Latent defects insurance for technical facilities
Structural warranty cover for laboratories, telecoms and switch buildings, energy and battery storage buildings and other technical facilities - where the building has to protect specialist plant and processes.
- Instant response
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your proposal
- UK FCA Regulated Broker
- No broker fee to pay
- Specialist commercial underwriters
Beyond the data centre
Technical buildings with the same kind of risk
Many buildings share the things that make a data centre demanding: heavy floor loads, plant on the roof, strict control of water and temperature, and a use that costs far more to interrupt than the building cost to put up. The same specialist underwriters are often prepared to look at them.
These buildings vary a great deal, so there is no standard answer. Whether cover is available, and on what terms, is decided by each insurer case by case once it has seen the design and the intended use.
Facilities we can approach underwriters about
Types of technical facility
Laboratories and research buildings
Science and research buildings often need heavy floors, low vibration and a lot of plant. Insurers focus on the building itself - the specialist fit-out and equipment are a separate matter.
Telecoms and switch buildings
Exchanges, switch sites and network buildings, new or converted. Like a small data centre, the envelope and floor loading get the closest look.
Energy and battery storage buildings
Buildings that house batteries, inverters and electrical equipment. Some insurers look at these carefully because of the loads and the equipment inside, and containerised systems may not count as a building at all.
Plant, control and other technical buildings
Control rooms, plant buildings and similar structures serving a larger site. Tell us what the building does and we will find out who will look at it.
Getting to a quote
What helps an underwriter say yes
With an unusual building, the more an underwriter understands at the start, the better the chance of good terms. Before we approach the market it helps to have:
- A clear description of what the building is for and what it will house
- Design loads for floors and roof, including plant and equipment
- Architect's plans and elevations, and the structural calculations
- The ground investigation report and the foundation design
- The developer's and contractor's experience of similar buildings
As with any project, cover should be registered before work starts on site.
Technical facilities - common questions
Can a laboratory building get latent defects insurance?
Often, yes, although each insurer decides case by case. Cover is usually for the structure and the weatherproof envelope. Specialist fit-out, laboratory equipment and the research inside are not covered by a latent defects policy.
Is a battery storage building covered in the same way as a data centre?
It may be, if it is a permanent building and an insurer is prepared to take it on. Some insurers are cautious about these buildings, and containerised battery systems may not count as a building for latent defects purposes. We find out before you commit.
What if my building type is not listed here?
Tell us about it anyway. The facilities on this page are examples, not a complete list. If a specialist underwriter is likely to consider it, we will approach them; if not, we will say so plainly.
Tell us about your technical facility
Describe the building, what it will house and where the project is up to, and we will find out which underwriters are prepared to look at it.
- Takes under a minute
- Instant reply by email with your reference
- Insurer quotes usually within one working day of your completed proposal
- Sites anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Free and no obligation
Already filled in a proposal form? Email it to us or send it on WhatsApp with any drawings you have and we will take it from there.
