COI requirements by trade / Window cleaning
Window cleaning COI requirements
Window cleaning is often done at height, from ladders, lifts, or rope access. On anything taller than a single story, the certificate and the policy behind it need to fit the way the work is actually done.
What makes window cleaning risky
- Falls from ladders, lifts, swing stages, or rope access.
- Dropped equipment injuring people below.
- Glass, frame, and roof damage from rigging and tie-backs.
- Water and chemical damage to finishes and landscaping.
Coverage to require on the certificate
| Coverage | What's common, and what to check |
|---|---|
| General liability | $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate is common. Check for height limitations, which are common on window cleaning policies. |
| Workers' compensation | Statutory, plus employers' liability. Height work makes comp essential; be cautious of exemption certificates. |
| Umbrella / excess | Commonly required for high-rise or rope access work. |
| Commercial auto | $1M combined single limit is common. |
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 window cleaning certificates
- A height limitation on the GL policy below the height of your building.
- Rope access or suspended work excluded when that's the method being used.
- No workers' comp from a company sending a crew up on lifts or ropes.
Tip
Ask the agent whether the policy has a height limit and whether it covers the access method the crew will use, whether that's ladders, lifts, or ropes.
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 window cleaning 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 window cleaning subcontractor carry?
Common requirements include general liability, workers' compensation, umbrella / excess, 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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