CG 22 80: Limited Contractors Professional Liability Exclusion

CG 22 80 is a limited professional liability exclusion for contractors. It excludes injury or damage arising from engineering, architectural, or surveying services the insured provides in the capacity of an engineer, architect, or surveyor. It then states that the exclusion does not apply to the insured's operations connected with construction work performed by or on its behalf.

That construction-operations provision makes CG 22 80 materially different from CG 22 79.

What does CG 22 80 exclude?

The 04 13 form lists professional services such as preparing or approving maps, shop drawings, opinions, reports, surveys, field orders, change orders, drawings, and specifications. It also includes related architectural or engineering supervision and inspection.^[1]

The claim must arise from those services provided by the insured in the specified professional capacity. The endorsement also applies when a claim alleges negligent supervision, hiring, training, or monitoring if the underlying occurrence or offense involved those professional services.

Why is it called a limited exclusion?

CG 22 80 expressly leaves the insured's operations connected with construction work outside this exclusion. That does not guarantee coverage, because the insuring agreement, other exclusions, and policy conditions still apply. It does mean the form should not be summarized as a blanket professional-services exclusion for every activity on a project.

CG 22 79 is broader in an important respect. It can address engineering, architectural, or surveying services the contractor provides or hires independent professionals to provide in connection with the contractor's work. CG 22 80 focuses on professional services provided by the insured and preserves its construction operations. Public project agreements sometimes prohibit any professional exclusion broader than CG 22 80 for that reason.^[2]

What should a design-build contractor review?

Map who signs or approves design documents, who contracts with outside designers, and which entity assumes design responsibility. Then compare the CGL exclusion with the contractors professional liability policy. That separate policy may have a claims-made trigger, retroactive date, retention, and definition of professional services that do not match the CGL.

The edition matters. New York's contract-insurance guidance identifies CG 22 80 04 13 by its limited-exclusion title.^[3] A manuscript exclusion may be broader even if its heading sounds similar.

This guide is for educational purposes and summarizes standard ISO policy language in original words. Menlo Insurance Services is not affiliated with Insurance Services Office, Inc. Your policy's terms and endorsements control. Talk to a licensed broker about your construction and design responsibilities.

The Bottom Line

CG 22 80 excludes defined professional services provided by the insured but preserves its operations connected with construction work. Design-build firms should coordinate that boundary with contracts and a separate professional liability policy.