Architect Insurance

Architect Insurance

Get a custom architect professional liability insurance coverage designed specifically to protect against risks and errors and omissions.

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Trusted by over 250,000 Canadian small business owners!
Save up to 35% on your insurance
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Zensurance - Architect

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Architect

What is architect insurance?

Architect insurance is a specialized professional liability insurance policy that provides financial coverage for architects against lawsuits resulting from errors and omissions, negligence, and failure to deliver service. In addition, insurance packages for architects can extend coverage to protect from other third-party risks such as property damage and bodily injury.

A comprehensive architect insurance policy may include several types of coverages, including:

  • Professional Liability Insurance: From the initial consultation to construction administration, architects could be held liable for mistakes that may happen at any phase of the project.  Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, is a critical coverage for architects. It protects them against financial losses due to negligence, errors, or failure to deliver a service as promised.

Some common risks that architects face include:

    • Design or planning errors
    • Missing project deadline
    • Mismanagement of budgets
    • Negligent contract bids
  • Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance: Also referred to as slip-and-fall insurance, CGL is an all-risks type of policy that covers you from third-party bodily injuries or property damage claims. For instance, if a client or visitor to your office trips, falls, is hurt, and requires medical attention, they may sue you for damages. CGL provides you with coverage to defend yourself in court, and it pays for your injured customer’s medical expenses.
  • Legal Expense Insurance: In the event you are sued by a client or former client, legal expense coverage provides access to legal advice with an experienced lawyer as well as the cost to retain a lawyer to defend you in court.
  • Cyber Liability Insurance: Cyber liability insurance protects businesses from internet-based risks and risks related to your information technology infrastructure and information privacy and governance. If your organization has a data breach and your clients’ confidential information is leaked, exposed, or stolen, you may be subject to an expensive lawsuit. Cyber liability covers the cost to repair your computing systems, any losses you suffer because of a computing systems outage, legal advice, notifying your customers of the incident, and providing them with credit monitoring.

Most architects typically have up to $2 million worth of coverage for both commercial general liability and professional liability insurance. A policy with those levels of coverage may start at around $1,500 per year, but the premium you pay will depend on the nature of your business.

Some of the price factors include:

  • Years of trade experience
  • Designation (e.g (R.A., MRAIC, FRAIC, OAQ, MIRAC, FIRAC)
  • Annual and projected revenue
  • Different types of services provided
  • Industries served (high or low risk)
  • Number of employees
  • Degree of involvement with Design-Build projects

Yes. Professional liability coverage is essential for architects and may be mandatory for the profession in some provinces. It includes protection from claims such as failing to deliver a service or giving incorrect advice. The types of architects requiring insurance includes:

  • Residential and commercial architects
  • Restoration and landscape architects and engineers
  • Architectural designers
  • Architectural engineers

Getting insured is quick and easy!

Complete our 5-minute online application for a free architecture professional liability insurance quote.

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Common claims scenarios

architect

Problem: While designing a new residential building, an architect approves a product substitution to be used on exterior features despite having no experience with the product. A few years later, the product does not hold up in inclement weather, and the building owner files a claim alleging negligence.

Outcome: Your professional liability coverage may pay for your legal defence as well as the outcome of the third-party lawsuit.

lawyer with client

Problem: A client is several months behind paying you for your services as per a signed contract. Repeated efforts to get the client to settle their outstanding debt go unaddressed. You decide to sue the client to get paid for your services.

Outcome: Your legal expense coverage may cover the cost of retaining a lawyer to represent you in court and sue the client for breach of contract.

ventilation system

Problem: An architectural engineer created designs for an air ventilation system in a municipal building that was flawed and contained errors resulting in damages to the building’s mechanical systems. The municipality files a lawsuit to recover costs associated with its repair.

Outcome: Your errors and omissions coverage may pay for the repair bill, your legal expenses to defend yourself in court, and any additional settlement ordered by the court.

Frequently asked questions

Is Architect Insurance mandatory for architects before signing contracts?

Architect Insurance is not required by law, but it is difficult to land any sizeable project without having an insurance policy in place. If there is an error in a project designed by you, it can become extremely costly if the error is discovered once construction is underway. For this reason, project managers and builders are usually very careful about only working with architects who already have Architect Insurance.

Can an architect be liable for projects completed in the past?

Yes. Design errors in a project can be discovered years after the project is completed, and if you are the architect who designed the project, approved the design, or agreed to the substitution of products that turned out to be faulty, you will be held liable for damages, even if you have retired or changed professions.

What coverages should architects have in their insurance policy?

The most basic policy recommended for any business is General Liability. It protects a business from claims of bodily injury or property damage to a third-party. For Architects, it is also recommended to add Errors and Omissions coverage to their insurance policy. Errors and Omissions Insurance, also known as Professional Liability Insurance, covers errors and omissions in your services to clients that lead to financial losses for them. If you own a lot of expensive property, also add Commercial Property Insurance to your policy to protect your contents and assets.

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