Hot works and torch-on roofing insurance: how to get covered properly
Why hot works is the biggest red flag online
Fire is the claim insurers fear most from roofers. A torch-on job that goes wrong doesn’t damage a roof — it can take out the whole building, the one next door, and everything inside both. So automated quote systems play it safe: tick the hot works box and most will decline you on the spot, or quote a figure that tells you the same thing.
That doesn’t mean torch-on roofers are uninsurable. It means the risk needs a human underwriter, evidence you manage heat properly, and a policy with the right conditions attached — which is broker territory.
The temptation to tick “no hot works” — and why it backfires
Every roofer knows someone who ticked no. The policy is cheap, the certificate looks the same, and nothing happens — until there’s a fire. Then the insurer investigates, finds a torch was involved, and refuses the claim because the policy was sold on the basis that no hot works were done. The policy can be voided altogether. You’re left facing the fire damage personally, and you’ll have to declare that voided policy on proposals for years.
A cheap certificate that fails at claim time isn’t insurance. It’s a receipt. The honest declaration costs more up front and is worth every penny the day a job goes wrong.
Heat conditions and warranties, in plain English
Insurers who cover hot works attach conditions — sometimes called heat conditions, hot works warranties or conditions precedent. Wordings differ, but they usually cover the same ground:
Before you light up
Check the work area. Move or shield anything flammable near where the heat will go — and remember heat travels through decks and into cavities, so it’s not just what you can see. Have the specified fire extinguishers within reach, in working order.
Gas bottles
Policies typically set rules on how bottles are stored, secured and positioned — upright, valves protected, away from the working flame, and stored safely (often off the roof and away from the building) when not in use. Check your wording for the exact requirements and follow them.
During the work
Keep the flame away from eaves, cavities and anything you can’t see behind. Many wordings restrict using a flame near combustible materials or require alternative methods (hot air, self-adhesive, cold-applied) close to vulnerable details.
After you finish: the fire watch
This is the one that catches people out. Torch-on fires often start after the crew has left, from something smouldering in the deck. Wordings require the area to be checked for a set period after heat stops — commonly an hour, sometimes longer. Leaving site the minute the last roll is down can be a straight breach.
Why breaching a warranty can sink a claim
These conditions aren’t small print for decoration. Under the Insurance Act 2015, while a warranty is being breached, cover is generally suspended — and an insurer can refuse a loss connected to the breach. No fire watch, wrong extinguishers, bottles stored against the wording: any of these can turn a covered fire into a refused claim. The fix is boring but simple: get the conditions in writing, make sure everyone on the crew knows them, and make them part of how you run every hot job.
How a broker places hot works roofing risks
We put your risk in front of underwriters who actually write roofing with heat, and we present the things a form can’t: how much of your work involves a torch, where you use hot air or cold-applied systems instead, your experience, your kit, your routine on site. Then we go through the heat conditions with you before you buy, so you know exactly what the policy expects. We can’t promise acceptance, but declared hot works with sensible precautions is a risk we can usually find a market for. Call 0117 325 0027.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as hot works on a roofing insurance form?
Anything involving flame or applied heat: torch-on felt, gas torches, hot air guns and welders, bitumen boilers, brazing and similar. Some forms also ask about work near others’ hot works. If you use any of these, even occasionally, answer yes — a policy bought on a “no” answer may not respond to a fire claim.
What is a heat condition or hot works warranty?
It’s a set of rules written into the policy about how heat must be used: things like keeping flammable materials clear of the work, having the right fire extinguishers to hand, storing and securing gas bottles properly, and checking the area for a set period after the heat is switched off — the fire watch. Comply and the cover works as intended. Ignore them and a fire claim can be refused.
What is a fire watch period?
A requirement to inspect the work area for a set time after hot works finish, because fires from torch-on work often smoulder and break out after everyone has packed up. The required period varies by policy — commonly an hour, sometimes longer — so check your own wording and build it into how you finish jobs.
Can my claim really be refused if I break a warranty?
Yes. Under the Insurance Act 2015, breaching a warranty generally suspends cover while the breach continues, and an insurer can refuse a loss connected to the breach. If the fire had nothing to do with the breached term you may still have an argument, but you do not want to be having that argument after your customer’s roof has burned. Know the conditions and follow them.
Is it cheaper to just say I don’t do hot works?
It’s cheaper right up until there’s a fire. A policy bought on wrong answers can see the claim refused and the policy voided — leaving you personally exposed for what could be a six or seven figure fire loss, and with a cancelled policy to declare for years afterwards. Declare it honestly and let a broker find the right market instead.
Do insurers cover torch-on felt work at all?
Yes. Plenty of roofers with torch-on work are insured every day — mostly through brokers rather than comparison sites, and always with heat conditions attached. Underwriters want to see that you understand the fire risk and manage it. We can’t promise any particular insurer will take you on, but there is a genuine market for declared, well-managed hot works.
Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 724952). This page is general information, not advice on a specific policy.