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Know the risk before you sign.
Plain-language guidance on contracts, claims and cover, written by the brokers who handle them.
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Guarantees
Subcontractor Performance Guarantees - Who Actually Pays
Bank, insurer or credit provider? Before you accept a subcontractor's performance guarantee, check who is legally on the hook to pay and what triggers payment.
Contractors All Risk
Waiver of Subrogation in Construction Insurance
Named on the main contractor's policy? A waiver of subrogation decides whether the insurer can still recover from you after paying the claim. What to check.
Plant All Risk
Plant Theft on South African Construction Sites: How to Protect Your Equipment and Avoid Gaps in Cover
TL;DR (Too long, didn’t read) Plant and equipment theft remains a serious risk on South African construction sites. In June 2026, the KwaZulu-Natal Department
Contractors All Risk
The Key That Opens the Claim: Understanding Your CAR Insurance Operative Clause
Your CAR insurance operative clause decides if a claim opens or stalls. See how the wording works, in plain English.
Contractors All Risk
Defective Workmanship - The Silent Claim Killer Hidden Inside a Collapsed Column
Most contractors don’t lose money on site. They lose it in the moment a structure fails and the policy wording is finally tested. When a defective concrete
Contractors All Risk
The operative clause in CAR insurance: why it decides whether your claim even gets considered
The operative clause in CAR insurance determines what you must prove to claim. Here's what SA contractors need to check before signing
Contractors All Risk
Sasria Construction Cover: What You Actually Need to Know
Your CAR policy doesn't cover riots or strikes. Sasria does, but only if it's been correctly arranged. Here's what contractors and developers need to check.
Contractors All Risk
Strict Liabilities - Who is Responsible?
Sharing a useful article written by Kobus Van Niekerk of Consort. We do not take ownership of the contents below.Author: Kobus Van Niekerk | Consort Public
Contractors All Risk
Whose side is your guarantee actually on?
You know what a guarantee is. The problem is the wording and who it protects when things go wrong on site. Under certain guarantee structures, an employer can
Contractors All Risk
What Contractors Get Wrong About Construction Mafia Insurance
Construction mafia activity doesn't always mean a SASRIA claim. Understand which policy actually responds before you find out the hard way.
Contractors All Risk
What Does Contractors All Risk Insurance Actually Cost?
If you’re planning a building project in South Africa, Contractors All Risk (CAR) insurance is necessary either by contract or as a financial safety net that
Contractors All Risk
Floods and Droughts Through the Lens of the Contractors All Risk Policy
Extreme weather is not treated as a headline event in Contractors All Risk policies. It is treated as a mechanism of loss. Whether a claim succeeds depends
Tenders
CIDB Grading Table: Tender Value Limits for Grades 1 to 9
What can each CIDB grade actually bid for? Current tender value limits for grades 1 to 9, plus the turnover, track record and capital you need to qualify.
Guarantees
Why On-Demand Guarantees Wording Can Destroy Contractors
On-demand guarantees can sink your business fast. Learn how one line in a contract can trigger unfair calls and put your company at risk.
Guarantees
Uncovering the devils in the detail, Spot the risks
Uncover the hidden risks in construction contracts and insurance so you can avoid costly mistakes and protect your projects, and profits.
Plant All Risk
The Hidden Dangers Of Plant Hire in South Africa
Dangers of Plant Hire, Things you may want to know before hiring in equipment for your home build or a bigger contract
Contractors All Risk
Are Your Vehicle Keys or Plant Remotes Insured?
When thinking about insurance, most of us focus on the big-ticket items-cars, equipment, and machinery. But what about the smaller, yet equally critical items
Contractors All Risk
Are you ready for the summer shut down?
Site closing for the builders' holiday? What to check on your plant, works and site security before you lock the gate, and which policy conditions still apply.
Plant All Risk
Scam Alert for Plant Hire Businesses
Recently a criminal syndicate has been scamming on construction plant hire businesses. Please be vigilant of these scam artists.
Contractors All Risk
Don't drop the wrecking ball now
Insurance protects your business, but your policy also sets conditions you have to meet. What to do about sites, works and plant before the Christmas shutdown.
Contractors All Risk
Build a foundation against liability claims litigation with construction liability cover
As a responsible construction company owner, you know the importance of insuring your plant and making sure that your other necessary policies are in place
Contractors All Risk
Three ways to insure your plant
Civilsure understands the importance and necessity of comprehensive plant insurance at a reasonable rate. We also know that you expect impeccable service and
Contractors All Risk
Special project delay insurance for special risks
You know that there are many risks associated with running a construction company. After civil unrest wreaked havoc in South Africa in June and July this year
Contractors All Risk
No good deed goes unpunished
Employing smaller companies as sub- or independent contractors gives your own business more flexibility and allows local contractors to expand their business.
Contractors All Risk
Plant All Risk Advice
“PAR” stands for Plant All Risks, and is a section of insurance cover that is intended to cover all types of construction plant i.e. mobile yellow metal plant
Guarantees
What construction insurance do I need?
Help! What construction insurance do I need? Understandably this can be a challenge. Let’s quickly unpack 5 Construction Insurance options.
Contractors All Risk
How do you secure a municipal tender above the CIDB grade you’re registered for?
Although CIDB grading requirements make it tricky for registered contractors to progress from one grading level to another, contractors are not prevented from
Guarantees
When is a Performance Guarantee called on?
When is a Performance Guarantee called on? If the Contractor doesn’t complete the project, or if the work is not up to the promised quality.
Guarantees
Contract Guarantees - Four types and What They Insure
Contract Guarantees in the construction industries are almost mandatory. Here’s a short list of the four types of Contract Guarantees and what they insure.
Contractors All Risk
What's not covered by a Contractors All Risk Policy
The main part of the CAR insurance is the Contract Works section. But it’s also important to know what's not covered by a Contractors All Risk policy.
Contractors All Risk
Plant All Risk Insurance - What is Plant All Risk Insurance?
Plant All Risk Insurance covers you for loss of, or damage to, construction plant and equipment whilst in storage, transit, on the contract site or ...
Contractors All Risk
Damage to Surrounding Property - Construction All Risk Policy Cover
Yes, damage to surrounding property is covered by a construction all risk policy, provided it’s included as an add-on to the Contract Works cover.
Guarantees
Difference between a Performance Bond and a Performance Guarantee
The term Performance Bond is often misleading, leaving contractors confused about the difference between a performance bond and a performance guarantee.
Guarantees
How do you get a Performance Guarantee?
When applying to get a Performance Guarantee, you’ll have to answer questions about your professional work experience and your company’s financial history.
Contractors All Risk
What Are Latent Defects? Whose Responsible for Latent Defects?
Latent Defects are defects that are not detected by ordinary inspection, but lie hidden until sometime later, when they are eventually discovered.
Tenders
What is Construction Bidding? Construction Tenders
Construction Bidding is the process of submitting a proposal/tender to build a construction project. Public tenders have different rules to private tenders.
Contractors All Risk
What is the Defects Liability Period? Contractor's Contractual Resposibility
During the Defects Liability Period, the Contractor has to carry out repairs & fix any defects in the works, to the condition required by the contact.
Contractors All Risk
How Does a Contractor Claim For An Extension of Time?
A Contractor can claim for an extension of time, thus extending the Due Completion Date. He can also claim for any subsequent increase in costs.
Contractors All Risk
Why is a Contract Works Policy Necessary?
When planning a construction project & required insurance, contractors often wonder why it is necessary to have a contract works policy.
Contractors All Risk
What is ‘Practical Completion’? For Construction Projects
Practical Completion doesn’t mean the Contractor has completed the Works in every detail.... it is sufficiently complete to be safely used as intended.
Contractors All Risk
Plant Hire, Have you read the Contract?
Have you read your plant hire contract? You should get evidence of the plant hire contract when you hire in a concrete pump truck or any other item of plant
News and updates
Benefits of Green Building. Are You A Good Corporate Citizen?
The GBCSA (Green Building Council of South Africa) strives for a greener South Africa. Benefits of Green Building > Increased property values & productivity
Contractors All Risk
Contractors Liability & Sabotage by Disgruntled Employees
Does Contractors Liability on the Contractors All Risk policy cover damages to a structure, caused by a disgruntled employee’s pre-meditated sabotage?
Contractors All Risk
Contractors All Risk Policy >> should you put your name on it?
Dirk Gouws (Engineering Insurance expet, AC&E Engineering Underwriting Managers) explains the meaning of having your name on a Contractors All Risk policy.
Professional Indemnity
Design and Construct Professional Indemnity, South Africa
Andrew Brown (AC & E Professional Indemnity) - Why is Design and Construct Professional Indemnity cover a necessity for builders & construction contractors?
Guarantees
Fuel Guarantees >> Bank Guarantee to Fuel Guarantee
A Fuel Guarantee is security against payment default by the Retailer for fuel delivered by a Fuel Company. The Guarantee covers fuel, lubricant, rent & more
News and updates
Construction Tribe >> A Word From Our CEO Dan Payton
As a Tribe Smith I follow niche communities and connect with them to provide tailor-made risk solutions. At CivilSure we follow the construction tribe.
Tenders
Tendering Tips, Get Our Top 4 Tendering Tips for Contractors
Are you tired of not winning tenders? Here are some practical tendering tips to help you win a tender and comply with construction industry standards.
Contractors All Risk
Contractors All Risk Insurance > Why do you need CAR cover?
All construction work, no matter the size or complexity of the project, contains an element of risk. Find out why you need Contractors All Risk Insurance.
Contractors All Risk
Value of Construction Plant > Determine the value of your plant
To determine the value of construction plant we investigate Market Value, Fair Market Value, Replacement Cost, Replacement Value & Actual Cash Value
Contractors All Risk
Contractors All Risk Insurance Policy. What is CAR cover?
A Contractors All Risk insurance policy, provides cover for the contract works, surrounding property, contractors' public liability, SASRIA, Special Risks..
Reading about it is the easy part.
Send us the contract or the policy wording and we will tell you what it actually does on your site.