Insurance required for DRAFTING work?

[321GO]

Kickstarted by the previous thread.

Question:
In general, is a drafting firm required/adviced to carry liability asurance?

The drafting firm would not perform any design work but would only be appointed to create manufacturing drawings. The actual dimensions/materials to use would be provided by the customer, in some form or another(for instance as a simple sketch)

Is there a distinct (legal)difference between a "Drafting company" and a "Design company"?
Does the distinction in the name, not "automaticaly" imply that the company is not responsible for the chosen design?

Very interested to hear your thought's on this.

 

[Ron]

If there is a distinction, lawyers will muddy that distinction if it suits their purposes.

Drafting services are not design services; however, you will have to be careful not to promote your service as a "design" service. This is one of those situations where your company name and the way you advertise can dictate what you are in the "eyes of the law". You might intend to be a drafting service, but to market your services "design" sounds more enticing and implies more capability. You'll have to resist that or prepare to be included in the design realm which will likely create a need for insurance and might even require licensing, depending on what you design and whether licensing is required in your jurisdiction.

Check with an attorney, but it is likely that you would only need general liability insurance for such a business, not professional liability insurance.

 

[321GO]

Ron, thanks

 

[kalens99]

I wouldn't think of a drafting company or a design company as being the same at all in that regard but I would still feel that a drafting company still has SOME liability. I would think that when your drawings are signed off on by another company that could remove some of the responsibility but not all of it. As for professional liability insurance being NECESSARY, I don't think so but don't quote me. While I would think that most of the blame would not fall on you as a drafter, I can't say for sure that you have nothing to worry about.

Have you heard from other drafters if they seek insurance as a precaution even if not a necessity?

Kalen Smith
Engineer-a-Business

http://www.engineer-a-business.com

 

[kacarrol]

Going through university I did a lot of drafting for contractors but layed it out from the start that I would not do design work and was not to be held responsible for any problems with their design.

All of the engineers I asked said that I did not need licenses and insurance etc so long as I made it clear that I was just a cad monkey making a pretty picture from someone elses scribbled on napkin design. I always put their name and logo in the "designed by" box in the border, and my initials in the "drawn by" box.

Good luck!
K