Plumbing Engineer PI Insurance

Plumbing engineers typically provide design services for residential and commercial plumbing systems, including water supply, drainage, and gas. Hydraulic consultants often handle larger-scale or more complex building services hydraulics. Both provide professional design advice rather than installation work, and both need PI insurance for the design liability they carry.

Yes, Professional Indemnity insurance covers plumbing engineering design services. If your water supply design, drainage design, or gas reticulation advice proves negligent and causes system failures or non-compliance, PI insurance covers defence costs and damages.

Common claims include drainage designs that cause backups or flooding, water supply designs that can't achieve required pressures, and systems that fail building code compliance inspections. Hot water system sizing failures and cross-contamination risks from poorly designed non-potable systems also generate claims.

Cover of $1M-$5M is typical for plumbing engineering consultants. Large commercial or residential developments, fire services hydraulics, and complex multi-system designs may require higher limits. Contract requirements will often specify minimums. See our engineers insurance page for more on how limits are assessed across engineering disciplines.

PI insurance covers the professional design and advisory component of your work. Installation work is a separate exposure addressed by public liability and contractor's insurance. If you provide both design and installation services, ensure your policy scope accurately reflects your full range of activities.