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Construction Insurance for Contractors and Projects
Bring work in progress, liability, employees, plant, design responsibility and contract requirements into one structured insurance review.
Cover, limits and acceptance depend on the business, project, disclosure, insurer appetite and policy wording.
Choose the route that matches the work
The trading label matters less than the work, contracts and responsibilities being insured.
Choose the construction insurance route
Start with the page that matches the business, project or equipment responsibility being insured.
Start with the route that matches the need
Ongoing annual contractor programme
For a business undertaking a pipeline of projects, review liabilities, contract works, plant, tools and business property together on the builders’ combined and annual programme page.
One named construction project
For a development or contract with its own dates, values, parties and insurance schedule, use the construction project insurance page.
Contractors’ All Risks or contract works
For questions about physical work in progress, materials and temporary works, start with Contractors’ All Risks and contract works insurance.
Contract and tender requirements
If a contract allocates responsibility for works, existing structures, joint names or evidence of insurance, use the construction contract requirements page. Contract interpretation may require legal advice as well as insurance review.
Related specialist construction routes
The core pages above separate annual programmes, named projects and work-in-progress cover. Where the business has a more specific exposure, these routes provide a more focused starting point:
- Contractor insurance for a trading contractor’s wider liability, tools and business risks.
- Groundworks insurance for excavation, foundations, drainage and associated site work.
- Civil engineering insurance for infrastructure and civil works.
- Contractors’ plant insurance for owned machinery and equipment.
- Hired-in plant insurance for equipment hired under contractual conditions.
The main insurance questions
| Question | Typical starting point | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Who is responsible for damage to work in progress? | CAR or contract works | Responsibility and cover depend on the contract and policy wording. |
| Could site activity injure someone or damage third-party property? | Public liability | Exclusions, limits and contractual liabilities must be checked. |
| Does the business employ people? | Employers’ liability | Employers generally need this cover in Great Britain, subject to legal exemptions. |
| Who owns or hires plant and tools? | Owned or hired-in plant | Hire conditions, security, values and continuing charges may require separate consideration. |
| Does the contractor design, specify or advise? | Professional indemnity | Duties, contractual standards and retroactive exposure should be reviewed. |
| Is the work inside or attached to an existing building? | Project and contract review | Do not assume contract works automatically includes the existing structure. |
Information to prepare
- Description of the work and project types
- Annual turnover, wage roll and labour structure
- Typical and maximum contract values
- Number and value of concurrent projects
- Project dates and locations for a named scheme
- Subcontractor arrangements
- Owned and hired plant, tools and temporary works
- Higher-risk work methods and structural alterations
- Design or specification responsibilities
- Contract insurance schedules, previous cover and claims
The final information required will depend on the risk and insurer.
Frequently asked questions
Is construction insurance one policy?
Not necessarily. It is a broad description for several possible sections, including liabilities, work in progress, plant, tools, property and design responsibility.
Is Contractors’ All Risks the same as public liability?
No. CAR or contract works generally concerns physical work in progress and related property sections, while public liability concerns legal liability for injury or damage to others. The exact response depends on the policies and circumstances.
Should an annual programme or a project policy be used?
An annual programme may suit a contractor with continuing work, while a project-specific placement may suit a named development. Neither route is automatically preferable.
Can Insure24 confirm what a JCT or NEC contract requires?
Insure24 can review the insurance information supplied and identify points to discuss with insurers. Legal interpretation should be obtained from an appropriately qualified legal adviser.