Overview of the Program from Continental Risk / Continental Marine Insurance Services
Continental Risk / Continental Marine Insurance Services offers a Fire Suppression and Sprinkler Contractors program designed for agents placing contractors who sell, install, service, monitor, test and repair fire suppression systems. The program is built to handle the common exposures of wet and dry sprinkler systems, chemical suppression systems, system design services and fire extinguishers. Coverage is available through admitted markets where offered and via excess & surplus capacity in other jurisdictions.
Ideal Accounts and Appetite
- Independent sprinkler and fire-suppression contractors performing installation, repair, inspection, testing and monitoring services.
- Firms that design fire suppression systems in addition to field work.
- Companies offering chemical suppression systems and fire extinguisher sales/servicing.
- Small to mid-sized operations with licensed technicians, documented safety procedures and standard subcontractor controls.
Accounts with stable loss histories, routine service work, and controlled waste handling typically fit best. Firms with unusually high pollution exposures, large-scale industrial suppression projects, or significant historic losses may require additional underwriting review or specialized markets.
Coverage Highlights and Advantages
- Flexible placement: General Liability, Professional Liability and Pollution Liability can be included. Excess limits are available.
- Package options: Commercial Auto and Workers’ Compensation can be arranged to create a consolidated placement.
- Specialized pollution and cleanup features such as Premises Pollution Coverage and First Party Emergency Cleanup Costs Coverage.
- Blanket enhancements available, including Blanket Additional Insured (Primary, Non-Contributory, Completed Operations), Blanket Waiver of Subrogation, and Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Site Coverage.
- Broadened Property Damage and Bodily Injury definitions to reduce coverage gaps that contractors commonly face.
Underwriting Notes and Minimum Premiums
Underwriting focuses on the nature of operations (installation vs. inspection-only), controls in place for disposal and pollution, employee training/certification, subcontractor agreements, and prior loss history. Documentation that speeds placement includes contractor agreements, COIs from subcontractors, safety programs, and a recent loss run.
Minimum premiums and terms vary by carrier and by whether the risk is placed admitted or non-admitted. Continental Risk works with multiple markets to find competitive pricing and the appropriate coverage structure for each account.
Territories and Availability
This program is available nationwide in the following jurisdictions: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, DC, WV, WI, WY. Availability may vary by state and by carrier; admitted capacity is available in some markets while excess & surplus capacity is used where needed.
Why Work with Continental Risk / Continental Marine Insurance Services on This Business
- Specialized program focus on fire suppression and sprinkler contractors with tailored coverages that address both liability and pollution exposures.
- Access to a mix of admitted and excess & surplus markets to place accounts that don’t fit standard carriers.
- Ability to package General Liability, Professional Liability, Pollution, Commercial Auto and Workers’ Compensation for streamlined servicing.
- Practical underwriting guidance for agents to prepare submissions and reduce placement times.
Example-fit scenarios
- You have a regional sprinkler contractor that installs wet-pipe and dry-pipe systems for commercial buildings, performs quarterly inspections and wants GL + PL coverage with pollution extensions for minor cleanup — this program can assemble those layers.
- A small firm that designs chemical suppression systems and maintains extinguishers needs professional liability and premises pollution coverage for accidental discharge during system testing — Continental Risk can access markets that will consider that combined exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of accounts are a good fit for this program?
Independent fire suppression and sprinkler contractors who perform installation, repair, inspection, testing, monitoring or system design. Best fits are small-to-mid sized firms with documented safety programs and routine service work.
Which coverages can be packaged through Continental Risk?
The program can include General Liability, Professional Liability and Pollution Liability. Excess limits are available, and Commercial Auto and Workers’ Compensation can be added to create a consolidated placement.
Are there pollution-related extensions available?
Yes. The program offers Premises Pollution Coverage, First Party Emergency Cleanup Costs Coverage, Blanket Non-Owned Disposal Site Coverage and other pollution extensions depending on carrier appetite.
How should I prepare a submission for faster underwriting?
Include up-to-date contractor agreements, a description of services performed, safety and training documentation, recent loss runs and COIs for major subcontractors. Clear documentation helps underwriters evaluate pollution and professional exposures quickly.
Need help placing an account? Connect with a market specialist.