Insurance requirements are the specific coverage types, limits, endorsements, and conditions that a general contractor, property owner, or government entity mandates in a contract before allowing a roofing subcontractor to begin work. These requirements define the minimum acceptable insurance program you must maintain throughout the project. Failure to meet them can result in losing the contract, being removed from a project, or having the cost of coverage deducted from your payments.
Standard insurance requirements for roofing subcontractors on commercial projects typically include commercial general liability with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, workers compensation at statutory limits, commercial auto liability of $1 million combined single limit, and umbrella or excess liability of $5 million or more. Common endorsement requirements include additional insured for ongoing and completed operations, waiver of subrogation, primary and noncontributory status, and per-project aggregate.
Before bidding on a project, obtain the insurance requirements from the contract documents and forward them to your broker for review. Your broker can identify requirements that your current program already satisfies, endorsements that need to be added, and any requirements that may be difficult or expensive to meet. Building insurance costs into your bid ensures you are not absorbing unexpected expenses after contract award. Keep a standardized checklist of the insurance specifications you most commonly encounter so you can quickly assess compliance when reviewing new contract opportunities.