Classes & Categories of Water: a PACE Program Exercise
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
Release Date: 05/01/2026
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We’re calling “foul ball!” A spectator at a local minor league baseball game was injured when a foul ball zipped through a tear in the safety net and broke his arm. The spectator claims that the stadium owed him a safe environment, that it knew about the tear and didn’t fix it, and that the mascot wasn’t even that funny. To score, our litigant is going to have to run all four bases of the core elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - A foul ball injury at a minor league game sets the stage for a negligence analysis, focusing on...
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A cat jumps on the stove to get leftovers, accidentally turns a burner, and starts a kitchen fire. The homeowner has heard of an exclusion that applies to damage caused by animals owned or kept by an insured, and is concerned that the fire will not be covered. Exactly how mad should the homeowner be with their cat? (And how long can they stay mad at that face?) Notable Timestamps [ 00:00 ] - A kitchen fire caused by a pet can initially alarm insureds who may believe the animal exclusion automatically bars coverage for any damage involving their cat or dog. [ 00:53 ] - The discussion highlights...
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info_outline![[REPLAY] Bumping Brewery Bollards show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/41308110?height=50&width=50)
[REPLAY] Bumping Brewery Bollards
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
[REPLAY] This week, check out a podcast featured in PLRB's new PACE Program: "The new PLRB Advanced Coverage Education (PACE) designation is more than a credential. It’s a powerful way to strengthen your claims expertise. PACE begins with a Core Curriculum that builds a foundation in insurance basics and the claims process. From there, professionals can grow through Business LineTracks that support field-specific development, and Claims Intensives that dive deeper into essential topics like fraud and ethics. Developed with PLRB’s long‑standing commitment to high‑quality education, PACE...
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What's the Scenario? with PLRB
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Classes & Categories of Water: a PACE Program Exercise
What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A foot of stormwater in your home, and a contractor saying "Let's dry it in place?" That was the scenario explored in Courtney Makris' PLRB Presents talk "When the Storm Hits Home: Courtney’s Personal Journey through Hurricane Helene," and today Mike & Brennan will look at that scenario through the lens of the Categories & Classes of water, with the help of a PACE Program exercise. Notable Timestamps [ 00:06 ] - The episode introduces a real-world water loss scenario tied to a major storm, highlighting how widespread damage and contractor recommendations can complicate mitigation...
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What's the Scenario? with PLRB
A fire broke out in the insured’s basement, where various household and personal items were stored. The insured husband is a recreational pilot. His wife is an accountant. Their two children and dog also live in the home with them. The fire caused heavy smoke and heat damage throughout the basement and adjoining utility room. The insured provided a personal property inventory form listing everything believed to be damaged or destroyed. What falls under Property Not Covered? In this preview of the PACE program's personal lines course, we'll explore the basics of the different roles in the...
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What's the Scenario? with PLRB
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What's the Scenario? with PLRB
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info_outlineA foot of stormwater in your home, and a contractor saying "Let's dry it in place?" That was the scenario explored in Courtney Makris' PLRB Presents talk "When the Storm Hits Home: Courtney’s Personal Journey through Hurricane Helene," and today Mike & Brennan will look at that scenario through the lens of the Categories & Classes of water, with the help of a PACE Program exercise.
Notable Timestamps
[ 00:06 ] - The episode introduces a real-world water loss scenario tied to a major storm, highlighting how widespread damage and contractor recommendations can complicate mitigation decisions for adjusters.
[ 01:05 ] - The discussion draws from a hurricane case study and shifts focus to how water “categories” and “classes” relate to the standards guiding mitigation decisions.
[ 04:24 ] - Water losses are a major focus in claims education, covering issues like pipe breaks, backups vs. overflows, and wind-driven rain—showing how varied and complex water damage scenarios can be.
[ 05:11 ] - Not all water is equal; category classifications depend on contamination levels, meaning the source and exposure history of water directly impact risk and required remediation.
[ 06:02 ] - Category 1 water can be clean and sanitary, Category 2 introduces contaminants that may cause illness, and Category 3 can be highly hazardous, often containing toxic or pathogenic substances.
[ 07:25 ] - Practical examples like dishwasher discharge illustrate how the same appliance can produce different water categories depending on whether the source is incoming clean water or outgoing waste.
[ 10:36 ] - Even seemingly clean sources like rainwater can shift categories based on contact with materials or time sitting stagnant, emphasizing that context and exposure matter.
[ 12:20 ] - Floodwater is nearly always Category 3 due to contamination from ground contact and stagnation, making it especially dangerous despite common public perceptions.
[ 14:46 ] - Water “class” differs from category by focusing on how much water is present, how deeply it’s absorbed, and how difficult it is to dry.
[ 19:01 ] - Mitigation strategies vary widely: clean water may allow simple drying, while contaminated water often requires removal of materials like drywall and insulation.
Your PLRB Resources
Check out the PACE Program!
https://www.plrb.org/pace-program/
When the Storm Hits Home: Courtney’s Personal Journey through Hurricane Helene
https://youtu.be/2VE7i_0KAKc
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The views and opinions expressed in this resource are those of the individual speaker and not necessarily those of the Property & Liability Resource Bureau (PLRB), its membership, or any organization with which the presenter is employed or affiliated. The information, ideas, and opinions are presented as information only and not as legal advice or offers of representation. Individual policy language and state laws vary, and listeners should rely on guidance from their companies and counsel as appropriate.
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