COI requirements by trade / Structural steel and welding
Structural steel and welding COI requirements
Steel erectors and welders work at height with heavy loads and open flames. Crane work, falls, and fires from hot work make these some of the highest-severity subs on a job.
What makes structural steel and welding risky
- Falls from height during steel erection.
- Dropped loads and crane or rigging failures.
- Fires from welding, cutting, and other hot work.
- Structural failures from faulty welds or connections, sometimes after completion.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is a floor; steel erection often calls for higher limits. Check for hot work, height, and crane exclusions. |
| Products-completed operations | Important, since connection and weld failures can surface after the building is occupied. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. Ironwork comp rates are high, so watch for crews with no coverage. |
| Umbrella / excess | Commonly required, often $2M to $5M or more depending on project size. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit is common. |
| Rigging / crane coverage | Where the sub runs its own cranes or rigging, ask whether the policy covers crane operations and the loads being lifted. |
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 structural steel and welding certificates
- A hot work or welding exclusion on a welding contractor.
- Crane work in scope with no coverage for crane operations.
- A small welding shop carrying shop-only coverage on field erection work.
Tip
Ask whether the sub owns and operates its own crane or rents one with an operator. That changes which policy responds when a load drops.
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 structural steel and welding 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 structural steel and welding subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, products-completed operations, workers' compensation, umbrella / excess, commercial auto, and rigging / crane coverage. 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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