What the Vjesnik Tower Fire in Zagreb Reveals About Insuring High-Rise Buildings

The recent fire in the Vjesnik tower in Zagreb has reopened an important question: Are our high-rise buildings properly insured, and do we really understand what these insurance policies cover?
In practice, large buildings are insured very differently depending on whether they are residential, commercial, or industrial properties — and this is where most confusion among owners and occupants arises.

Residential Buildings
In multi-residential properties, the building insurance typically covers the structure, roof, facade, and shared installations. A common misconception is that the policy held by the building manager also covers the personal property of residents — but it does not.
Furniture, appliances, and personal belongings need to be covered through a separate household insurance policy.

Commercial Buildings
Office towers, hotels, and shopping centres carry greater exposure and must meet stricter fire-safety requirements. Beyond basic property insurance, key coverages include:

• business interruption
• third-party liability
• tenants’ equipment and assets
  In these buildings, a fire often results not only in material damage but also in long periods during which the premises cannot be used.

Industrial Facilities
Here, insurance must be tailored to the specific technological processes — including machinery, production lines, raw-material storage, and sometimes environmental liability.
Industrial risks are the most complex on the market and usually require an in-depth risk assessment before the policy is placed.

What Can We Learn from the Vjesnik Tower fire?

• Fire-safety systems in high-rise buildings must be maintained at the highest level.
• Insurance policies must be up-to-date and aligned with how the building is actually used.
• Differences between residential, commercial, and industrial risks directly influence policy structure and payout potential.
• Residents and tenants need to understand where the building’s insurance coverage ends — and where their personal responsibility begins.

The Vjesnik tower fire is a reminder of how vital it is to have a properly structured insurance policy, regardless of a building’s size or purpose.
When an incident occurs, a well-designed policy is often the difference between a swift recovery and long-term disruption.

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