As insurers get to grips with the technological changes facing construction professionals, it is the architect who faces most potential impact in relation to PI issues. New technologies such as BIM are new to the Professional Indemnity Insurance (“PII”) industry and can create risk gaps and unknown exposures to insurers which can in turn leave the architect vulnerable in terms of their PII cover. Some aspects of new technology will undoubtedly result in better risk management but they could also create greater exposures for design teams, project managers and project co-ordinators. It is not until claims are made and defended that the insurance market will really understand the changes to risk profile within the architectural profession resulting from the adoption of the latest generation of technological design tools.

Sustainable design also creates new and potentially unconsidered risks, especially in the use of new materials, adoption of sustainability assessment standards such as BREEAM and consideration of environmental issues such as flooding resulting from climate change. For this reason Brunel Professional Risks, as a specialist PII broker, has considered the issues in some detail enabling it to provide clients with advice in relation to risk mitigation. An advantage of the disciplines adopted in a good sustainability model is that they transfer positively to other areas of business management as well as risk management. Brunel, as a member of Climate Wise have an understanding that a clear sustainability policy is now a vital ingredient for architects when tendering for and winning business from end user clients, or where requirements are cascading down the supply chain.

With increasing pressure on the use of brownfield sites aspects such as pollution cover should not be ignored. Some insurers exclude this cover, or only provide limited cover – “sudden & unforeseen” only for example.

Choosing the right insurer is essential, particularly when many insurers have started to change their appetite for architects PII. New insurers to the class may not be familiar with the associated risks whereas those with long standing experience are looking at rating increases due to heightened claims activity. It is therefore essential that a broker with experience is employed who can offer facilities with a broad scope of cover and with insurers committed to the profession. Brunel is that broker.