Building facade representing professional indemnity insurance for facade engineers

Facade Engineer PI Insurance

Professional Indemnity cover for facade engineers. Protection for building envelope designs that keep weather out and occupants comfortable.

$20M

Cover Available

Envelope

Design

Same Day

Quotes

Recognition

The building envelope is your domain. When facades leak, thermal performance falls short, or cladding creates concerns, Professional Indemnity insurance protects you when building envelope claims arise.

Get a Quote Call 02 9000 1155

Envelope Criticality

The facade is the primary weather barrier. When it fails, water enters the building causing damage far exceeding the facade cost. Remediation of facade water ingress in occupied buildings is expensive, disruptive, and generates significant claims. Professional Indemnity insurance is the key protection for these exposures.

Cladding Legacy

The combustible cladding crisis demonstrated the long-tail liability facade engineers face. Cladding specified years ago continues to generate claims. Understanding your historical exposure and current coverage is important - see our article on rising PI costs for engineers for more context.

WHY TANK INSURANCE

What to look for in PI cover

Facade engineering involves unique exposures that require specialist understanding. We arrange coverage that addresses water ingress, thermal performance, and material specification liability.

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Envelope Expertise

We work with insurers who understand facade engineering, including curtain walls, weatherproofing, thermal performance, and the types of claims that arise from envelope failures.

Cladding Awareness

The combustible cladding crisis changed facade insurance. We arrange appropriate coverage for facade engineers.

Water Ingress Claims

Facade water ingress is a significant claim driver. We work to make sure your coverage adequately addresses claims for internal damage from envelope failures.

High-Rise Coverage

High-rise facades involve greater exposure, with more envelope area, higher wind loads, and more complex systems. We work to ensure limits reflect the scale of buildings you work on.

PROFESSIONAL RISKS

Risks Facade Engineers Face

These building envelope design decisions carry professional liability when facades fail to perform as barriers against weather, heat, and sound.

Water ingress through facade design failures

Structural facade connections failing under wind loads

Thermal bridging causing condensation and mould

Glass selection inadequate for wind and thermal loads

Cladding material specifications with fire safety issues

Movement joint design insufficient for building dynamics

Facade thermal performance not meeting energy targets

Acoustic performance of facade below requirements

COVERAGE DETAILS

What Facade Engineer PI Insurance Covers

Professional Indemnity insurance for facade engineers covers claims arising from your building envelope design, material specification, and facade engineering services.

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Usually Covered

✓ Legal defence costs when facade designs are challenged

✓ Claims for water ingress through facade systems

✓ Thermal performance not meeting design predictions

✓ Structural facade connection failures

✓ Glass and glazing specification errors

✓ Movement and expansion joint design failures

Not Typically Covered

✕ Installation workmanship failures (installer's liability)

✕ Deliberate specification of non-compliant materials

✕ Known cladding issues not disclosed at policy inception

✕ Product failures (manufacturer's liability)

✕ Physical damage during site work (Public Liability)

✕ Certain combustible cladding claims (policy-dependent)

FROM THE MARKET

Facade Engineer PI in Practice

Real quoting scenarios from facade engineering PI placements. Market access, insurer appetite, and what actually drives outcomes for specialist glazing and envelope engineers.

01 Queensland Glazing Engineer: Five Insurer Declines, One Market Found

A Queensland facade engineer with 18 years' experience specialising in structural glazing of windows and doors for residential buildings up to ten floors needed $1M PI and $20M Public Liability. The scope was clearly defined - structural glazing engineering only, no general structural work. Annual revenue was under $100,000.

We took the risk to market across a panel of insurers. Some declined because their policies require structural work to be less than 10% of total scope - a blanket rule that excludes anyone whose entire practice is structural glazing. Others declined or quoted minimum premiums around $20,000, which is not viable for a small specialist practice. One insurer offered terms but only at a $500K limit, which falls short of what residential projects up to ten floors require.

Ocean Underwriting was the only insurer to return workable options at a meaningful limit.

THE RESULT:

We obtained competitive terms from Ocean Underwriting across two limit options: $1M PI at around $5,900 total, and $2M PI at around $6,800 total. Most other insurers declined or returned premiums that were not viable for a small operation at this revenue level. The structural label, not the actual risk profile, drove most of those declines.

Read full case study

QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

01 Why is PI insurance critical for facade engineers?

Facade engineering involves the building envelope, the primary barrier against weather, the visible face of the building, and increasingly a life-safety system given combustible cladding concerns. Facade failures create significant remediation costs and professional liability exposure.

02 What are common facade engineering claims?

Water ingress through facade systems is a common claim type, including leaking curtain walls, failed weatherseals, and water penetration causing internal damage. Thermal performance failures, glass breakage from inadequate specification, and structural connection issues also generate significant claims.

03 Does facade PI cover combustible cladding issues?

Coverage for combustible cladding claims depends on your policy terms and when the buildings were designed. Many insurers have introduced exclusions or restrictions for cladding-related claims. If you've specified cladding systems on past projects, review your policy carefully with your broker. Our PI FAQs for engineers covers related questions on historical exposure.

04 How much PI cover do facade engineers need?

Cover of $2M-$20M is common for facade engineers. Facade remediation can cost millions per building, so adequate limits are important. Major commercial or high-rise projects may require higher coverage. Your broker can help you assess appropriate limits for your project types.

05 Is facade engineering covered under structural or architectural PI?

Facade engineering is a distinct specialisation with specific exposures. While it interfaces with structural and architectural design, dedicated facade engineering coverage addresses envelope-specific risks. Multi-discipline practices need policies covering all areas of expertise.

PI Insurance for Facade Engineering

From curtain wall design to cladding specification, we arrange Professional Indemnity cover that protects facade engineers from claims when building envelopes fail to perform.

Call 02 9000 1155 Request a Quote →

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