Term of the Week: Temporary Protective Measures (TPM)

What It Is

Temporary Protective Measures (TPM) — sometimes called temporary repairs or emergency services — are the immediate actions taken after a loss to prevent further damage to the structure or its contents. Common examples include roof tarping after wind or hail damage, board-up of blown-out windows and doors, water extraction and drying equipment deployment, debris removal from drainage paths, and security fencing around unsafe structures.

Why It Matters

Most property policies include a duty-to-mitigate provision: the insured is required to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage after a covered loss occurs. TPM is how that duty gets operationalized. If the insured fails to mitigate and secondary damage results, the carrier may have grounds to limit or deny the secondary damage claim.

The flip side: carriers also have an obligation to respond promptly. If TPM authorization is delayed and the insured takes independent action to protect the property, those costs are generally recoverable — and disputing them creates more expense than approving them would have.

The Authorization Timeline Is the Key Variable

In practice, TPM disputes almost always come down to timing and authorization. Key questions adjusters should be able to answer on any file:

• When did the carrier first authorize TPM action (not when did TPM complete)?
• Was the insured notified of the authorization before they acted independently?
• Is the TPM invoice itemized by service type, square footage, and rate — or is it a lump sum?

TPM vs. Permanent Repair

TPM covers only what is necessary to prevent additional loss — not restoration. A tarp over a missing roof section is TPM. Replacing the roof decking is not, even if the tarp is leaking. The line matters because TPM is often authorized before coverage is confirmed, and permanent repair scope requires a separate authorization chain. Mixing the two on a single invoice is a common source of dispute on large CAT files.

On Tornado and Severe Wind Losses

When the roof is completely removed, TPM scope expands significantly. The entire interior becomes a weather-exposed surface. Tarping a roofless structure may require engineered temporary framing to support the tarp load — especially in ongoing storm conditions. Document the method, not just the square footage. A tarp invoice that doesn't explain how it was secured on a structure with no roof deck is going to get questioned at supplement review.