By trade

Insurance requirements for HVAC subcontractors

Short answer

Ask HVAC subs for general liability with completed operations, workers’ comp for the whole crew, and commercial auto. Risks include falls on rooftops, water damage from drain lines, and refrigerant handling. Check that technicians who handle refrigerant hold the federal certification, and ask your broker about pollution exclusions.

Written by Liam · CertChase · Last reviewed October 3, 2026

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What goes wrong

Rooftop work. Falls and equipment drops on commercial jobs.
Water damage. A blocked condensate line can ruin a ceiling.
Refrigerants. Handling them takes a federal certification, and a release can cause claims.
Fire. Electrical and gas connections done wrong.

What to ask for

General liability with completed operations.
Workers’ comp for every worker.
Commercial auto for service trucks.
Umbrella on larger commercial jobs.
Ask your broker whether a pollution exclusion on the sub’s policy matters for refrigerant work.

Check these too

Technician certification. EPA rules (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) require Section 608 certification for technicians who service equipment that could release refrigerants. Ask for it.
License. Many states license HVAC contractors. Look it up.
California. HVAC (C-20) contractors must carry workers’ comp. They can’t file the no-employee exemption.

Sources: CSLB workers’ comp requirements · EPA Section 608 certification. Laws and agency rules change. Check the current version.

Not legal or insurance advice. This is general information. Your contract, your state and your policy decide what applies to you. Ask your broker or attorney.

Copy this into your bid request

HVAC subcontractor, please send before starting: a current certificate showing general liability with completed operations, workers’ comp, and auto if you drive to site. Also send the additional insured endorsement for ongoing and completed work and a waiver of subrogation if our contract requires it. Name [your company] as certificate holder. Limits are in our requirements page: [link].

Fill in your company name and link. Your broker sets the numbers. Build the page with the requirements builder.

Frequently asked questions

What insurance does an HVAC subcontractor need?

General liability with completed operations, workers’ comp, and auto. Ask your broker about pollution exclusions for refrigerant work.

Do HVAC technicians need certification to handle refrigerant?

Yes. The EPA requires Section 608 certification for technicians who handle refrigerants.

Keep reading

01By tradeRequirements by tradeWhat insurance to ask for from roofers, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, framers and concrete subs, and why each trade’s risks are different.02ExplainerOngoing vs completed operationsOngoing operations cover work in progress. Completed operations cover problems that show up after the job is done. Why you need both.03How-to guideHow to verify a COIA certificate of insurance is just paper. Here is the one-minute check, the phone call that actually proves it, and the red flags to watch for.04By tradeFraming and carpentry subsWhat to ask a framing sub for: falls, big crews, fake-1099 problems, and completed operations for structural work.05By tradeConcrete subsWhat to ask a concrete sub for: trucks and heavy equipment, silica dust, structural claims, and the workers’ comp rule in California.

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