ACORD 855 NY: Construction Certificate Addendum Explained

ACORD 855 NY is the New York Construction Certificate of Liability Insurance Addendum. It is used with an ACORD 25 certificate when additional New York construction liability information is requested. The addendum communicates policy information to the certificate holder. It does not amend the policy, create coverage, or make the holder an additional insured by itself.

When is ACORD 855 NY used?

Vertafore documents ACORD 855 NY as a New York Construction Certificate of Liability Insurance Addendum that is attached to ACORD 25.^[1] Its workflow connects the addendum to general liability underwriting information and an additional interest selected for the certificate.^[1]

A project owner, general contractor, lender, or other certificate holder may request the addendum for New York construction work. That request does not mean every listed protection exists. The producer must use current policy records and endorsements rather than repeat contract language that the insurer did not issue.

What should a business verify before issuance?

Confirm the named insured, policy and project details, insurer, certificate holder, and the relevant general liability terms. Review whether any additional insured endorsement applies, to whom it applies, and whether its scope includes ongoing operations, completed operations, or both. Also verify any policy restrictions or endorsements relevant to the questions on the current licensed form.

Vertafore notes that an addendum created from a policy-level additional interest can prefill information differently from one created only for a client-level certificate holder.^[1] Prefill is an efficiency feature, not a factual guarantee. The producer still needs to review every answer against the policy.

Does ACORD 855 NY provide additional insured coverage?

No. An additional insured endorsement, blanket provision that applies to the particular agreement, or other policy language must provide that status. ACORD 855 NY and ACORD 25 cannot create a right that is absent from the policy. ACORD also states that it does not provide insurance coverage or process claims.^[2]

If a construction contract requires specific wording, limits, primary and noncontributory treatment, waiver of subrogation, or completed operations coverage, compare each requirement with the policy and endorsements. The certificate package is not a substitute for that review.

Where can you get the official ACORD 855 NY?

Eligible users can search for current licensed forms in the ACORD Forms Portal after login.^[3] Obtain the version accepted by the insurer and requesting party through an authorized agency or software provider. This page does not reproduce the copyrighted form.

The Bottom Line

ACORD 855 NY supplements an ACORD 25 for New York construction liability information. Its statements must match the policy and endorsements, and the addendum cannot add protection the insurer did not issue. Review the certificate package against both the construction contract and the actual insurance documents.

This guide is for educational purposes and describes ACORD 855 NY in original language. Form numbers and titles are cited for identification only, and Menlo Insurance Services is not affiliated with ACORD Corporation. Policy terms and endorsements control.