Generator Hire Insurance

Why do I need equipment hire insurance for a generator?

The plant insurance cost is very well worth the benefit it provides. Damage to or loss of your generator will do more than affect the progress of your project. If you hire a generator, you will often be responsible for loss or damage to the equipment during the hire period. Accidental damage, fire, and theft are tangible risks that can occur at any time.

A commercial generator is an essential piece of equipment on a building site and can have a variety of uses. It can provide power for various types of construction equipment, lighting systems and pumps, as well as providing a power source for on-site offices or trailers.

Often, a generator is the main power source for projects that are off-grid, which means reliability is essential, not only for day to day operation, but also for time-critical projects. Generators can also provide back-up power, helping to minimise downtime and mitigate losses in the event of a power outage.

Generators need to be portable, so they can be relocated and used around the construction site as required, or moved from one project to another, but this makes them more prone to damage or theft. Tailored insurance for plant hires is essential.

Furthermore, it is usually a contractual requirement to arrange insurance for the hired in generator and provide evidence of this to the hire company.

With a plant hire insurance policy, you will be protecting yourself from your contractual liability and will be ensuring you are compliant with the hire contract.

Should the worst happen, you can claim up to £100,000 in repair or replacement costs, and if you are responsible for paying continuing hire charges until the machine is repaired or replaced then that cover is included within our short term hire policy up to a limit of £5,000.

Do you provide cover for other types of hired heavy machinery?

On the insurance4plant short term insurance policy we can provide cover for a wide range of hired in equipment such as cherry pickers or scissor lifts, as well as some specialist construction items.

We are unable to provide cover for heavy machinery used for non-construction type roles. Examples include:

• All-terrain vehicles
• Processing machinery
• Site surveying equipment
• Unattended aerial vehicles (also known as drones)
• Road surfacing sprayers and paver
• Lorry mounted sweepers
• Drilling rigs
• Vehicle mounted concrete mixers
• Concrete pumps

Note: the definition of Processing machinery is: plant used to perform mechanical or chemical operations on any material in order to change or preserve it including but not limited to bailers, compactors, crushers, harvesters, picking stations, shears, shredders, trommels and washing plant. Such operations shall include but not be limited to baling, compacting, crushing and washing, granulating, grinding, harvesting, pulverising, screening, shredding.

If you wish to obtain a quote in respect of an excluded item, then please contact the insurance4plant team and we shall be happy to provide you with a bespoke quotation.