Architect Professional Liability Insurance
Architects make professional decisions that affect design, construction, budgets, schedules and the long-term performance of a project. When a client alleges that a design error, omission or professional service caused financial loss or project delays, an architecture firm can face significant liability.
Clifton Insurance Agency helps individual architects and architecture firms compare professional liability, errors and omissions and broader business insurance based on their services and project exposure.
Complete the form below to request an architect insurance quote or call 877-212-4368 for assistance.
Professional Liability Insurance for Architects
Architect professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions or E&O insurance, can help protect architects and design firms against covered claims alleging negligence, errors or omissions in professional services.
Claims may involve allegations related to design, specifications, professional advice, project coordination or failure to meet an applicable professional standard.
Because architecture firms vary significantly in the services and projects they accept, coverage should reflect the actual work performed.
Insurance for Architecture Firms
Clifton Insurance Agency works with architecture firms providing residential, commercial, industrial, public, landscape and other design services.
Firms that also provide engineering, interior design, construction management, planning or consulting should make sure those additional professional services are disclosed when requesting coverage.
Project type, firm size, annual revenue, previous claims and the use of consultants can all affect underwriting.
Project & Contract Risk
Professional liability exposure often begins before design work is complete.
Client contracts can establish responsibilities involving scope of services, schedules, indemnification, dispute resolution and insurance requirements.
Architecture firms should review contractual obligations carefully and make sure their insurance program is consistent with the services they have agreed to provide.
Design-professional insurers also emphasize contract management as an important part of professional-liability risk management.
Architects & Engineers Working Together
Architecture projects frequently involve engineers, consultants and other design professionals.
When an architecture firm subcontracts engineering or other specialized design work, it is important to understand how responsibility and insurance are allocated between the parties.
Firms providing both architecture and engineering services should make sure both disciplines are accurately described in the professional liability policy.
Engineering Professional Liability Insurance
Professional Liability vs. General Liability
Professional liability and general liability address different exposures.
Professional liability generally responds to covered allegations involving professional design services, advice or errors and omissions. General liability generally addresses other operational risks such as certain bodily injury or property damage claims.
Many architecture firms need both as part of a broader business insurance program.
Broader Business Insurance for Architecture Firms
Professional liability may be the most important specialized coverage for an architecture firm, but other insurance may also be necessary.
Depending on the business, this can include general liability, commercial property, workers' compensation, cyber liability, commercial auto and umbrella or excess liability.
Cyber coverage can also be important for firms that maintain client files, project documents, contracts and sensitive business information.
Claims-Made Coverage for Architects
Architect professional liability insurance is commonly written on a claims-made basis.
That makes continuity of coverage and the policy's retroactive date important when changing insurers.
Before allowing an existing policy to end, architecture firms should understand how professional services performed in previous years will remain protected under the new insurance arrangement.
What Should an Architecture Firm Look for in an E&O Policy?
Price is only one part of evaluating professional liability insurance.
Architecture firms should also review the definition of professional services, policy limits, deductibles or retentions, defense provisions, prior-acts coverage and exclusions relevant to the work they perform.
Coverage involving consultants, joint ventures, design-build work, pollution or other specialized exposures should also be reviewed where applicable.
Why Work With Clifton Insurance Agency?
Clifton Insurance Agency has specialized in professional liability and niche business insurance since 1982 and works with architects, engineers and other professional service firms.
Our team can help evaluate your services, project mix, contracts and current insurance and compare available professional liability options based on your firm's actual exposure.
Request an Architect Insurance Quote
Tell us about your architecture firm, services, project types, revenue and current insurance using the quote request form or Architects & Engineers application.
Clifton Insurance Agency can then help you compare available architect professional liability and business insurance options.
Request an architect insurance quote online or call Clifton Insurance Agency at 877-212-4368 for assistance.
Architect Insurance FAQs
What is architect professional liability insurance?
It is a form of professional liability or E&O insurance designed to address covered claims alleging errors, omissions or negligence in architectural and design services.
Does general liability cover architectural design mistakes?
Professional design allegations are generally addressed through professional liability coverage rather than standard general liability insurance. Actual coverage depends on the policies involved.
Do small architecture firms need professional liability insurance?
Firm size is only one consideration. Solo architects and small firms can still face professional liability claims or contractual requirements for E&O coverage.
Are architecture professional liability policies claims-made?
They are commonly written on a claims-made basis, making continuity of coverage and the retroactive date important when changing insurers.
Can architects and engineers be covered together?
Depending on the firm's services and insurer, coverage may be available for multidisciplinary architecture and engineering practices. All professional services should be accurately disclosed.