COI requirements by trade / Insulation
Insulation COI requirements
Insulation work puts crews in attics and crawlspaces with spray foam, fiberglass, and sometimes old materials that may contain asbestos. Fire, fumes, and hidden damage drive most of the risk.
What makes insulation risky
- Fire from spray foam application or work near light fixtures and wiring.
- Fumes and odor complaints from spray foam in occupied buildings.
- Disturbing older materials that may contain asbestos or vermiculite.
- Falls through ceilings and injuries in tight attic spaces.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is a common floor. Check for spray foam, pollution, or asbestos exclusions. |
| Pollution liability | Often worth requiring where spray foam is used or older materials may be disturbed. Ask your broker. |
| Products-completed operations | Matters because odor, off-gassing, and moisture problems can surface after the job. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit is common for rigs and trucks. |
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 insulation certificates
- A spray foam exclusion on a contractor doing spray foam.
- A total pollution exclusion with no separate pollution coverage.
- No plan or license for asbestos testing on older buildings where it's required.
Tip
If spray foam is in scope, ask the agent directly whether spray polyurethane foam is covered. Some GL policies exclude it outright.
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 insulation 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 insulation subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, pollution liability, products-completed operations, workers' compensation, and commercial auto. 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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