PI
Core cover
Professional Indemnity
Essential protection for financial loss claimed due to design errors, omissions or professional negligence in your engineering work.
Engineers Insurance
Specialist protection for engineering advice, design work and consultancy - backed by expert brokers who understand your industry.
Questions? Call us now on
Core cover mix
Cover built around how engineers actually work
Most engineering firms combine a tailored mix of the covers below, depending on their discipline, project profile and digital footprint.
PL
On-site risk
Public Liability
Covers third-party injury, property damage and associated legal defence costs arising from your operations or site visits.
Pack
Physical assets
Business Pack
Tools, portable equipment, office contents, stock and commercial assets, with options for fire, theft and business interruption cover.
Cyber
Digital exposure
Cyber Insurance
Data breaches, hacks, ransomware, system damage, business interruption and forensic IT costs when something goes wrong online.
Disciplines we support
Who This Cover Is For
We arrange tailored cover for engineering disciplines across Australia.
Acoustic engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Drafting & design
Environmental engineering
Hydraulic engineering
Industrial & manufacturing
Marine engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mining engineering
Plumbing engineering
Product design engineering
Safety engineering
Software & systems engineering
Structural engineering
Telecommunications engineering
Traffic engineering
Water, sewerage & flow systems
If you provide engineering design, inspections, certification, documentation or consulting, Professional Indemnity is strongly recommended, and often contractually required.
Coverage overview
What’s Included in Engineers Insurance
Your insurance package is tailored to your discipline, revenue, project complexity and contractual obligations. Common inclusions are:
Professional Indemnity provides financial protection if a client alleges your advice or design work caused them loss.
- Incorrect calculations or design errors
- Oversights in reports, drawings, specifications or documentation
- Advice that leads to project delays or cost overruns
- Alleged breaches of professional duty
- Misstatements or omissions in technical work
- Legal defence costs (even for unproven claims)
- Some mitigation costs (varies by insurer)
- Some unintentional IP infringement (varies by insurer)
Tank Insurance works with specialist PI underwriters including:
Dual, CFC, Brooklyn, Vero, CGU, QBE, High Street, Woodina, Ocean Underwriting, Newline, Berkley, About Underwriting, Chubb, Arch Insurance, and others.
This allows us to negotiate the right terms for your specific discipline.
Recommended for engineers who conduct site visits, inspections or contract management. Protects against:
- Third-party property damage
- Personal injury claims
- Legal defence costs
Depending on your business setup, this may include:
- Tools and portable equipment
- Office contents and electronics
- Stock and commercial property
- Fire, theft and accidental damage
- Business interruption
Engineering practices increasingly handle sensitive data and rely on digital systems. Cyber cover can protect against:
- Malware and ransomware
- Data breaches
- System damage
- Business interruption
- Forensic IT and recovery costs
Note: Cover varies between insurers — always check your PDS.
What’s Covered / Not Covered
Here's what Professional Indemnity typically responds to.
Usually Covered
- ✓ Professional negligence
- ✓ Design errors or incorrect calculations
- ✓ Documentation mistakes
- ✓ Advice causing financial loss
- ✓ Legal defence costs
- ✓ Some mitigation or IP cover (varies)
Not Typically Covered
- ✕ Intentional wrongdoing or fraud
- ✕ Known issues not disclosed to the insurer
- ✕ Property damage or bodily injury (Public Liability covers this)
- ✕ Contractual guarantees beyond reasonable professional duty
- ✕ Work in excluded jurisdictions
- ✕ Fines or penalties
Common questions
Common Questions Engineers Ask
Short answers to the questions we hear most often from engineering firms.
Requirements vary across Australia. Many engineers must hold PI to meet RPEQ, NSW DBP Regulation, commercial client requirements or industry standards. We help engineers understand how insurers interpret these obligations when setting terms.
PI is designed to respond when your business is found legally liable for professional services, including work performed by your employees and, in many cases, subcontractors engaged by you. The appropriate level of cover depends on:
- The types of projects you take on
- Your exposure to downstream financial loss
- What your contracts require
- Typical limits chosen by similar engineering disciplines
The limit is ultimately your decision; we help you make an informed one.
Generally, no. PI responds to civil claims for financial loss, not criminal penalties or regulatory fines.
Policy Basis: Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is claims-made, meaning the policy that is active when the claim is made is the one that responds — not the policy active when the original work was performed.
Client Success: Our hands-on claims management is a major reason Tank Insurance maintains a 95%+ renewal rate among engineering clients.
Real-World Engineering Scenarios Where Insurance Responds
These examples represent the types of situations Professional Indemnity is designed to address.
A misinterpreted soil report causing revised foundation works
An incorrect structural calculation leading to redesign
Documentation inconsistencies creating costly project delays
A mechanical services specification that fails to meet performance requirements
Certification disputes under the DBP Act
Software or systems engineering errors resulting in downstream financial loss
These are engineering-sector examples (not Tank Insurance client cases), demonstrating the types of risks PI is designed to cover.
Why engineers work with us
Why Engineers Choose Tank Insurance
A specialist brokerage focused on engineering risks, complex PI placement and hands-on support at every stage of your policy.
Specialist PI & complex placement expertise
We place engineering Professional Indemnity regularly and understand how underwriters view different disciplines, project types and contract structures.
Access to Australia’s strongest insurer network
We work with a broad panel including Dual, CFC, Brooklyn, Vero, CGU, QBE, High Street, Woodina, Ocean Underwriting, Newline, Berkley, About Underwriting, Chubb, Arch Insurance and more.
Boutique, highly responsive service
One broker plus one dedicated support resource per client, so you always know exactly who to contact and get fast, informed assistance.
Fast turnaround (same-day where possible)
Straightforward engineering risks can often be quoted the same day, or within 24–48 hours, once all required information is received.
Hands-on claims management
We personally lodge, manage and negotiate every claim, coordinating underwriters, assessors and panel lawyers so you can focus on projects.
Guidance on risk, contracts & subcontractors
We help you understand what insurers are looking for and how your projects are viewed from a risk perspective, including:
- How subcontractor cover typically works
- Which exposures your projects create
- How to frame business descriptions for underwriters
Award-winning broker expertise
Tank Insurance is led by award-winning broker Marel Pencev, recognised as a top NSW broker by Advisr for his work with SME and specialised clients.
High retention rate for engineers
Our engineering clients stay with us because we:
- Get the placement right from the beginning
- Adapt cover as their business grows
- Advocate for them at every renewal
National coverage
Based in Sydney and servicing engineers across Australia, whether you work locally, interstate or on national project portfolios.
Engineers Insurance FAQ
Your PI limit depends on the type of engineering work you do, project complexity, contract requirements and the potential financial impact of an error. Requirements differ across insurers, clients and Australian states. A broker can help assess exposures.
Employee work is often covered. Subcontractor cover varies widely, some insurers include supervised subcontractors, others require subcontractors to hold their own PI. Always check the PDS.
Some policies include overseas extensions, but this depends on the insurer and jurisdiction. Always disclose international work upfront.
Often, yes, for RPEQ, NSW DBP roles, commercial projects and government contracts. Requirements differ by state and engineering discipline.
Financial loss arising from your advice or design work, including errors, omissions, documentation issues and legal defence costs. Cover varies between insurers.
Common exclusions include intentional wrongdoing, property damage/injury (Public Liability covers this), undisclosed issues, work in excluded jurisdictions and insurer-specific exclusions.
By discipline, revenue, project size, claims history, subcontractor use, required limits and excess.
PI is claims-made. Notify your broker early, provide documents and let the insurer handle investigation and legal defence.
Yes. Tank Insurance can obtain the Certificates of Currency from the insurer or underwriting agency the same day once the policy is set up.
Most insurers offer run-off cover for retired or closed businesses. Options depend on the PDS and contract obligations.