# Insurance for structural engineers and structural design offices in Germany

> An undersized beam, a forgotten load from solar panels on the roof, reinforcement missing from the drawing: structural design errors are among the most expensive building defects, because they lead to strengthening, closure and expert reports. In Germany, self-employed engineers on the chamber list must insure their liability under state law. This page explains the sums, what structural design offices should insure and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-structural-engineer.php  
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Is the chamber minimum enough for a structural engineer?

It is a floor. Brandenburg requires 1.5 million euros for bodily injury and 300,000 euros for property and financial loss. A structural error in an apartment block or warehouse, with strengthening, closure and loss of rent, quickly costs more. Many offices choose 3 million euros for bodily injury and 1 million euros or more for other losses, plus project policies for large schemes.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** Self-employed engineers on the chamber list and engineers entitled to submit building applications need professional indemnity under state law, in Brandenburg under sections 10 and 33 BbgIngG
- **Minimum sums:** In Brandenburg 1.5 million euros for bodily injury and 300,000 euros for property and financial loss per claim, available twice a year
- **Run-off:** Brandenburg requires at least five years of cover after the policy ends
- **Biggest risk:** Design and calculation errors that lead to strengthening, demolition or a ban on use
- **Basic cover from:** around 800 euros a year for a small structural design office, a guide value from our quoting experience

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Calculation errors:** An undersized member has to be strengthened, and in the worst case the building is closed until then.
- **Forgotten loads:** Solar panels, snow, plant on the roof or a change of use are not included in the calculations.
- **Reinforcement drawings:** Missing or wrong details only show after the concrete is poured.
- **Existing buildings:** Openings in walls, extra storeys and conversions bring uncertainty about the existing structure.
- **Bodily injury:** If a member fails, people can be hurt, and the sums then exceed the minimum cover.
- **Data and software:** Structural models and drawings are digital; an attack just before a deadline puts dates at risk.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 5, Fire and water 2, Theft 2, Cyber 3, Downtime 2, Health 4

## The insurance you need

- **Professional indemnity** (Essential): Compulsory for self-employed engineers on the chamber list; covers bodily injury, property damage and financial loss from structural design. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Strongly advised): Pays for recovery and downtime if models and drawings are encrypted. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Electronic equipment** (Strongly advised): Workstations, plotters and measuring devices against surges, breakage and theft. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-electronic-equipment.php
- **Occupational disability** (Strongly advised): In a small office everything depends on the owners; if they cannot work, the income stops. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-occupational-disability.php
- **Business contents** (Depends on the business): Office furniture against fire, burst pipes and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For fee claims and disputes with staff. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php
- **D&O insurance** (Depends on the business): For managing directors of an engineering GmbH who are personally liable to the company. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-directors-and-officers.php

## What it costs: example prices

The premium depends on fee income, type of projects, sum insured and deductible. Work on existing buildings, civil engineering and high sums make the policy more expensive.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional indemnity | Sole practitioner, houses and conversions, 1.5 million and 300,000 euros | around 800 to 1,800 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Office with six engineers, residential and commercial, 3 million and 1 million euros | around 4,000 to 9,000 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Project policy for a scheme with 15 million euros construction cost | around 3,000 to 8,000 euros one-off |
| Cyber insurance | Office with eight workstations | around 500 to 1,300 euros a year |
| Electronic equipment | Computers, plotter and measuring equipment worth 30,000 euros | around 150 to 400 euros a year |

For comparison: Professional indemnity for a small structural design office costs about as much a year as the calculations for a small extension.

_All prices are guide values from our quoting experience, excluding German insurance premium tax, as of October 2026. The source shows the legal rules using Brandenburg as an example; other states set their own sums and details._

- [Brandenburg engineers act (BbgIngG)](https://bravors.brandenburg.de/gesetze/bbgingg)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Solo** (structural engineer without staff, housing and conversions): Professional indemnity, Electronic equipment, Occupational disability. Together: around 1,000 to 2,200 euros a year, excluding disability cover
- **Office** (engineering office with employees and commercial projects): Professional indemnity, Cyber insurance, Electronic equipment, Business contents. Together: around 5,000 to 11,000 euros a year
- **Company** (engineering GmbH or PartG mbB with large projects): Professional indemnity, Cyber insurance, Electronic equipment, Business contents, D&O insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: individual, usually from around 12,000 euros a year

## The worst day in a structural design office

Six things that really happen to structural engineers, all on one Friday. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 07:40: A truss in a warehouse sags because the load of the new solar panels was missing. The hall is closed and strengthened. (€120,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 09:50: After pouring, a layer of reinforcement turns out to be missing from the drawing. The slab must be strengthened. (€45,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 12:15: A ground floor tenant claims rent reduction and moving costs because of the closure. (€18,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 14:00: The server with all structural models is encrypted and three submissions are due. (€17,000, Paid by: Cyber insurance)
- 15:45: A thunderstorm surge destroys two workstations and the plotter. (€8,000, Paid by: Electronic equipment)
- 17:30: A developer refuses the final invoice and disputes the fee band. (€6,000, Paid by: Business legal expenses)

**Damage so far:** €214,000

## Practical tips from your broker

- Ask your engineering chamber for the exact minimum sums; each state sets its own.
- Choose much more than the minimum for property and financial loss if you work on existing or commercial buildings.
- Take out project policies for large schemes so one project does not use up the annual cover.
- Have checking calculations, fire safety proofs and site supervision named if you offer them.
- Settle run-off cover before closing the office; design errors often show years later.
- Joint ventures with architects and other engineers must be covered in the policy.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **Several insurers compared:** As an insurance broker, Norman Nammert obtains quotes from different insurers and checks sums, annual limits and run-off against your chamber's rules.
- **Advice in English, German law:** We explain German policy wording and chamber rules in plain English.
- **Family business since 1989:** Our advice is free for you, as the insurer pays our commission.

## FAQ

### Is professional indemnity compulsory for structural engineers in Germany?

For self-employed engineers on the chamber list and engineers entitled to submit building applications, yes, under the engineering act of your state. In Brandenburg these are sections 10 and 33 BbgIngG.

### What minimum sums apply?

In Brandenburg 1.5 million euros for bodily injury and 300,000 euros for property and financial loss per claim; annual cover may be limited to twice that.

### What does professional indemnity cost?

A sole practitioner usually pays around 800 to 1,800 euros a year, an office with six engineers around 4,000 to 9,000 euros. These are guide values from our quoting experience.

### What happens if I have no cover?

In Brandenburg it is an administrative offence with a fine of up to 30,000 euros, and after twelve months without cover the entry can be deleted.

### Are employed engineers covered?

Yes, through the office policy as long as they act for the office. Private side jobs need their own cover.

### Can I get advice in English?

Yes. Policies are usually issued in German, and we go through the key clauses with you in English.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison, free of charge. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-structural-engineer.php#anfrage

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Your broker: Norman Nammert, trading as NAMMERT. Insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act. Broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH is a separate company. It does not arrange your contract.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.