Hong Kong is known for its great architecture, with a combination of old traditional and modern structures. Architects and architecture firms are responsible for the beautiful Hong Kong landscape.
Architects are professionals that turn a client idea or brief into a realistic building design that is functional, safe and creative. Over time architects supervise the constructions, and the design becomes a reality.
Architecture duties come with a large number of risks. These risks can affect individual architects and architecture firms. Thankfully, the best solution to unpredictable risks is insurance. The article will explain the top insurance for architects in Hong Kong and how they cover architectural risks.
Top Insurance for Architects & Architecture Firms
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Architects in Hong Kong work for clients. These clients can be individuals, businesses or even government organisations. Clients have a certain expectation of the design and outcome. They expect the professional to provide precisely what they want and use their investment efficiently.
Clients typically notice architectural negligence during construction or after, which takes considerable time and money to fix. Architect negligence can include inadequate drawings, negligent building supervision or overbudget neglect.
There have been many cases where clients have sued the hired architect due to construction or budget issues. Clients who feel they have suffered financial loss due to the architect’s negligence can take legal action against the architect and architecture firm.
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance for architects in Hong Kong is crucial. The insurance is the liability coverage individuals and architectural firm need. Professional indemnity insurance will cover costs related to claims that occur due to architects’ negligence. Architects can make mistakes, and with PI insurance, they can defend their case and move on from them stronger.
Cyber Insurance
Architects store a lot of drawings, client information, invoices and project data electronically. Many firms in Hong Kong believe their data is safe from cybercriminals and don’t consider their data sensitive. However, when a firm stores data or uses online platforms, they are in danger.
Even communicating with clients by email can lead to cyber-attacks. Cybercriminals will always find ways to breach firms and steal data successfully. The more clients a firm has, the higher the chance of data breach.
For example, cybercriminals may hack into architectural firm’s servers, steal data and freeze online business activities, until a high value ransom is paid. Many architecture firms have been victims of ransomware cyber-attacks and forced to pay the ransom.
Such cyber-attack can result in business interruption, reputation damage and severe financial loss. For these reasons, cyber insurance for architects is a must to protect data and cyber liability. The insurance will cover cyber experts’ advice, threat removal, data recovery, informing third parties and financial loss.
Cyber insurance with cyber security measures can help an architectural firm avoid and deal with even the worst cyber threats.
Director & Officer (D&O) Insurance
Every architectural firm has a different organisation structure and business plan. Although, most firms have senior roles known as either directors or officers, who are liable for the company’s development. These roles include CEOs, CFOs, CMOs and department managers.
Investors and board members communicate with these managers and directors to ensure that the company is successful and that their investments are being used for the right reason. However, there are times when managers have been caught being dishonest and have breached fiduciary duties. For example, an architecture company may be sued when a manager charges expensive personal expenditures as business expenses and redeeming invoices.
Even if it is the actions of one manager, the affected shareholder may hold all directors and officers responsible.
Director and officer insurance for architectural firms in Hong Kong will help protect management staff’s liability. The insurance for architects will cover company managers to protect them from claims resulting from alleged wrongful acts. The insurance will not cover managers convicted guilty, and the illegal act was intentional. It is an essential insurance to protect managers who were not involved, or the wrongful act was an accident.
Employee Compensation Insurance
Converting an idea into a design and then into a building requires months to years of work, which is impossible without employees. Each project consists of various architects who help design and supervise the construction. Architecture firms are liable for their employees’ safety while performing their duties.
Architect work injuries can occur anytime, from hours on the desk to construction site visits. If an architect is injured on duty, the employer must pay for their medical expenses, salary and compensation expenses.
For example, a falling object may hit an architect during a site visit. They will wear safety hats, but the falling object can be on the arm or leg, resulting in broken bones.
Employee compensation insurance for architects is mandatory in Hong Kong. The insurance will cover the costs related to the work injury, therefore, the medical, salary and compensation costs. Architects are known to be hard workers and work long hours- thus, they deserve the best medical care when facing unforeseen work injuries.
Benefits Of Insurance for Architects in Hong Kong
Architects face many risks which can appear from nowhere. Having insurance and the right group of policies helps protect architects and architectural firms from these risks.
The combination of these insurance will provide the best financial protection whenever things go wrong. The financial cover will allow the professionals and firms to recover every time and come out stronger.
Additionally, insurance for architects also allows them to focus on their job rather than worry about the possibility of a claim or error. Hong Kong needs its architects protected for a brighter and modern future.
To Learn More about architect insurance and protect your architecture firm in Hong Kong & Asia, contact Red Asia Insurance.
