Sponsored article by Dylan Panizza, Platinum Tiger
If you run a larger orchard, vegetable business or packing facility in WA, you’re probably dealing with some form of insulated panel in your cold rooms or sheds. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) has been a reliable and affordable solution for years because it’s efficient, practical and keeps produce moving.
Insurers often see it very differently.
From the insurer’s desk, an EPS-lined shed presents a genuine total loss risk. A small electrical fault in the wrong spot can spread quickly within the panels, and insurers have seen too many examples where a minor incident has resulted in a full shed loss. This is why the word “EPS” appearing anywhere in the insurance paperwork often means higher premiums or fewer options for cover.
Insurers are not targeting growers. They are responding to what they see as a serious fire risk.
The positive is that growers have more control than they realise.
When I’m working with clients, the first areas we look at are electrical safety (RCD testing, thermographic scans and following up on any hot spots), separation and zoning (keeping panels clear of ignition sources and improving plant-room layout), housekeeping (clear switchboards, clean ceilings and no dust or debris around motors) and simple detection and response measures. None of this is complicated and most growers already do this work. The key is having it organised and presented clearly.
This is also why I choose to visit the sheds myself.
You can’t understand an EPS risk from a form or a blurry photo. I prefer to walk the site, look at the panels, compressors and switchboards with the grower and talk through what an insurer will focus on and why. It’s a practical conversation and every operation is different, especially in WA where shed design and layout vary from region to region.
Once that’s done, we can build a clear picture of the operation. This includes recent photos, maintenance records and a list of upgrades that have been completed or planned. When an insurer can see that level of detail, they are assessing a well-run business rather than a postcode with “EPS” attached.
In my experience, when growers are willing to meet onsite and show how they run their operation, insurers respond very differently. You’re taken seriously and your risk is understood properly.
EPS sheds aren’t disappearing from WA horticulture. The real question is whether they remain an insurance frustration or whether you take control of the narrative and show that you’re actively managing the risk.
To find out more, visit https://www.platinumtiger.com.au/
