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Classes & Categories of Water: a PACE Program Exercise

Release Date: 05/01/2026

[REPLAY] A Storm Spoiled My Insured's Fish

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Welcome to “What’s the Scenario? with PLRB”, where we explore claims & coverage scenarios relevant to insurance professionals. I’m Brennan McLoughlin, and we’re taking a break this week after another successful PLRB Regional Innovation Summit. This week we’ll share a follow-up episode from the PLRB Weather team. A small grocery store specializes in farm-to-table meat and fish, locally sourced and priced at the high end of the market. After accepting their week’s shipment on a Wednesday evening, thunderstorms led to a power outage that spoiled the fish. Notable...

[REPLAY] Cyclones, Insurance & A Bowl of Spaghetti (Models)

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Welcome to “What’s the Scenario? with PLRB”, where we explore claims & coverage scenarios relevant to insurance professionals. I’m Brennan McLoughlin, and for this holiday week we’ll be sharing a classic episode from the PLRB Weather team. A CAT Manager is making preparations for her CAT team in advance of Hurricane Francine, which approached the Louisiana coast in the second week of September, 2024. She reads something about spaghetti models, and something about Fast Track cyclones? Notable Timestamps [ 00:36 ] - The building owner submits the claim to their...

Oops! Is a Contractor's Work Ever Really Done?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A contractor was hired to renovate a kitchen. The homeowner was thrilled with the results, but asked for a few final punch-list items: adjusting the cabinet doors and replacing a damaged drawer pull. To reach the cabinets, the contractor moved the refrigerator, but failed to securely reconnect the ice maker supply line before leaving. Two days later, the homeowner discovered water throughout the kitchen and adjacent rooms after the line separated, damaging the newly renovated space and the surrounding flooring. Notable Timestamps [ 00:45 ] - Mike sets up today's scenario: a...

Wait, the PACE Exam has Mock Claim Documents?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A homeowner reports that the central air conditioning system stopped working during a summer heat wave. They sent their contractor's invoice to their insurance company. The adjuster has to review the invoice, the Declarations Page, and policy excerpts to handle the claim. But this isn’t a real claims file; this are mock claims documents as used in the PACE Designation Exam. Today we’ll explore how authentic assessment is leveraged to test real-world skills, and you can try your luck with this sample question. Notable Timestamps [ 01:24 ] - The exam includes basic recall questions that...

Can You Pass the PACE Designation Exam?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

An adjuster has decided to level up their career by earning their PACE-P Designation. They’ve completed the comprehensive educational program, prepared with the study guide, and are now sitting down to take the remotely proctored exam. Are they ready for it? Are you? Notable Timestamps [ 00:00:34 ] - The podcast explores the scenario of an adjuster who has completed an educational program and a study guide, and is now preparing to sit for the remotely proctored PACE Designation Exam. [ 00:04:04 ] - The PACE Designation program begins with an onboarding curriculum, consisting of three core...

Help! I Need to Study for the PACE Designation Exam!

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

An adjuster has decided to level up their career by earning their PACE-P Designation. They’ve completed the comprehensive educational program, but don’t feel quite ready to sit down and take the PACE Designation Exam. So they download the PACE Study Guide and get started. Notable Timestamps [ 04:23 ] - The PACE Designation Program provides a comprehensive foundation of knowledge and practical skills tailored for claims professionals to succeed. [ 06:41 ] - Members can complete the Core Curriculum, the Personal Lines Property Track, and the Claims Intensives at no additional cost, and...

Oops! What is “That Particular Part”?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A plumber was hired to perform work on a pipe on an insured home. In the course of that work, the plumber accidentally smashed his wrench into the pipe, damaging it. The water damaged nearby drywall and carpet. Notable Timestamps [ 00:44 ] - The j(5) exclusion specifically applies to property damage on that particular part of real property where operations are directly being performed. [ 01:14 ] - In contrast to the j(5) exclusion, the j(6) exclusion applies to any property that requires restoration, repair, or replacement because the work was performed incorrectly. [ 02:44 ] - If a plumber...

Oops! Whose Fault is Faulty Workmanship?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

A general contractor installs a commercial storefront window system. Because the flashing is installed incorrectly, rainwater enters the building during the first storm. The building owner sues the contractor, seeking the cost to remove and replace the defective window system and repair the water-damaged drywall and flooring inside. The contractor tenders the suit to its CGL insurer. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00:34 ] - A contractor faces a lawsuit after incorrectly installing window flashing that leads to water damage inside a building. [ 00:04:48 ] - A central issue in these claims is...

Is Losing a Horse Bodily Injury?

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

Emma’s cousin Mark moved to the big city and left his horse at Emma’s ranch. For five years, she took care of the horse like it was one of her own. One day Mark took offense at one of Emma’s social media posts, and quietly removed the horse without her knowledge, believing he was the rightful owner. Emma was devastated and sued Mark, alleging emotional distress, mental pain and suffering, and loss of consortium. Mark’s insurer denied his defense on the basis that no bodily injury was claimed. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00:33 ] - The scenario involves a woman who sued her cousin for...

Your Neighbor's Attitude is Not an Occurrence

What's the Scenario? with PLRB

The insured has spent months in an escalating dispute with his neighbor over the neighbor’s alleged violation of HOA rules and garish lawn decorations. Finally, the insured takes things too far by aiming his sprinkler at the neighbor’s newly painted shed, ruining an expensive paint job. The insured has been sued, and wants their insurance company to defend them in the lawsuit. Notable Timestamps [ 00:00:32 ] - This scenario involves an insured causing damage by ruining a neighbor's painted shed with a sprinkler, and expecting a defense. [ 00:01:17 ] - The PLRB's Frontlines newsletter is a...

More Episodes

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 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

Employees of member companies also have access to a searchable legal database, hundreds of hours of video trainings, building code materials, weather data, and even the ability to have your coverage questions answered by our team of attorneys (https://www.plrb.org/ask-plrb/) at no additional charge to you or your company.

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Legal Information

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.

Music: “Piece of Future” by Keyframe_Audio. Pixabay. Pixabay License.
Font: Metropolis by Chris Simpson. SIL OFL 1.1.
Icons: FontAwesome (SIL OFL 1.1) and Noun Project (royalty-free licenses purchased via subscription).
Sound Effects: Pixabay (Pixabay License) and Freesound.org (CC0).

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