ELECSA Insurance & Risk Guide for Electrical Contractors
ELECSA-approved electricians face a wide range of work-related risks — from consumer unit installations and rewires to testing, reporting, EV chargers and solar PV systems. Ensuring the right insurance is in place is vital to protect your business from costly claims.
This guide from SRS Insurance explains:
- The main risks ELECSA contractors encounter
- What types of insurance are most important
- Common exclusions that electricians must avoid
- Typical real-world claims
- The type of protection that supports safe, insured working
This guide is not compliance or audit support.
It is risk and insurance guidance specifically for ELECSA contractors.
Key Risks for ELECSA Electrical Contractors
ELECSA electricians deal with some of the highest-risk environments in construction and property services.
1. Electrical Fire Risk
Faulty terminations, damaged cabling or incorrect installations can lead to:
- Fires
- Damage to property
- Large-scale insurance claims
Electrical fire claims regularly exceed £100,000+.
2. Testing & Certification Liability
ELECSA contractors frequently carry out:
- EICRs
- Initial verification
- Periodic testing
- Landlord safety inspections
- Commercial installation checks
Typical liabilities include:
- Incorrect coding
- Missed defects
- Inaccurate EICR reporting
- Signing off unsafe installations
Professional Indemnity (PI) is the key protection here.
3. EV Charger Installations
As demand for electric vehicles grows, ELECSA electricians must manage risks such as:
- Overloaded circuits
- Incorrect load calculations
- Thermal runaway / overheating
- Charging point failures
- Wrong protection device selection
Generic policies often exclude EV charger installation unless specifically added.
4. Solar PV & Battery Storage
PV systems bring additional electrical complexity:
- Inverter wiring faults
- Wrong isolator positioning
- AC/DC cross-connection risks
- Battery storage fire risk
Specialist insurance wording is needed for PV/battery installers.
5. Commercial & Industrial Installations
Working in commercial environments increases potential claim severity due to:
- Higher power systems
- More complex installations
- Larger property values
- Increased public access
- Greater potential business interruption
These sites often require £5m–£10m PL.
Essential Insurance Covers for ELECSA Electricians
1. Public Liability Insurance (PL)
Protects against injury or property damage caused during electrical work.
Recommended limits:
- Domestic: £2m–£5m
- Commercial: £5m–£10m
Ensure PL includes:
- Electrical installation
- Electrical testing
- EV/PV work (if required)
- “Property being worked upon”
- Resulting damage cover
2. Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI)
PI covers errors in:
- EICRs
- Certification and reporting
- Electrical design/specification
- Testing
- Compliance reports
- Landlord safety checks
PI is strongly recommended for all ELECSA contractors carrying out inspection or testing.
Suggested limits:
£250k – £1m
3. Employers’ Liability Insurance (EL)
Legally required for any contractor with:
- Staff
- Apprentices
- Trainees
- Labour-only subcontractors
Legal minimum: £10m
4. Tools & Equipment Insurance
Important due to:
- High-value testers
- PV/EV diagnostic equipment
- Tool theft hotspots
- Van break-ins
Tools policies can cover:
- Theft
- Damage
- Loss (optional)
5. Contract Works Insurance
Useful for contractors involved in:
- Rewires
- Renovations
- New builds
- Commercial installations
Covers materials and installations while work is underway.
Common Insurance Mistakes ELECSA Contractors Should Avoid
Buying general tradesman insurance
These often exclude:
- Electrical work above low voltage limits
- Testing/inspection
- Certification
- Commercial installations
- EV charger work
- Solar PV systems
Not suitable for professional electricians.
Assuming PL is enough
Testing, inspection and reporting create PI exposure.
Not checking for EV/PV exclusions
More than 70% of generic policies exclude:
- EV chargers
- Battery storage
- PV installations
- Smart home systems
Wrong or vague trade descriptions
Your policy should explicitly list:
- Electrical installation
- Electrical testing
- Inspection & certification
- PV/battery/EV (if applicable)
Insufficient PL for commercial clients
Many require £5m–£10m as standard.
No subcontractor protection
Labour-only subcontractors must be covered under EL.
‘Property worked upon’ exclusion
This exclusion can invalidate claims involving:
- Consumer units
- Sockets
- Lighting circuits
- Distribution boards
- Cabling
Electricians must avoid this exclusion.
Typical Claims Faced by ELECSA Contractors
Electrical Fire (£100,000+)
Consumer unit fault leads to property fire.
EICR Misreporting (£25,000–£60,000)
Incorrect coding causes subsequent damage or injury claim.
EV Charger Failure (£20,000+)
Overheating due to circuit miscalculation.
Solar PV Fault (£15,000+)
Faulty inverter configuration leads to equipment damage.
Tools Theft (£2,000–£10,000+)
Testing equipment stolen from van.
These examples highlight why electricians need trade-specific cover.
Recommended Insurance Checklist for ELECSA Installers
ELECSA contractors should consider ensuring their insurance includes:
- Electrical installation
- Testing & certification
- Professional indemnity for EICRs
- EV charger installation
- Solar PV / battery storage cover
- “Property being worked upon” cover
- Resulting damage
- Employers’ Liability (if applicable)
- Tools & equipment
- Appropriate PL limits (£2m–£10m)
This is risk guidance, not compliance advice.
Get a Quote for ELECSA Installer Insurance
For insurance built around your electrical work:
Straightforward. Specialist. Built for electricians.
