COI requirements by trade / Framing and carpentry
Framing and carpentry COI requirements
Framers and carpenters are on nearly every job, often in large crews working at height. They're a frequent source of workers' comp issues and residential exclusions.
What makes framing and carpentry risky
- Falls from roofs, trusses, and open floors.
- Structural issues from framing defects.
- Large crews, often with layered subcontracting and 1099 labor.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is common. Residential exclusions are a frequent problem on home-building work. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. Verify carefully; framing crews are a common source of uninsured labor. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit. |
| Umbrella / excess | Often required on multi-story and multi-family work. |
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 framing and carpentry certificates
- A GL policy excluding residential, tract home, or multi-family work on that kind of project.
- Workers' comp exemptions from a sub who brings crews.
- The framer subcontracting labor to other crews with no COIs collected.
Tip
Ask your framing subs whether they subcontract any labor. If they do, require them to collect COIs from their own subs, or you may end up paying for it at your own insurance audit.
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 framing and carpentry 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 framing and carpentry subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, workers' compensation, commercial auto, and umbrella / excess. 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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