Design and Construct Insurance.
Standard Public Liability covers accidents and physical damage - but it doesn't cover your professional advice. D&C Insurance does.
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UNDERSTANDING THE COVER
What is Design and Construct Insurance?
Design and Construct Insurance (also called D&C Insurance, Builders PI, or Construction Professional Indemnity) is a specialised type of Professional Indemnity insurance for builders and construction professionals who provide design input as part of their work.
Here's the thing: if a client claims your professional advice, design work, or project management caused them financial loss, standard Public Liability won't help you. PL covers physical damage and bodily injury. D&C Insurance covers the financial loss from your professional services.
Let's use a multi-storey car park to show how three different insurance types respond to three different claims:
Public Liability
A piece of scaffolding falls from your worksite and crushes a parked car below.
Physical injury or property damage to third parties during construction.
Professional Indemnity
A structural engineer designs the support beams too thin. Nothing collapses, but the car park can't safely hold SUVs - the owner loses rental income while it's remediated.
Financial loss from a "pure" professional error by a consultant like an architect or engineer.
Design & Construct
You're the builder who also provided the design. The car park ramps are built too steep for vehicles to exit safely, so you have to pay millions to tear them out and rebuild them correctly.
A specialised form of PI for builders that covers errors in both the design and the actual construction work - which standard PI often excludes.
You typically need D&C Insurance if you:
Draft your own designs or amend existing plans
Provide advice on materials, methods, or specifications
Sign off on work or provide certifications
Take on design risk as part of your construction services
Work on D&C contracts where you carry design risk
Key Takeaway
Public Liability covers accidents. D&C Insurance covers your professional advice and design risks.
Not sure if you need it? Talk to us - we'll help you work out what cover fits your situation.
KEY DIFFERENCES
D&C Insurance vs Standard Professional Indemnity
Not all PI policies are built the same. Standard Professional Indemnity often excludes manual work - which is a problem if you're a builder. Here's how D&C differs.
Need more detail on when Standard PI falls short?
Our full comparison guide covers policy wording traps, real claim scenarios, and how to check if your current PI actually covers your construction work.
WHO NEEDS IT
Who Needs Design and Construct Insurance?
If you provide any professional advice or design input as part of your construction work, you likely need D&C cover.
Residential Builders
If you design homes, modify existing plans, or take responsibility for the overall design outcome on D&C contracts - you need this cover.
Commercial Builders
Commercial projects carry significant design risk exposure. Coverage limits are typically $5M-$20M depending on project values.
Fit-Out Contractors
If you design retail or office fit-outs, specify materials, or coordinate trades with design responsibility - you carry design risk.
HVAC Contractors
Designing mechanical systems, specifying equipment, or providing advice on ventilation requirements? That's professional advice that needs cover.
Electrical Contractors
If you design electrical systems, provide specifications, or certify work - not just install to someone else's design - you may need D&C.
Get in touch
Not sure if your trade needs D&C Insurance? We'll help you work out what cover actually fits your situation.
Talk to usPOLICY SCOPE
What Design and Construct Insurance Covers
D&C Insurance protects you when your professional advice, designs, or specifications cause a client financial loss. Here's what's typically included.
Usually Covered
Not Typically Covered
PRICING
How Much Does D&C Insurance Cost in 2026?
D&C Insurance premiums depend on several factors. Here's what affects your price and what you can expect to pay.
Factors That Affect Your Premium
Annual turnover
Higher revenue generally means higher premiums - more work means more exposure
Type of work
Commercial and multi-storey work typically costs more than residential
Contract sizes
Larger individual contracts = larger potential claims = higher premiums
Claims history
Previous claims or circumstances will affect your pricing
Subcontractor arrangements
Using design subcontractors you're responsible for affects risk profile
Indicative Premium Ranges (2026)
Residential Builder (under $1M turnover)
$2,500 - $6,000 per year
Residential Builder ($1M - $3M turnover)
$5,000 - $12,000 per year
Commercial Builder ($3M+ turnover)
$10,000 - $30,000+ per year
These are indicative ranges only. Your actual premium depends on your specific circumstances. Read our detailed cost guide or get a quote for accurate pricing.
SPECIALIST UNDERWRITERS
Our D&C Insurance Partners
We work with specialist underwriters who actually understand construction risks. These aren't generalist insurers - they're specifically designed to cover builders and construction professionals doing design work.
Insurance Partners
RECENT PLACEMENTS
How We've Helped Construction Professionals Get D&C Cover
D&C Insurance can be tricky to place - many insurers don't understand construction risks. Here's how we've helped clients who were struggling to find cover.
"The biggest issue we see are construction professionals thinking that their existing Public Liability cover will protect them against claims for financial loss, when they are providing design and construction services."
Jack O'Hagan, D&C Insurance Specialist
COMMON QUESTIONS
FAQs About Design and Construct Insurance
REVIEWED BY
Jack O'Hagan
D&C Insurance Specialist
Last updated: January 2026
Experience
6+ Years
Insurance & Finance
Specialty
D&C, PI & Hard-to-Place
Construction Risks
Background
Law & Finance
Bachelor of Law, RG146
Network
Steadfast Group
Australian Owned
Protect Your Design & Build Risks
Don't leave your professional advice exposed. Get a D&C Insurance quote that covers both your designs and your construction work. Same-day quotes from specialist underwriters.