Client Profile
A leading commercial property insurance provider responsible for a portfolio of retail, office, industrial, and multi-tenant properties across hurricane-prone regions.
The Challenge
After a major storm event, one of the insurer’s clients reported significant roof damage. A contractor performed a thermography inspection using a drone and fluid testing on a wet roof. The results suggested the entire roof system was saturated and required full replacement.
For the insurer, this meant a potential $40 million claim payout and the removal of over 800,000 cubic feet of roofing material – an unnecessary burden on both finances and the environment.
The insurer, skeptical of the findings, sought a second opinion before authorizing the claim.
RAM’s Solution
RAM Companies deployed its patented aerial infrared scanning technology, mounted on fixed-wing aircraft with high-payload FLIR cameras that far exceed the capacity of drones. Unlike drone-based scans, RAM’s system provides consistent, high-resolution data across large roof areas, free from false positives caused by wet surfaces.
Within hours, RAM delivered a precise scan that revealed the truth:
- Less than 5% of the roof showed actual damage
- The rest of the roof was fully functional and did not require replacement
RAM’s thermography not only saved the insurer from an unnecessary payout but also prevented massive landfill waste and provided objective evidence to resolve the claim quickly.
The Results
- $40 Million Savings Revealed: The insurer avoided a costly, unnecessary roof replacement.
- Environmental Impact Reduced: 800,000 cubic feet of roofing material stayed out of landfills.
- Fraud Prevention: Clear data exposed false positives from the contractor’s report.
- Claims Settled Faster: Objective evidence reduced disputes and accelerated resolution.
Why It Matters for Insurers
This case demonstrates how insurers can leverage RAM’s aerial infrared expertise to:
- Defend Against Inflated Claims: Objective thermal data prevents overpayment on false or exaggerated storm claims.
- Manage Portfolio Risk: RAM’s ability to scan entire regions overnight provides insurers with real-time visibility into roof health.
- Support Pre- & Post-Storm Verification: Baseline scans prove whether moisture infiltration was storm-related or pre-existing.
- Offer Premium Advantages: Verified data supports reduced premiums for proactive tenants.
Why RAM Companies
- National coverage with fleet-based aerial infrared aircraft
- Ability to scan thousands of roofs in a single night
- Trusted by insurers, REITs, school systems, and government agencies, including NASA and USPS
- Over 25 years of proven aerial thermography expertise
Conclusion
When millions of dollars and environmental sustainability are on the line, insurers cannot afford to rely on incomplete or misleading data. Drone-based scans may look appealing, but often fail under storm conditions.
RAM Companies delivers the accuracy, scale, and proven expertise insurers need to protect portfolios, reduce claim costs, and make data-driven decisions with confidence.