Nearly every construction contract requires certificates of insurance.

Yet certificate tracking remains one of the weakest areas of project risk management.

The problem isn’t collecting certificates.

The problem is believing the certificate itself creates coverage.

It doesn’t.

A certificate is only evidence that insurance existed on the day it was issued.

Policies can cancel. Endorsements may not match contractual requirements. Additional insured status may never have been properly added. Limits can change. Subcontractors can switch carriers midway through construction.

The Questions Owners Should Be Asking

Instead of asking:

“Did we receive the certificate?”

Ask:

  • Is the additional insured endorsement correct?
  • Does completed operations coverage apply?
  • Is primary and noncontributory wording included?
  • Is waiver of subrogation required?
  • Does the subcontract match the policy language?

Those questions prevent claims disputes later.

Kavana’s Perspective

Good certificate management is a continuous process—not a filing cabinet.

Owners should think of certificates as the beginning of compliance, not the end.