Do any of you have knowledge about the General Liability Classification “Surveyors – Land – Not Engaged In Actual Construction“?
Our agent has been asked but I suspect they won’t have a detailed answer and will elevate the question up the ladder. There’s a lot of knowledge on this forum and I’m hoping for some good counsel from those on the forum that know.
I filled out our annual insurance renewal form and the only questions related to construction were:
Please indicate the approximate percentages of the professions in which your firm is engaged:
Design/Const.
Land Surveyors 100%
Does the Applicant, or any enterprise financially related to the Applicant or the Applicant’s principals, partners, directors or officers engage in any of the following activities?
Construction, erection, fabrication or installation
The letting of construction contracts
Construction or project management
****
I answered “no”. We occasionally (maybe once a year) do a little commercial construction staking representing less than 2% of our gross revenue. We don’t build anything though – and no line & grade.
The proposed policy classifies us:
Classification Code Exposure
Surveyors – Land – Not Engaged In Actual Construction 99471 XXXXXX
I’m not sure what “engaged in actual construction” means.
If we stake building corners for a contractor are we “engaged in actual construction”?
We are doing design surveys for a design/build project, are we involved in actual construction?
I’m inclined to get this changed, it may cost more but I don’t want to be on a site where some event exposes us to liability and the insurance company claims we ere engaged in actual construction. If it’s too much money, we’ll be sure not to do any construction staking.
Our professional liability quote is silent on the term construction.
Does your GL policy have this classification?
Does anybody have a definition that they got from their insurer?
What does it mean to you?
I answered those questions exactly as you did, along with sending an email to my broker describing exactly what we did (which included construction surveying as probably 50% of revenue). My broker's opinion was that I indeed was not engaged in actual construction.
I'll admit it's a little fuzzy to me too. It makes sense to me if think of it in terms of whether I build anything or leave any permanent materials. And I don't. I dump no gravel, pour no concrete, erect no steel, pull no wire, solder no plumbing, and lay no asphalt. When I leave a site, a few control points are in the ground and a few layout marks are fading on the foundation.
I think proper construction surveying is a professional service, not actual construction. I think the fact that we have E&O instead of a bond supports that concept.
You are a service provider to many, including construction companies. Remind your insurance company about that fact.
If you place your company under the construction industry umbrella, your premiums will likely increase. Not only for liability insurance but also workers' comp.
> “Surveyors – Land – Not Engaged In Actual Construction“
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Sounds to me like they are trying to be overly anal about what surveying is "NOT
I wonder do they have a classification for "Surveyors - Land - Not Engaged in Overland Long-haul Trucking". After all most surveyors do in fact drive trucks.