitigation of damages. Taking reasonable steps to prevent more damage is usually a condition of coverage.
Preservation of property is different from debris removal, which covers cleanup after damage, and from building coverage itself, which applies at the premises described in the policy.
Not sure how your policy handles this? Have us review it, or get a quote.
Example
Hypothetical and simplified: after a hailstorm, a roof leak threatens a hotel's new furniture shipment in a storage room. The owner moves it to a rented storage unit across town. If that unit is burglarized 10 days later, preservation of property might cover the loss, subject to the policy's terms.
What to Watch For
- Know where you could safely move property if a storm or fire threatens it.
- Document what you move, when and where, with photos.
- Ask how long property is covered at a temporary location under your policy.
Last updated October 14, 2026 · Primesure editorial team · How We Write