Board of Fire Underwriters Law and Legal Definition
Board of fire underwriters is a defunct bureau founded by fire insurance underwriters in 1866 to work for fire prevention and loss control. The board helped standardize the fire insurance policy.
The board composed exclusively of fire insurers. Fire insurers are persons engaged in the business of insuring others, on property, against loss by fire.
Prior to any legislation on the subject, associations called boards of underwriters (either fire or marine) existed in various cities. These were voluntary associations, composed exclusively of those engaged in that particular line of business. Their general object was to consult and co-operate in matters affecting their business and they often established salvage corps at their own expense. [Childs v. Minneapolis Board of Fire Underwriters, 66 Minn. 393, 397 (Minn. 1896)].
