Erection All Risks (EAR) Insurance

Comprehensive cover for construction machinery installation and refurbishment across commercial/residential projects; available on a single risk or annual basis.

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Introduction

During a construction project, the responsibility for insuring against loss or damage to electrical and mechanical plant whilst in the erection and installation stage often falls to the contractor or employer.

Our response

Erection All Risks Insurance

Our policy provides comprehensive cover for machinery installation and refurbishment across commercial/residential projects, and is available on a single risk or annual basis.

Our policy can be arranged in the name of the contractor, the principal, or joint names depending on the project requirement.

Our Erection All Risks insurance policy provides cover for:

machinery; from the commencement of loading for despatch to site (including transit and incidental storage)
erection and installation of plant and machinery during the construction period

defective design and machinery breakdown, where selected, during testing and commissioning
free issue materials where these are included in the declared values

Cover can be extended to include advance loss of profits, owned contractors' plant and hired-in plant, and employees' tools and personal effects.

Broker/agent trading options

E-trade

Non e-trade

Delegated authority/reinsurance solutions

We can provide our partners with innovative, all-encompassing construction solutions.

If you’re looking to provide specialist cover as part of your commercial proposition, contact our Partnerships Team.

HSB Knowledge Squad Podcast

Construction theft: contractors' small tools and equipment

HSB's John Nicholls, Construction Product Leader, and Jamie Talbot, Underwriting Manager, explore the rising impact of small tools and equipment theft in the construction industry, how they affect construction customers’ bottom line and, what preventative measures and industry best practices they can take or follow to mitigate the risk of theft.

Stream via: Apple Music | Spotify | YouTube | YouTube Music | Web browser

Listen now

Industry report

2025 UK construction trends

Our report explores key trends influencing the UK construction market.

Download report

We're proud to support:

Agriculture and Construction Equipment (ACE), and The National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT); specialist police units targeting equipment theft from agricultural and construction sites.

ACE NCATT

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Why buy Erection All Risks Insurance from HSB?

Our underwriters and risk engineers have extensive experience in providing construction insurance and are recognised as experts in this field. Drawing on our vast expertise in the construction sector, we are able to provide insurance products to meet the insurable risks of a specific project.

Policy wordings specifically designed with contractors/sub-contractors, property builders and developers, and construction plant owners in mind
Extensive underwriting expertise
Specialist engineering knowledge of plant and machinery
Cover available across the UK and Ireland
Access to experienced in-house construction loss control risk engineers
Access to claims handlers and loss adjusters with specialist knowledge of the construction industry

Leading specialist provider of engineering and technology insurance and inspection services in the UK and Ireland
UK-based arm of HSB Group, the equipment breakdown insurance and inspection market leader since 1866
Part of Munich Re, a world leader in risk solutions, consistent risk management and financial stability
Financially strong and stable – rated A++ (Superior) by A.M. Best Company
A member of the Institute of Customer Service, demonstrating our commitment to continually improving customer service performance and professionalism

HSB is committed to providing a superior customer experience through our specialist claims service

HSB Claims Team

Claims examples

Example Losses:

HSB Construction Insurance in action

Damage caused to a crane and contract works

£8,629

Claim

Accidental damage occurred to a crane and contract works on a construction site. We arranged for removal and repair of the crane so remedial action could be taken on the works immediately. Our customer adopted improved standards for the selection of ground conditions when undertaking lifts.

Damage caused to a trailer and excavator whilst in transit

£18,000

Claim

A hired-in trailer and excavator collided with a third party driver’s vehicle whilst in transit. Our loss adjusters declared the trailer beyond economical to repair and, taking into consideration the ongoing hire charges as well as repair costs, the same was decided for the excavator. The claim was settled directly to the hire company.

Damage caused to a crane whilst in transit

£29,000

Claim

A crane was being driven along a road when one of its tyres picked up a piece of debris which was then propelled into the vehicle's oil pipe, causing a crack. Oil began to escape through the cracked pipe, starving the transmission transfer box of oil and causing it to seize. This resulted in extensive damage to the gearing and bearings of the transmission transfer box.

Product documentation

Brochures: Standard

Brochures: E-Trade

Our construction products are also accessible to brokers online via HSB Fast Track and Acturis; making it quick and easy to quote and bind cover, process mid-term adjustments and obtain renewal terms.