Indemnity clauses in design and construction contracts
An indemnity clause in a contract allocates risk for claims or for loss or damage between the parties to the contract, so that if one party suffers a loss, the other party will reimburse them. Indemnities are primary obligations that remain even if the contract is set aside.
Indemnity clauses are commonly used on construction projects to allocate risk between; the client and contractor, the client and consultants or the contractor and sub-contractors. In complex contracting situations indemnity clauses may run throughout the contractual chain.
Construction contracts may, for example, include a clause requiring the contractor to indemnify the client against expense, liability, loss or claim in respect of personal injury or death of any person arising out of the works. Or they may require the contractor to indemnify the client against breaches of contract such as non-payment of statutory fees. In addition, designers appointment agreements may include an indemnity in respect of claims for breach of professional duty.
Typically, designers are required to hold professional indemnity insurance to cover such a liability and this requirement is now increasingly asked of contractors with design responsibilities. (See Legal indemnities for a list of other situations where insurance can indemnify against losses).
Performance bonds and parent company guarantees may also include indemnity clauses requiring the surety to indemnify the client against default by the contractor.
The precise consequences of an indemnity clause will depend on its wording and how it is read in relation to the rest of the contract. One particular area where differences can be significant is whether a clause requires an indemnity only against losses caused by the party providing the indemnity, whether they exclude negligence on the part of the indemnitee, or whether they cover all losses no matter how they were caused. For example, a professional indemnity insurance policy is not dependent on allocating blame to the indemnifier.
Because of these differences, and in order to accurately define the extent of losses covered, indemnity clauses require very precise drafting, and due to complex case law they are becoming increasingly detailed. It is important therefore that the parties to a contract read indemnity clauses carefully and fully understand the obligation they are agreeing to.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A briefing on fall protection systems for designers
A legal requirement and an ethical must.
CIOB Ireland launches manifesto for 2024 General Election
A vision for a sustainable, high-quality built environment that benefits all members of society.
Local leaders gain new powers to support local high streets
High Street Rental Auctions to be introduced from December.
Infrastructure sector posts second gain for October
With a boost for housebuilder and commercial developer contract awards.
Sustainable construction design teams survey
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Design: Your Voice Matters.
COP29; impacts of construction and updates
Amid criticism, open letters and calls for reform.
The properties of conservation rooflights
Things to consider when choosing the right product.
Adapting to meet changing needs.
London Build: A festival of construction
Co-located with the London Build Fire & Security Expo.
Tasked with locating groups of 10,000 homes with opportunity.
Delivering radical reform in the UK energy market
What are the benefits, barriers and underlying principles.
Information Management Initiative IMI
Building sector-transforming capabilities in emerging technologies.
Recent study of UK households reveals chilling home truths
Poor insulation, EPC knowledge and lack of understanding as to what retrofit might offer.
Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Overview, regulations, detail calculations and much more.
Why the construction sector must embrace workplace mental health support
Let’s talk; more importantly now, than ever.
Ensuring the trustworthiness of AI systems
A key growth area, including impacts for construction.