How many companies have you received quotes from? That does seem pretty high. Did you ask them why the premiums are this high?

What kind of projects are you involved in?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

I pay about a third of that in civil/site.

Hydrology, Drainage Analysis, Flood Studies, and Complex Stormwater Litigation for Atlanta and the South East - http://www.campbellcivil.com

When I started E+O was $3k/yr for $1MM coverage and $200k turnover. According to my broker, for structural engineers it should be 2.5-3.2% of turnover with a min of $3k premium.
-> Careful how you fill out your application form.

I pay $15k-$25k, but I'm in Oil & Gas not structural/civil. All of the policies that I've looked at are $/$k gross revenue. If your gross revenue is below $100k then the quotes I've gotten have been the maximum $/$1k times 100. As gross revenue goes above $100k then the $/$1k number goes down (and is the percentage that Glass talks about). I've never had anyone not quote when my expected gross was below $100k.

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

I have only had three quotes. the local agents received quotes from Loyds London, Victor Schinnerer co., and Hull and co. I design foundations, steel structures such as coal preparation plants and conveying systems, some metal building foundations and forensic evaluations of steel structures. I was told by one insurance agent because "structural" was in the company name the quote would be higher than if I was just ABC engineering.

Coal dust and forensics might be what is driving this high figure. Ask your broker further...

Schinnerer is usually pretty reasonable from what I have seen. I would expect high quotes from Lloyds.

Do you design in a high seismic area?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

msquared: Is forensics considered to be high risk? I would not have assumed so, but maybe it is.

Coal sounds like a red flag to me. I think the Centralia mine fires, explosions, shoring failures, massive industrial accidents, etc.

Structural is a higher risk category than architecture, meaning you will pay 3% of net fee rather than 2%. 20% is way out of line. I have been insured through Hudson for the last couple of years, and before than Liberty Mutual.

Ask Ron, but with forensics, I see a higher risk of potential involvement in litigation proceedings, whatever the type of involvement. Just guessing here...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

Thank you all for the input. I will investigate further to see which items are driving this cost.

coaleng...that's about in the ballpark. Depending on provider, I've paid between 15k and 25k.
I do mostly forensic evaluation; however, there are changes in my state's legislation that might make me re-think all of this. Morons in legislature!

The geotechnical may be the trigger. Each time I'm asked to renew my policy, I'm asked if I do house inspections or geotechnical work.

Robert Billings
www.newrivereng.com

We went through The Hartford, as another place to try.

B+W Engineering and Design | Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer http://bwengr.com

Depending on the type of work you do, I recommend getting quotes through the ASCE program. The quotes we received were nearly half of quotes we got from other carriers. Its insured through Lloyd's of London, but I believe a special rate through ASCE.

Dont need to be member to get a quote. Do need to be one to purchase.