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Where contractors’ all risks covers civil construction, erection all risks covers the installation, testing and commissioning of plant, steelwork and machinery — the risks that come with mechanical and electrical erection rather than bricks and concrete.
Part of: Construction & contractor insurance at Apex
In short
Erection all risks (EAR) insurance covers the installation, erection, testing and commissioning of plant, machinery and steel structures — for projects such as manufacturing plant, energy, data centres and process facilities, where the exposure is mechanical and electrical as much as physical.
Contractors’ all risks is built for civil and building work. Erection all risks is built for the installation and commissioning of plant and machinery — steelwork, process lines, mechanical and electrical plant — where the sharpest exposure is the testing and commissioning phase, not the groundworks.
This is the part that matters. Plant is at its highest risk when it is first energised and put under load, and a failure during commissioning can damage the item and everything around it. A properly arranged EAR policy covers the testing and commissioning period explicitly rather than leaving it to argument at claim.
Mechanical and electrical contractors, plant and machinery installers, steel erectors, and firms delivering process, energy, manufacturing and data-centre projects. If the job is about putting equipment in and making it run, rather than building the shell around it, EAR is the cover that fits.
EAR is usually written on a single-project basis for the erection programme plus a maintenance and testing period. Cover is available for risks in the UK and across recognised Lloyd’s-approved territories, including much of Europe, through specialist markets — useful for contractors delivering plant abroad.
That the testing and commissioning period is covered and long enough; that existing surrounding property is included where you are working within a live facility; delay-in-start-up if a loss would push back handover; and the defects position after commissioning. These are the extensions that decide whether a commissioning loss is actually paid.
Contractors’ all risks covers civil and building construction; erection all risks covers the installation, testing and commissioning of plant, machinery and steelwork, where the mechanical and electrical exposure dominates.
It should be — it is the highest-risk phase, when plant is first energised. A well-arranged EAR policy covers the testing and commissioning period explicitly.
Manufacturing and process plant, energy projects, steel erection, and data-centre and semiconductor facilities — anywhere the work is installing and commissioning equipment rather than building the structure.
Yes — risks located in recognised Lloyd’s-approved territories, including much of Europe, can be covered through specialist markets.
Tell us about the job and the trade and we’ll arrange cover that fits. Or call 0117 325 0027.
Get a quote Call 0117 325 0027Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information, not advice on your individual circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms. Premium figures shown are historic typical ranges from Apex’s own placements, not quotes.
