COI requirements by trade / Elevator maintenance
Elevator maintenance COI requirements
Elevator contractors service equipment that moves residents and the public every day. A single entrapment or leveling failure can lead to a serious injury claim, so these vendors usually face some of the highest requirements in a building's vendor list.
What makes elevator maintenance risky
- Injuries to riders from leveling failures, door strikes, or sudden stops.
- Entrapment claims and emergency response delays.
- Injuries to mechanics working in shafts and machine rooms.
- Property damage from equipment failure or hydraulic fluid leaks.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | Often higher than the usual $1M/$2M floor, with an umbrella on top, because of the volume of public exposure. Confirm products-completed operations is included. |
| Umbrella / excess | Commonly required, often $5M or more for larger buildings. Ask your own broker what fits. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit is common for service vehicles. |
| Pollution liability | Sometimes required where hydraulic fluid leaks are a concern. |
On top of the coverage itself, most contracts also require additional insured status for you (and the owner, where applicable), a waiver of subrogation, and primary and noncontributory wording. Those come from endorsements, so ask for copies.
Red flags on elevator maintenance certificates
- AI coverage that only applies to ongoing operations, when the contractor's maintenance is continuous.
- An umbrella that doesn't follow form over the GL policy.
- The service contract signed by one entity and the certificate issued to a different one.
Tip
Elevator service agreements often have their own indemnity and insurance clauses written by the contractor. Have someone compare those clauses with your standard vendor requirements before signing.
Review checklist
- Insured name matches the company on your contract.
- Every coverage above that your contract requires is listed.
- Each limit meets your minimum.
- No policy expires before the job ends. Track each expiration date separately.
- ADDL INSD and SUBR WVD are marked, with endorsements on file.
- You've asked the agent about any elevator maintenance exclusions that matter.
New to reading certificates? Start with how to read an ACORD 25, grab the free COI checklist, or log dates in the free expiration tracker.
Common questions
What insurance should a elevator maintenance subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, umbrella / excess, workers' compensation, commercial auto, and pollution liability. Your contracts and broker set the actual minimums.
Are these limits required by law?
Generally no. Insurance requirements for subcontractors and vendors are set by your contracts, your own insurer, and any owner, lender, or public agency on the job. Workers' compensation requirements are set by state law. The figures here describe common practice only.
Does the ACORD 25 show exclusions?
Usually not. A certificate summarizes policy types, limits, and dates. Exclusions like height limits, residential work, or pollution are in the policy itself, so ask the agent directly when they matter for the trade.
Who should issue the certificate?
Ask the sub's insurance agent or broker to issue it, not the sub. Agents issue certificates daily and can send the endorsements at the same time.
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