Built-Up Roofing Contractor Insurance

Risks Specific to This Sub-Trade

Hot asphalt kettles create fire exposure during heating, transport via tanker hose to the roof, and application. Kettle boil-overs and spills cause severe burns and environmental contamination in parking lots and surrounding areas. Asphalt fumes generate both acute respiratory injury claims and long-term occupational disease exposure for workers comp. The heavy equipment and material handling on BUR jobs increases strain injury frequency. Property damage from fires during application on occupied buildings can generate catastrophic losses.

Coverages This Sub-Trade Needs

Carriers That Write This Sub-Trade

BUR contractors are almost exclusively written in the E&S market. Kinsale, Nautilus, BTIS, and specialty programs through Burns & Wilcox or AmWINS handle the bulk of this class. Carriers require detailed kettle operation procedures, temperature monitoring logs, and certified operators. Very few standard market carriers will entertain BUR work at any price.

What Disqualifies an Account

Any kettle-related fire or spill in the past 5 years is an automatic declination across virtually all markets. Lack of temperature monitoring equipment on kettles, absence of certified kettle operators, or failure to maintain spill containment eliminates coverage options. Accounts performing BUR on occupied healthcare or educational facilities face extreme placement difficulty. Multiple burn injury claims signal inadequate safety protocols.

Premium Range

BUR contractors face the highest rates in commercial roofing. At $1M-$2M revenue, expect $32,000-$55,000 for GL/WC/Auto. At $3M-$5M, costs reach $75,000-$140,000. Contractors pollution liability for fume and spill exposure adds $5,000-$12,000. Umbrella coverage is priced at a premium, often $15,000-$30,000 per million of excess limits.