Special perils is property insurance that insures against loss to covered property from all fortuitous causes except those that are specifically excluded.
This method of identifying covered causes of loss in a property policy has traditionally been referred to as "all risks" coverage. Many industry practitioners continue to use the term "all risks" to describe this approach to defining covered causes of loss in a property insurance policy. However, it is no longer used in insurance policies because of concern that the word "all" suggests coverage that is broader than it actually is. Because of this concern, some industry practitioners have begun to use the term "special perils" or "open perils" instead of "all risks."