EUROCERTIF
In construction, insurance is not optional: it is at once a legal obligation, a condition of access to many projects and a central element of trust between a company and its clients. It is also one of the mandatory requirements of EuroCertif certification: without a valid insurance certificate, no certification can be issued, whatever the financial score. Here is an overview of the essential cover and of the cover strongly recommended.
Operating civil liability
Operating civil liability (CL) covers damage caused to third parties during the company’s day-to-day activity: a passer-by injured near the site, material damage at a neighbour’s, a tool that damages someone else’s property. It is the basic cover, the one every contractor should have before even laying the first brick. It protects the company against claims that, without it, could run into tens of thousands of euros.
Ten-year liability
In Belgium, since the so-called “Peeters Act”, ten-year liability insurance is mandatory for contractors, architects and other providers working on the closed shell of homes. It covers, for ten years after acceptance of the works, serious defects that compromise the solidity or stability of the building. It is an essential protection, because this type of claim can arise long after the end of the project and cost considerable sums.
For clients, requiring proof of ten-year insurance is a common-sense reflex before entrusting structural work. For the company, it is the guarantee of not seeing a late defect threaten its survival.
Post-completion cover
Separate from the ten-year cover, post-delivery (or post-completion) cover protects against damage caused to third parties by defects found once the project is finished, including those not related to the solidity of the structure. It usefully complements operating CL, which usually ends at acceptance of the works.
Useful additional cover
Beyond the essential cover, several insurances strengthen the company’s safety depending on its activity:
- “All-site-risks” insurance, which covers material damage occurring during construction (bad weather, theft, collapse).
- Insurance of equipment and machinery, often expensive to replace.
- Insurance of business vehicles and goods in transit.
- Legal protection, valuable in the event of a dispute with a client or supplier.
- Work-accident insurance, mandatory as soon as the company employs staff.
Why insurance is a certification requirement
EuroCertif treats a valid insurance certificate as an entry condition, on the same footing as registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises and the absence of debt to the State. The reason is simple: a financially sound but uninsured company exposes its clients to a major risk in the event of a claim. Insurance cover is therefore an integral part of the reliability the label aims to guarantee.
Managing your certificates well
- Check each year the validity dates and the cover amounts of your policies.
- Make sure the activities declared to the insurer match the work you actually carry out: unsuitable cover may be refused in the event of a claim.
- Keep your certificates up to date and easily accessible — your clients and the certification will ask for them.
In summary
Operating CL, ten-year liability and post-completion cover form the insurance foundation of any serious construction company in Belgium; the additional cover tailors it to each trade. Being properly insured means protecting your company, reassuring your clients and meeting one of the essential requirements for certification. If your certificates are up to date, you can request your certification today.