An Irish architectural practice should prepare an insurance enquiry around its projects, appointments and professional obligations in Ireland. A quotation based on a broad design-services label can miss the detail needed for a useful comparison.
The decision that deserves the closest review
Describe design stages, certification and specialist responsibilities, including work performed by outside consultants. Consult current professional-body information and ask an authorised adviser how the proposed wording addresses the practice. Check cross-border projects separately.
A hypothetical example
An Irish practice accepts its first project outside Ireland. It checks territorial and jurisdiction terms alongside the appointment rather than assuming the domestic insurance arrangement accepts every overseas instruction.
Professional-service allegations
Professional indemnity concerns allegations about professional services. Compare the accepted activities, claim and notification wording, prior-work provisions and exclusions. A higher limit cannot repair an activity that the wording does not accept.
Premiums, excesses and usable cover
Request quotations using the same business description, required limits and relevant dates. Put the annual premium, any instalment charges, excesses and important sublimits in one comparison. A cheaper premium can represent a different transfer of risk rather than the same cover at a better price.
| Comparison item | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Irish and overseas project mix | Is the Irish practice entity correctly named? |
| Professional appointments and certification duties | Are professional responsibilities accurately declared? |
| Prior work, claim history and proposed limits | Are cross-border appointments specifically reviewed? |
Request the proposed wording and schedule, not just a price or certificate. Mark any difference that affects a real activity before deciding whether the premium saving is worthwhile.
Prepare an accurate insurance enquiry
Give each adviser a consistent description of the activities being insured. Include important contracts, changes since the previous enquiry and matters the insurer asks you to disclose. Do not guess answers merely to obtain a faster or cheaper quote; ask for clarification when the proposal wording is unclear.
Make the Irish practice’s appointments the starting point
List the architectural services, project types and clients served by the Irish practice. Include work undertaken outside Ireland, inherited appointments and specialist consultants. Check relevant professional requirements directly and give the insurance adviser the same appointment description used for the practice’s client engagements.
Compare proposed wording against one current project and one completed project. Ask about declared activities, prior-work arrangements and changes in the practice. Keep the Irish professional and product references distinct from UK information so local acceptance is established rather than assumed from a similar product name.
For an Irish business, confirm the accepted activities and territories against the actual Irish quotation and schedule.
A mistake to avoid
Transferring a UK quotation checklist without checking Irish professional and distribution requirements.
Check what happens after the policy starts
Ask who to contact when activities change or a potential claim arises. Understand the notification and consent process before arranging repairs, appointing specialists or settling a complaint. At renewal, compare the new documents with the accepted business description; continuity of a familiar brand does not prove continuity of every term.
Questions before choosing
Where should a practice check its adviser?
Use the Central Bank registers and verify the identity and relevant status of the firm, alongside professional-body guidance.
Can a UK architectural insurance description be reused unchanged?
Use it only as a prompt for questions. Confirm the Irish practice’s requirements, territories and offered wording with the appropriate adviser.
Sources and further reading
- Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
- Central Bank of Ireland: registers of firms
- Dolmen Insurance: professional indemnity in Ireland
Research date: 6 October 2026. Refer to the current linked guidance and written provider or adviser terms when making a decision.