MALVERN, PA — A new study from the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I) and Whisker Labs, with analytical support from Octagram Analytics, reveals that smart home technology is delivering measurable results in fire prevention. Specifically, the research shows that Whisker Labs’ Ting device reduced certain non-catastrophic residential fire claims by 63% within three years of installation.
This marks the first comprehensive quantitative assessment of Internet of Things (IoT) fire prevention efficacy using real-world claims data. According to the findings, homes using Ting experienced 0.39 fewer fire claims per 1,000 policy years by year three—translating to an $81 average annual savings per customer in fire-related losses.
“As property/casualty insurers increasingly focus on predicting and preventing costly damage that drives up claims and premiums, this study provides concrete evidence of the value that telematics technology can deliver,” said Patrick Schmid, Chief Insurance Officer at Triple-I. “This analysis clearly shows Ting reduces claims and provides a positive return on investment for insurers.”
Ting functions by plugging into a standard outlet and using AI to monitor the home’s electrical system in real time. The device processes 30 million voltage measurements per second to detect abnormal arcing and other precursors to electrical fires. In many cases, the issues originate not only from in-home wiring and devices but also from problems in the utility supply. According to Whisker Labs, Ting identifies a fire hazard in roughly one of every 60 homes where it’s installed.
“Ting is about saving lives and homes—that’s always been our mission,” said Bob Marshall, CEO and cofounder of Whisker Labs. “By analyzing verified claims data over time, this analysis shows that what’s best for families also delivers a strong financial return for insurers.”
In addition to fire risk mitigation, Ting also monitors for low indoor temperatures, sending alerts to prevent frozen or burst pipes. Over the past three years, one in every 560 homes received such a warning annually.
To ensure robust analysis, the study utilized a self-controlled methodology—comparing claims data over time in homes with Ting installed. This approach allowed the team to isolate the impact of the device despite challenges such as sampling bias and limited data in specific geographies.
“We developed a methodology to prove that home IoT technology can prevent losses in the real world,” said Stan Heckman, Chief Scientist at Whisker Labs. “The challenge was demonstrating that claims didn’t occur—essentially counting fires that never happened.”
The findings suggest that the $81 in annual fire loss prevention is just one part of Ting’s overall value proposition. The device may also deliver additional savings through reduced water damage claims and improved policyholder retention.
More than 1 million Ting units have already been deployed nationwide, with 50,000 new installations each month. A growing roster of 30 property/casualty insurers are now offering the technology to their policyholders free of charge—a signal that IoT-based risk mitigation is gaining traction in the insurance sector.
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