Construction/Building Contractors

Professional Indemnity Insurance for Building Contractors

Building contractors increasingly find themselves carrying professional liability exposure through design portions, performance specifications and project management responsibilities. Specialist PI cover protects your business when standard liability policies cannot.

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Risk Exposure

Why Building Contractors Need Professional Indemnity Insurance

Modern construction contracts frequently impose professional duties on building contractors that extend beyond traditional workmanship obligations. Performance specifications, contractor's design portions, and coordination responsibilities all create exposures that require Professional Indemnity Insurance.

Even where a contractor does not consider themselves to be providing 'design services', the contractual allocation of risk under standard form contracts can create professional liability exposure.

A single claim arising from a design coordination failure or specification error can significantly exceed the financial resources of most contracting businesses.

Scope of Cover

Typical Activities Covered

New build commercial and residential construction
Refurbishment and fit-out projects
Contractor's Design Portion responsibilities
Material and system specification
Project coordination and programming
Temporary works design

Illustrative Claims Scenarios

Typical Claims Scenarios

The following scenarios are illustrative examples only and are intended to demonstrate the types of claims Professional Indemnity Insurance is designed to respond to.

1

Material Specification Error

A building contractor specifies floor finishes that prove unsuitable for the intended use. The entire floor covering requires replacement, and the employer pursues a Professional Indemnity claim for the replacement costs and associated business interruption losses.

2

Coordination of Services

Inadequate coordination between mechanical and structural elements leads to services clashing with structural beams. Extensive on-site modifications are required, and a Professional Indemnity claim is made for the additional costs.

3

Temporary Works Failure

A temporary support structure designed by the contractor's site team fails during construction, causing damage to adjacent property. A Professional Indemnity claim is pursued for rectification costs and third-party property damage.

Proposal Information

What Underwriters Usually Ask

When we approach the market on your behalf, underwriters will typically require the following information. We guide you through this process.

01Annual contract turnover and typical project values
02Types of construction work undertaken
03Extent of design responsibility accepted under contracts
04Use of sub-contractors for specialist design work
05Claims and circumstances history
06Contractual arrangements and standard forms of contract used

Why Choose PLB

Specialist Building Contractors PI Brokers

Sector Expertise

We understand the specific professional risks facing building contractors and arrange cover that responds to your actual exposures.

Market Access

Access to specialist Professional Indemnity underwriters and markets with experience in this sector.

Personal Service

Deal directly with experienced PI specialists who know your sector — not a call centre or an algorithm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Building Contractors — Common Questions

Get Started

Request a Quotation

Complete the form and a specialist Professional Indemnity broker will review your Building Contractors activities and contact you within one working day.

No obligation quotation
Direct access to specialist PI broker
Response within one working day
Independent, advice-led service

Building Contractors — Request a Quotation

Construction
Building Contractors
PLB

Professional Indemnity Brokers

Specialist Professional Indemnity Insurance brokers providing expert advice to businesses and professionals across the United Kingdom.

0800 061 4262mail@plb.insure
International House, 36–38 Cornhill, London EC3V 3NG

PLB Professional Indemnity Brokers is a trading style of Professional Liability Brokers Limited registered in England & Wales (No. 09847323).

Professional Liability Brokers Limited is an Appointed Representative of Acrisure Eleven Network Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 314593).

The applicable Terms of Business will be provided to clients and introducing agents separately, according to the nature of the relationship.

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