DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT INSURANCE CASE STUDY

Event Build and Activation Business, D&C PI With $20M Liability and Glass After Three Declines

Temporary builds, pop-ups and promotional installations combine design responsibility with construction and public access. Three insurers declined the occupation; one specialist market wrote the package.

01

THE SITUATION

A business that designs and constructs stalls, pop-ups, temporary builds and promotional installations for public events came to Tank Insurance needing professional indemnity for its design work, $20 million public liability and glass cover. Revenue had grown from around $800,000 to $1.2 million with two employees, and the business also provided marketing consulting alongside its design and construct work.

02

OUR APPROACH

  • The activities were described as design and construct, with the event, public access and temporary structure elements stated rather than left for the underwriter to infer.
  • Four markets were approached. Three declined on occupation. One specialist market quoted the D&C PI, $20 million public liability and glass as one package.
  • Premium funding was arranged so the annual premium could be paid monthly.
03

THE CHALLENGES

Event builds sit in a gap between construction insurers, who see temporary structures and crowds, and professional indemnity insurers, who see design responsibility for something the same business then builds. Three business pack insurers declined the combination here. The specialist market that quoted was comfortable because the design and construct exposure was declared as one activity, not split across two policies with a gap in the middle.

04

THE OUTCOME

Design and construct professional indemnity, $20 million public liability and glass cover were placed with Keystone at a combined premium of approximately $10,800 a year, paid monthly through premium funding.

Final Solution: D&C PI, $20 million liability and glass for an event build business at around $10,800 a year after three occupation declines.

This case records one historical outcome; current insurer appetite, premium, timing and terms depend on the complete risk at the time of application.

For the wider buying context, see our design and construct insurance guide.

EVENT BUILD QUESTIONS

What this placement answers for other design and construct businesses

Does an event build business need design and construct insurance?
If it designs what it builds, design and construct PI is the cover built for that exposure. Standard public liability responds to injury and property damage, not to a claim that the design was wrong. Design and construct PI covers the design element; in this placement it was packaged with $20 million public liability and glass so nothing fell between two policies.
Why did insurers decline an event installation business?
Temporary structures, public access and design responsibility in one business took it outside three of the four markets' guidelines here. The specialist market that quoted rates the combination rather than excluding it.
How much does D&C insurance cost for a small event business?
It is individually underwritten. This business at around $1.2 million revenue with two employees paid approximately $10,800 a year for D&C PI, $20 million public liability and glass combined. Revenue, the size of builds, public exposure and claims history all move the price.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT INSURANCE

Put this placement in context

Case-study results are historical and are not a promise of current pricing, capacity or policy terms. This page is general information only and does not take account of your objectives, financial situation or needs.

Designing and Building for Events?

Tell us what you design, what you build and where the public goes. We take design and construct risks to the markets that write the combination as one policy.

Last updated: 06/09/2026

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