Nobody likes to experience a loss. Whether you are an insurance company, or a pipe organ owner, losses can become long, involved and expensive process to handle. With the information we provide here we can help both the pipe organ owner and insurance companies better understand loss or damage to an instrument, what to do in case of a loss, and more importantly how to prevent or minimize a loss.

     Loss. A loss occurs when a pipe organ is damaged from an unexpected occurrence. Most times loss is caused by an act of nature. A loss can be small from minor damage to an individual component or a small section of the organ to a total loss of an organ or many organs in a given area. Loss can occur from:

     Water.
Usually caused from a leaky roof, but can come from drainpipes running through or near the organ, or sprinkler system in or near the organ. The most common cause of loss to an organ is a leaky roof. In small amounts can cause damage to pneumatic components, and in larger amounts can cause irreparable damage to wooden components including wooden pipework, in the form of warping, staining, cracking and splitting, and failed glue joints.

     Fire.
Can either be from a fire within the building itself, or from within the organ. Fires within the organ are usually caused from poor electrical wiring, spontaneous combustion, electrical heaters placed in the organ, or lighting strikes. A fire can be limited to damaging a small portion of the organ to a fire large enough to completely destroy a building.

   Rodents.
Are in the form of mice and rats. Damage to the organ comes from them chewing on the components. Generally rodents will chew off felt and leather to make bedding. They have been known to chew into wood, wiring and even organ pipe metal! The damage can be limited to having to re-­leather a component (such as a reservoir), to repair of organ pipes or wooden components, to replacement of wiring. Damaged wiring can even cause electrical shorts, which could lead to electrical fires.

     Insects.  
Insects are generally in the form of termites and wood-boring beetles. Damage comes from chewed up wooden components. Damage is usually limited to damp areas or areas of high humidity. Damaged can be limited to a small portion of the organ, where limited components will need to be replaced, to extensive replace of wooden components.

     Vandalism.
Vandalism is usually caused by the mischief of children. Because the organ is such a fascinating instrument, it draws their attention. Generally it is a matter of some pipes being exchanged, which have to be put back, or several pipes being knocked out of tune. Sometimes is even involves things being disconnected. Usually the damage is fairly minor. We have though seen and experienced organs that have been access by vandals who have broken into buildings and caused considerable damage to the organ.

     Terrorism.
In this modem day, terrorism has indeed become a real concern, even if the pipe organ owner is not the direct target of terrorism. This type of loss is difficult to predict and hard to prepare for.

     Inadvertent.
This type of damage is generally caused by persons who are uninformed and unknowingly caused damage. Most often this type of damage is caused by workman, contractors, or volunteers who are working on non-organ related item within the organ (such as electrical wiring or lighting). Most often the damage is sensitive portions of the organ, which have been stepped on.

     Lighting.
Lighting strikes usually cause a power surge, which damages electrical components including wiring and solid-state control systems. It can also cause fires within the organ or a building.

     Tornadoes.
Depending on proximity and the strength of the tornado the damage can range from minor to catastrophic. Flying debris can cause impact damage, or the entire organ can be picked up and removed from the building from the force of the winds.

     Earthquakes.
Events that can occur anywhere, and without warning. Damage can range from minor to catastrophic. Generally the worst damage is caused to organ close to the earthquake's epicentre or ones that are inadequately braced and anchored.          

    Hurricanes.
The potentially most devastating event for an organ, combining destructive winds and torrential flooding over a large area. An organ can be torn apart or completely blown away, and soaked with water.

>Kinds of loss
>What to do in case of a loss
>The recovery process
>Loss prevention
>Services provided by Williamson Warne & Associates

>Rules on electrical wiring at organs within the US

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