Construction insurance
Plant All Risk
Yellow metal is the most expensive thing on most sites and the easiest to lose. Plant All Risk covers loss of or damage to your construction plant and equipment: in storage, in transit, on site and while it is working. Cover applies on the terms of the policy wording and schedule, and all cover is subject to underwriting.
Hiring plant in and not sure who carries the risk? Send us the hire agreement on WhatsApp and we will look into it.
- What it covers
- Plant and equipment
- Where
- Site, transit, storage
- Hired-in plant
- Can be included
- Who issues it
- The insurer
- You pay
- Premium and an excess
What it is
Cover for the machines that do the work
What it is
Your plant is exposed to accidental damage, vandalism, theft and collision, and losing a machine mid-contract costs you the deadline as well as the asset. Plant All Risk covers loss of or damage to construction plant and equipment while it is in storage, in transit, on the contract site, or being used as a tool of trade, up to the sums insured and on the terms of the policy wording.
The cover can be extended to include plant hired in, plant hired out, and the hire charges that can follow a loss, along with third-party liability arising from the plant. What is included on your policy is set out in your schedule.
We arrange Plant All Risk for contractors of every size, from a single machine to a full fleet. Policies are issued by the insurer, not by CivilSure, and every application is subject to underwriting.
What it covers
What is in, and what is out
At rest
In storage
While stored at your own premises or a yard, subject to any security conditions the policy sets out.
On the move
In transit
Between your premises and the place of use, and back again, including loading and offloading where the transport method suits the machine.
Working
As a tool of trade
While the machine is doing the job it is built for, on the contract site or at a demonstration.
Watch this one
Moved between sites
Cover applies within the geographical limits in your policy. If plant moves between sites, or goes off site temporarily, it should be declared. An undeclared machine is where claims get difficult.
The risk usually transfers to you
Hire terms often appear in an order, a pro forma, an email or an invoice, and they should reference the conditions of hire. Ideally each hire runs under a written Contractors Plant Hire Association () agreement. In practice the paperwork varies, and orders, acknowledgements and invoices frequently reference no terms at all. Where CPHA terms are not stated, it is worth confirming whether they were agreed verbally. A supplier's standard terms, or a history of regular dealings between you, may also imply agreed conditions. Plant is often hired on a phone call from site, where cost and availability matter more than paperwork. Legal responsibilities still apply: as hirer you are generally a bailee at common law, which means taking reasonable care of the machine and returning it in good condition, fair wear and tear excepted. A verbal rate does not define the rest of your obligations, and the hire company can look to you to replace a machine that is damaged or stolen while it is in your custody. This is general information on how plant hire is usually contracted, not legal advice. What you are liable for is set by the agreement you signed, so have it checked.
Common questions
Do I need cover if the equipment is hired?
Hire agreements commonly hold the hirer responsible for loss of or damage to the machine while it is in your custody and control, so the hire company can look to you to replace it. Many contractors cover hired-in plant under their own Plant All Risk policy rather than taking the rental company's cover. Either way it has to be declared to the insurer. Send us the hire agreement and we will go through the insurance side of it with you.
What is an excess?
The part of a loss you pay yourself before the insurer pays the balance of a valid claim. It varies with the item, the type of claim and the risk; theft and overturning usually carry a higher one. Your excesses are set on underwriting and shown on your schedule, so check them before you rely on the cover.
What do I need when I claim?
Insurers typically ask for: Maintenance records matter more than contractors expect: lack of maintenance is a standard exclusion, so insurers routinely ask for the records when deciding whether that exclusion applies.
- Proof of ownership, or the hire agreement
- A police report, for theft or malicious damage
- Maintenance and service records
- Photographs of the damage
- The operator's licence, where one applies
Can one policy cover several sites, or several companies?
Cover can often be structured across multiple construction sites and, in some cases, associated companies, where that is declared and the insurer approves it. Tell us how the group and the sites are set up and we will put it to the insurer.
Is plant covered while it is being transported?
Transit between your premises and the place of use is generally included, along with loading and offloading, provided the transport method is appropriate for the machine. Moving a machine on unsuitable equipment is where transit claims come unstuck.
Is this the same as Contractors All Risk?
No. Contractors All Risk covers the works you are building, the materials and the temporary works. Plant All Risk covers the machines you build with. Contractors running their own plant commonly hold both, and they are often placed together.
Does it cover breakdown?
Generally no. Wear and tear and mechanical or electrical breakdown are standard exclusions on a Plant All Risk policy, which insures sudden and accidental loss or damage rather than the machine wearing out. Some insurers offer breakdown as a separate extension; ask us and we will tell you what is available for your fleet.
Machines on site? Get them covered.
Send us your plant list and values, or the hire agreement if you are hiring in, and we will come back with a quote and tell you what your policy would and would not do. No obligation either way.