Many contractors professional liability (CPrL) insurance claims are denied simply on the basis that the error, incident, and/or circumstance was reported after the date required within the insured’s policy. As a result, CPrL insurance holders should be well-versed in all the facets of their policies, especially the ones that can negate claims and forfeit the […]

FOCUS: RT Specialty’s Environmental and Construction Professional Practice (RT ECP) has been helping agents and brokers navigate the complex commercial insurance marketplace for 17 years. This includes the development of strategic risk management solutions designed to protect businesses from the challenges confronting contractors, property owners and developers. RT ECP introduced this program to provide agents and brokers […]

The design-bid-build project delivery method has dominated the construction landscape for many years. Under this methodology, contractors commonly bid on fully completed designs drawn to code with cost estimates, specification guidelines, material recommendations and other pertinent details already included in the planning. The design documents are developed by the design team under a single contract […]

Wood framing is a $24 billion U.S. industry that covers the “new construction, alterations, maintenance, repairs and additions” of both residential and commercial structures like mixed-use facilities, according to research from IBISWorld. Although recently impacted by the pandemic, labor and material shortages, supply chain issues and project delays, a 2022 ThinkWood survey found that the latest low […]

Without the proper coverage, even seemingly inconsequential design and construction management errors and mishaps can turn into financial disasters. Billed as one of the world’s most luxurious buildings and home to celebrities like legendary quarterback Joe Montana, Millennium Tower in San Francisco opened in 2009, with more than 400 multimillion-dollar units, soaring panoramic views, and […]

The potential for environmental exposures is ever-present when it comes to developmental projects. In fact, a review of the RT Specialty’s Environmental and Construction Professional Practice (RT ECP) book of business from 2020 to 2021 found an uptick in soil and groundwater contamination exposures faced by the company’s real estate acquisition and development insureds in commercial […]

The good news is infrastructure in the U.S. has improved over the past several years. The bad news is that it still isn’t very good. The 2021 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure recently released by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) found the nation’s infrastructure averaged a “C-,” which was the country’s highest grade in the past 20 years. This […]

Already expecting a downturn, the commercial construction industry was further impacted when COVID-19 either delayed or shuttered projects nationwide and a seemingly endless barrage of storms caused more than $95 billion in damages across the United States alone. This is on top of the growing array of emerging contaminant liability claims that increasingly plague jobsites […]

The introduction of new construction materials coupled with a renewed emphasis on modular building, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and wearable and drone technologies is not only expected to ease existing cost burdens but also speed construction processes while completing projects on time and within budgets. Another boost is expected to come from President Joe Biden’s […]

“Help! My legal fees exhausted the limits on my insurance policy. What can I do now?” This is often the lament of contractors embroiled in the litigation of costly claims. Unfortunately, once the terms and conditions are set and the ink is dry on everyone’s signatures, the answer is: “Not much.” Read more.

The wrongful performance of professional services can not only result in hefty financial losses, but also structural damages that can cause many problems, from delays to collapses and loss of life. The errors and/or omissions related to engineering and architectural designs, land surveys, construction management and technical consulting are just a few of the areas […]

We’re living in a quick-service economy that expects nothing less than immediacy served with a side of excellence—a challenge that has become increasingly more intense for contractors working within the construction marketplace. Across the U.S., a large problem for many contractors is that many are still unaware of the professional services and pollution risks associated with […]