Trace and access
| Trace and access | |
| Type | Insurance provision |
|---|---|
| Definition source | Policy wording |
| Covers | Cost of locating a leak and of opening up to reach it |
| Does not cover | The repair of the failed pipe or fitting |
| Related peril | Escape of water |
Trace and access is an insurance provision covering the cost of finding the source of a water leak and of opening up the building fabric to reach it. Insurers publish their own definitions in policy glossaries.[1] It exists because the search for a leak sits awkwardly between two things a household policy already deals with: the escape of water peril covers the damage the water causes, and repair of the failed component is usually treated as maintenance, leaving the cost of locating it covered by neither unless a trace and access provision is present.
What the provision covers[edit]
Two costs are typically in scope: the investigation that locates the leak, and the work of removing floors, tiling, plaster or other fabric to expose it. Reinstating what was removed is commonly included as well, since the opening up was necessary to reach the fault.
The repair of the pipe, joint or appliance that failed is normally outside the provision and is treated as maintenance. A leak detection specialist may carry out that repair separately, but it is a different cost from the trace and access cost.
Scope, limits and excesses are matters of the individual policy and differ between insurers,[1] so no general statement about what is covered holds across policies.
Why non-invasive detection matters to it[edit]
The provision pays for opening up, so the amount of opening up determines the cost. A method that narrows a leak to a square metre before any floor is lifted reduces both the access cost and the reinstatement, which is the commercial reason non-invasive detection developed as a distinct discipline rather than remaining part of general plumbing.
Limits of the provision[edit]
A trace and access provision is not universal: policies that carry the escape of water peril do not necessarily carry it, and where it is absent the cost of locating a leak may fall to the policyholder even though the resulting damage is covered.[1] Where it is present it is commonly capped at a stated sum, and that limit is separate from the limit on the damage claim.
See also
References
- abcLV= home insurance glossary. LV= (insurer glossary). Retrieved 2026-09-05