What is the Swiss Natural Perils Pool?

The Swiss Natural Perils Pool is a pooling of private insurance companies for better equalizing the risk associated with natural disasters and the elements. Thanks to the Swiss Storm & Tempest Pool, underwriting can be done for all policyholders at an affordable flat premium. It is a solidarity community unique throughout the world, benefiting those particularly exposed to the risk posed by natural disasters and the elements such as floods, avalanches, etc. It was set up in 1939.

How am I insured against natural loss?

Natural losses are covered in fire insurance for buildings or movables (business furnishings and inventory, house contents). The legal basis is founded on the Ordinance Pertaining to Natural-Loss Insurance of 18 November 1992 (SR 961.27).

Which natural losses are insured?

Damage caused by flooding, storm (wind force of at least 75 km/h downing trees or tearing the roofs off of buildings in the vicinity of insured items), hail, avalanche, snow pressure, landslide, rockfall and earthslip.
The following is not insured, for example: Damage and loss as the result of subsidence, poor construction ground, bad construction, failure to take precautionary measures, inadequate building maintenance.

Who belongs to the Swiss Natural Perils Pool?

Currently 15 private insurance companies, covering 95 per cent of the Swiss market. They form an ordinary partnership pursuant to article 530 of the Swiss Law of Obligations.

In which cantons is private insurance available for natural loss and damage to buildings?

In the cantons of Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Valais and Obwalden, and in Liechtenstein. In the other cantons of Switzerland natural loss affecting buildings is insured by the cantonal building insurance agencies on the basis of a state monopoly.

What is insured?

The private insurance companies insure buildings in the above-named cantons and movables ((business furnishings and inventory, house contents) in all cantons (except for Vaud and Nidwalden), which also have a state monopoly for movables.


Where can I obtain more information?

The Office of the Swiss Natural Perils Pool, c/o Swiss Insurance Association (SIA), C.F. Meyer-Strasse 14, CH-8022 Zurich, Switzerland
Martin Wüthrich, Managing Director of the Swiss Natural Perils Pool, phone: +41 (44) 208 28 83, fax: +41 (44) 208 28 44. E-mail: martin.wuethrich@svv.ch