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(a) "Sinkhole" means a landform created by subsidence of soil,
sediment, or rock as underlying strata are dissolved by groundwater. A sinkhole
may form by collapse into subterranean voids created by dissolution of limestone
or dolostone or by subsidence as these strata are dissolved.
(b) "Sinkhole loss" means structural damage to the building, including the foundation, caused by
sinkhole activity. Contents coverage shall apply only if there is structural
damage to the building caused by sinkhole activity.
(c) "Sinkhole activity" means settlement
or systematic weakening of the earth supporting such property only when such
settlement or systematic weakening results from movement or raveling of soils,
sediments, or rock materials into subterranean voids created by the effect of
water on a limestone or similar rock formation.
(d) "Engineer" means a person, as defined
in s. 471.005, who has a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering with a specialty
in the geotechnical engineering field. An engineer must have geotechnical experience
and expertise in the identification of sinkhole activity as well as other potential
causes of damage to the structure.
(e) "Professional geologist" means
a person, as defined by s. 492.102, who has a bachelor's degree or higher in
geology or related earth science with expertise in the geology of Florida. A
professional geologist must have geological experience and expertise in the identification
of sinkhole activity as well as other potential geologic causes of damage to
the structure. |
