Customized Insurance for Architects, Engineers and Surveyors
From public infrastructure and commercial buildings to detailed land-use plans — architects, engineers and surveyors (A&E) take on many technical, legal and professional risks. And current trends like material cost inflation, labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are causing additional pressures.
To help A&E firms of all sizes meet these demands, Travelers provides specialized coverage options, tailored risk management strategies and extensive claims services. Our flexible approach empowers us to support A&E firms with speed and efficiency as they grow their business in today’s challenging landscape.
Who is A&E insurance right for?
A&E insurance solutions are designed to protect a broad range of firms – whether they focus on structural design, technical planning, spatial analysis or other specialties.
Architects
Architects, from landscape and residential architects to those involved in commercial, industrial or institutional projects, need to balance vision with accountability. Architect professional liability insurance can help shield businesses from claims tied to design missteps, code violations or unmet expectations.
This insurance, coupled with commercial business insurance for architects, can provide firms with the coverage they need today and into the future.
Engineers
Engineers translate vision into structure while ensuring functionality, safety and regulatory compliance. Professional liability insurance for engineers is designed to address consulting liabilities, field oversight and contractual risks across engineering specialties like civil, structural, mechanical, environmental and more.
Engineering business insurance helps firms protect assets, property and operations while serving clients and growing the business.
Surveyors
Surveyors provide critical data that shapes land development and construction. Whether the firm specializes in land, boundary or topographical surveying, or works in urban or rural planning, the firm’s work carries financial and legal responsibility.
Business insurance and professional liability insurance for surveyors help guard against claims of data inaccuracy, equipment loss or property access disputes.
What types of insurance are available for A&E firms?
The global market for A&E services is expected to expand nearly 5% annually through 2030.1 While business growth can improve an A&E firm’s financial health – allowing for investments in additional employees, equipment and vehicles – it can also bring more risk. This means having the right level of coverage is more important than ever.
Travelers offers A&E firms a full suite of customizable business insurance policies designed to help protect the firm against threats to their assets, workplace, reputation and bottom line.
Design professional liability insurance
Clients rely on A&E firms for their expertise, but design flaws, project delays or even small oversights can lead to claims and legal actions. Design professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions coverage (E&O), helps cover legal defense costs, settlements and judgments against the business.
Property insurance
A&E firms rely on modern technology and equipment, digital design tools and physical space to innovate and serve clients effectively. Property insurance for A&E firms helps protect those assets from loss due to fire, theft, vandalism or weather-related damage.
General liability insurance
Unintentional damage can happen, such as a client tripping in a firm’s workspace or a competitor claiming that a firm carelessly made false statements about its services. General liability insurance provides essential protection for third-party claims involving bodily injury, property damage or certain advertising-related offenses.
Commercial auto insurance
Whether an A&E firm has one company vehicle or a fleet for jobsite visits, client meetings or transporting materials, commercial auto coverage helps protect against vehicle-related injuries and property damage. It’s especially critical for firms with mobile teams or field operations.
Workers compensation insurance
Workers compensation coverage supports employees if they’re injured while working on a jobsite, surveying land or in the office. This coverage includes medical expenses, rehabilitation and lost income, while also protecting A&E firms from legal claims tied to workplace injuries.
Umbrella/excess casualty liability insurance
Some design or building projects, and some contracts, require higher coverage limits than standard liability policies offer. Umbrella insurance provides an extra layer of protection to help the firm meet contractual obligations or respond to a high-dollar lawsuit without risking its financial health.
Cyber insurance
From storing sensitive client data and designs to safeguarding business operations, A&E firms – like all businesses – are potential cyber threat targets. This is why firms need to consider a stand-alone cyber insurance policy, which can help cover losses related to costly cyberattacks and data breaches.
Did you know?
60%
Nearly 60% of A&E firms expect to increase their workforce.1
50%
50% of property loss claims for A&E firms are due to crime, primarily off-premises theft.2
33%
Travelers has seen a 33% rise in motor vehicle accidents among A&E firms.3
How much does A&E insurance cost?
Insurance costs for A&E firms vary depending on the size of the business, its risk profile and the types of services the firm offers.
Size of the business
A solo practitioner or small A&E business may have different coverage needs than a medium or large firm. The number of employees, project volume and geographic footprint can all impact your insurance premium. For example, solo practitioners or small A&E firms may have a greater need for business income insurance if they experience a temporary shutdown from the physical loss of, or damage to, the company’s property.
Exposure to building risk
Does the firm provide site inspections? Work closely with contractors? Sign off on compliance? The more involved the A&E firm is with physical site work or construction oversight, the more coverage it may need – particularly in liability and E&O policies.
An insurance professional can help A&E firms assess all their exposures and develop a coverage strategy that fits their operations.
How to protect A&E firms with confidence
Clients expect and count on A&E firms to deliver consistent, high-level solutions and expertise. Having the right amount of insurance coverage can help firms do that with confidence.
Travelers supports the unique needs of architects, engineers and surveyors with:
- Specialized coverage options designed for A&E firms.
- Industry-informed risk insights and tools to help prevent and reduce claims.
- A strong track record of responsive, data-driven claims handling.
Ready to explore coverage options or build a customized insurance strategy? Contact a Travelers representative today.
Sources
1 Travelers Industry Opportunity Intelligence Report survey of 727 A&E business and P&C decision-makers across small, midsized and large businesses, January 2024.
2 Travelers data for paid A&E Property claims with a notice-of-loss date between 2019 to 2024, with 2024 data through Dec. 5, 2024.
3 Travelers claim data: 2020-2022, midsized A&E firms.
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