Design &Â construct insurance
Standard Public Liability covers accidents and physical damage, but it does not cover your professional advice.
If you draft plans, modify designs, or manage sub-consultants, you need Design and Construct (D&C) Insurance. Also known as Builders Professional Indemnity, this policy protects your business against claims of financial loss caused by design errors, incorrect specifications, or professional negligence.
What is Design and Construct Insurance?
Design and Construct Insurance (also called Builders PI) protects you if a client claims they lost money because of your professional advice, design services, or project management.
While Public Liability covers physical damage or injury (e.g., a wall falls on a car), D&C Insurance covers financial loss (e.g., the wall was designed incorrectly and has to be rebuilt).
- Draft your own designs or amend plans.
- Hire consultants (engineers/architects) but take responsibility for their work.
- Provide advice on materials or construction methods.
- Are required by contract (D&C contract) to hold Professional Indemnity.
Common Questions about Builders PI
You can get Professional Indemnity (PI) as a builder through a specialist construction insurance broker like Tank Insurance. General insurers often exclude "manual work" from PI policies, so builders require a specific "Design and Construct" policy that covers both their professional advice and their practical building activities.
Tradies can get PI insurance from construction-focused brokers like Tank Insurance who understand the specific design risks of their trade. Whether you are an electrician designing a circuit or a plumber planning drainage, you need a policy that covers the "advice" portion of your work, which standard Public Liability does not cover.
You can get PI through an insurance broker that specialises in Design & Construct insurance (also known as professional indemnity). This covers the liability for a specific job for the duration of the build and a "run-off" period afterwards. Contact Tank Insurance if you require this insurance.
If you are required to hold professional indemnity insurance, an insurance broker that specialises in design & construction insurance will be able to assist to obtain it, covering projects.
We cover:
- [✓] D&C Insurance: Comprehensive design and build cover.
- [✓] Builders Professional Indemnity: For advice, drafting, and project management.
- [✓] Construction PI: Tailored for large and small commercial projects.
- [✓] Vicarious Liability: Cover for errors made by your sub-consultants (engineers/architects).