Higher risk engineering activities vary between Professional Indemnity insurers because each insurer has its own underwriting appetite.
However, some activities commonly attract additional questions, including:
- structural and geotechnical engineering
- fire safety and fire protection engineering
- façade engineering
- major civil or infrastructure projects
- bridges, tunnels and dams
- mining, oil and gas or petrochemical work
- high-rise construction
- remedial engineering
- certification and sign-off
- design-and-construct projects
- overseas work
This does not mean these activities are uninsurable.
Insurers may simply need more information about the firm’s experience, project values, scope of work, quality assurance procedures, contracts and previous claims.
The type of project is also important. Structural engineering for a residential alteration can present a very different exposure from structural design for a bridge or high-rise development.
For this reason, engineering businesses should describe their activities accurately rather than relying on broad terms such as “consulting engineering”.
For broader professional context on recognised engineering disciplines and specialist practice areas, see Engineers Australia’s Areas of Practice.
