Insurance for building materials, glass and ceramics manufacturers in Germany
A precast concrete element that is not strong enough, a batch of tiles with a colour fault, double glazing that mists up: building materials get built in, and the damage often only shows once the house is finished. Add kilns, mixers and presses running round the clock. Here is how to insure all that in Germany and what it costs.
Who pays if our paving stones start flaking after one winter?
No insurance replaces the stones themselves; that is a warranty matter. The cost of taking out the faulty stones and laying new ones can be insured through extended product liability, provided removal and refitting costs are agreed. Because paving, tiles or windows are often installed over large areas, this is the most important building block of all.
What goes wrong in this trade
01
A fault built into the structure
Too little strength, the wrong mix or colour deviations often only appear months after installation. Then it is about demolition and rebuilding.
02
Kiln and glass tank
Kilns, glass melting tanks and dryers run continuously. A failure ruins the batch and can damage the plant itself.
03
Mixers and presses
Large units wear quickly and spare parts have long delivery times. Without the mixer the whole works stands still.
04
Dust and noise
Fine dust, quartz dust and noise affect neighbours and staff. Complaints and official conditions are common.
05
Breakage and transport
Glass, precast elements and tiles break during loading or on site, often with people hurt.
06
Heavy loads
Crane work, forklifts and heavy parts cause serious workplace accidents, and quartz dust adds occupational illness.
Adds to the statutory accident insurer for staff in the works and on deliveries.
What it costs: example prices
Premiums depend on the product, turnover and payroll, and above all on the building blocks of product liability. Works with kilns or glass tanks also pay for machinery insurance.
Insurance
Example
Typical range
Business liability
Small concrete products or ceramics works up to €1 million turnover, €5 million cover
around €800 to €2,500 a year
Business liability
Works with 40 staff, extended product liability with removal and refitting costs
around €5,000 to €14,000 a year
Machinery breakdown
Kiln, mixer and presses with a new value of €1.5 million
around €5,000 to €12,000 a year
Business contents
Plant and stock worth €2 million
around €2,000 to €5,000 a year
Business interruption
Business interruption after property damage and machinery breakdown, twelve months
around €1,500 to €4,500 a year
For comparison: General liability for a small concrete products works costs roughly as much a year as 60 to 120 square metres of paving ex works.
Guide figures excluding German insurance tax, as of September 2026.
Machinery insurance is priced per mille of the sum insured;
the ranges come from comparable businesses and our own quoting.
Six losses of the kind seen at concrete, brick, glass and ceramics works, put together on one day. Tap through.
Damage so far€518,000
The kiln fails after a burner fault, and the whole batch of roof tiles is unusable.
€42,000 · Paid by: Machinery breakdown
A building owner reports that 900 square metres of paving are flaking. Removal, disposal and relaying.
€68,000 · Paid by: Business liability
While reversing on site, the truck mixer damages scaffolding and a car.
€14,000 · Paid by: Fleet insurance
On the way to the site, twelve large double glazed units break in the rack.
€9,000 · Paid by: Cargo insurance
The gearbox of the main mixer breaks. The works stands still for three weeks until the spare part arrives.
€75,000 · Paid by: Business interruption
A short circuit in the dryer sets the hall with its moulds and pallets on fire.
€310,000 · Paid by: Business contents
Which package would you have had?
Paid by insurance: €0
Out of your own pocket: €518,000
Illustrative amounts before any excess.
What is paid depends on the policy terms.
Practical tips from your broker
Agree removal and refitting costs in extended product liability with a high enough sum, because installed materials cause follow-on costs for the building owner.
Include business interruption after machinery breakdown too, not only after fire; with kilns and mixers that is the more frequent case.
Check whether damage from environmental impacts such as dust and waste water is covered by environmental liability.
Insure moulds and formwork at new value; custom items take weeks to rebuild.
Bundle truck mixers and crane vehicles in one fleet policy, and check that loading is included for mobile machines with cranes.
Keep test records and retained samples of every batch; later they often decide whether the fault lay with you or with the installer.
Why NAMMERT for your business
We check the building blocks that count
Removal and refitting costs, machinery breakdown with business interruption, environment: we compare the wordings of several insurers at exactly these points.
We know claims handling in practice
In boat insurance we handle claims ourselves. We know how much evidence and expert reports matter when manufacturer and installer argue.
Works and fleet with one partner
We look after the works, truck mixers, lorries and your private cover together, and explain it in English.
A family business since 1989
One fixed contact for your business. Our work is free for you; the insurer pays our commission.
Frequently asked questions
Questions and answers
Are removal and refitting costs included in general liability?
Only in extended product liability, and only if that block is agreed.
For building materials makers it is almost always needed.
Does machinery insurance pay for a broken kiln?
Yes, damage to kilns through operator error, overheating or material defects is covered.
The ruined batch is often only covered with its own extension.
What does insurance cost for a small concrete products works?
Liability, contents and machinery usually cost between €2,000 and €6,000 a year,
depending on products and plant.
Are we liable for dust at the neighbours'?
If dust damages property or harms health, yes.
General liability pays if environmental damage is included.
Which Berufsgenossenschaft is responsible?
For building materials, stone and earths it is BG RCI.
Glass and ceramics firms belong to the VBG.
Both are statutory accident insurers.
Do we need transport insurance?
If you deliver glass, precast elements or ceramics yourself, yes.
Breakage in transit is not covered by contents insurance.
NAMMERT insurance broker
Request quotes for Building materials, glass and ceramics
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