CG 20 32: Additional Insured Design Professionals Not Hired by You

CG 20 32 adds scheduled architects, engineers, or surveyors who were not engaged by the named insured. It addresses a construction relationship in which a contractor is required to insure a design professional hired by someone else, such as the project owner.

When is CG 20 32 useful?

A project owner may hire the architect, while the construction contract requires the general contractor to add that architect to the contractor's CGL policy. The architect is exposed to claims alleging that the contractor's work caused injury or damage, even though the architect did not hire the contractor directly.

CG 20 32 is designed for that gap. A municipal policy copy of the 12 19 edition schedules design professionals not engaged by the named insured and ties their status to the named insured's ongoing operations.^[1]

Coverage applies only to qualifying injury or damage caused, at least in part, by the named insured's acts or omissions or those of people acting on its behalf. It is not a blanket grant for every claim against the design professional.

What does the professional-services exclusion mean?

The endorsement excludes claims arising from rendering or failing to render professional services. The examples include design documents, opinions, surveys, change orders, specifications, supervisory work, inspection, and engineering services. The current wording also addresses claims framed as negligent supervision, hiring, training, or monitoring when the underlying occurrence involved professional services.^[1]

The architect or engineer still needs appropriate professional liability insurance. CG 20 32 concerns the contractor's CGL exposure, not the professional's design errors.

What should the parties verify?

Confirm the professional's exact legal name, the signed contract clause requiring status, edition, project, and policy period. Make sure the requirement concerns ongoing operations and determine whether separate completed-operations status is expected.

Do not substitute a direct-party automatic endorsement without reading its trigger. Industry analysis highlights CG 20 32 specifically because the contractor may not have contractual privity with the owner-hired architect or engineer.^[2] Obtain the actual endorsement with the certificate.

This guide is for educational purposes and summarizes standard ISO policy concepts in original language. Form numbers and titles are used only for identification. Menlo Insurance Services is not affiliated with or approved by Insurance Services Office, Inc. Your policy, contract, and attached endorsements control. Talk to a licensed broker about your project.