Property & risk
What do FLEXA and STFI mean in fire insurance?
FLEXA stands for Fire, Lightning, Explosion/Implosion and Aircraft damage: the core perils of a fire policy. STFI stands for Storm, Tempest, Flood and Inundation: weather and water damage. Together they describe most of what a business fire policy protects against.
In short
- FLEXA = Fire, Lightning, Explosion/Implosion, Aircraft damage.
- STFI = Storm, Tempest, Flood, Inundation.
- Depending on the policy, STFI may sit in the standard perils or be its own section, and earthquake is often separate.
- After this year’s floods, natural-catastrophe pricing is rising faster than FLEXA pricing.
What is the full form of FLEXA?
FLEXA stands for Fire, Lightning, Explosion/Implosion and Aircraft damage. These are the core perils of a fire policy: the events it was first built to cover, and the ones every business fire policy includes.
What is the full form of STFI?
STFI stands for Storm, Tempest, Flood and Inundation. It covers damage from weather and water: a cyclone, a cloudburst, a river breaking its banks, a warehouse floor under water.
Is STFI included in every fire policy?
Not always in the same way. Depending on the policy, STFI may sit inside the standard perils or be shown as its own section of the quote, and it can be removed to lower the premium. Earthquake is often a separate section too. The only reliable answer is the policy schedule, so check it rather than assuming.
This matters more this year. After heavy flood losses in Gujarat, Assam and Odisha, insurers are pricing natural-catastrophe cover up faster than FLEXA, so STFI and earthquake are the sections most likely to be trimmed at a costly renewal, just when the risk is most visible.
The other fire policy short forms
| Short form | Stands for | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| EQ | Earthquake | Earthquake damage to the insured property |
| FLOP | Fire Loss of Profit | Profit and fixed costs lost while the business stays shut after fire damage |
| MBD | Machinery Breakdown | Sudden mechanical or electrical breakdown of the machines covered |
| EEI | Electronic Equipment Insurance | Computers, servers and electronics, including accidental damage and breakdown |
What decides an STFI or FLEXA claim
The sum insured, as much as the peril. If the sum insured is lower than what it would cost to rebuild and replace, the claim is paid in proportion, even for a small loss. That is the average clause, and it is the most common reason a fire or flood claim pays less than expected.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of FLEXA in insurance?
FLEXA stands for Fire, Lightning, Explosion/Implosion and Aircraft damage, the core perils of a fire policy.
What is the full form of STFI in insurance?
STFI stands for Storm, Tempest, Flood and Inundation, the weather and water perils in a fire policy.
Does a fire policy cover flood?
Through STFI cover. Depending on the policy, it may sit inside the standard perils or be shown as its own section that can be removed. Check the policy schedule.
Is earthquake covered under STFI?
No. Earthquake is a separate peril and is often a separate section of the policy.
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A note on this page. Everything here is general information, not insurance, legal, financial or tax advice, and nothing is an offer. What any fire or property policy covers depends on its own wording and schedule. Market references are drawn from reporting dated 20 September 2026. For advice about your situation, talk to us.