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Essential insurance solutions for Australian plumbers

Marsh offers insurance solutions for plumbers, with three main coverage options including public liability, personal accident (or sickness) and tools insurance. Choose a level of cover that suits your business that can help protect your plumbing business against common risks.

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Essential insurance solutions for Australian plumbers

As a plumber in Australia, your work comes with unique risks that require specialised insurance coverage. Whether you’re a sole trader or run a larger plumbing business, having the right insurance is essential to protect you from unexpected costs and keep your business running smoothly.

Why public liability insurance is a must

Public liability insurance is the most common and important coverage for plumbing businesses. It protects you against claims if your work causes property damage or injury to others. Marsh offers public liability insurance solutions tailored specifically for plumbers, allowing you to choose the coverage level that fits your business needs.

Our public liability insurance solutions comply with all the requirements set by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which was formerly called the Victorian Building Authority (VBA), for licensed plumbers. Marsh has also been a trusted risk and insurance broker, working with Master Plumbers for over 20 years.

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Key types of cover for plumbers

  • Plumbers public liability cover – required in most states

    Covers you if you accidentally damage someone’s property or cause injury while working. Public liability insurance provides cover for your business up to the liability limit you choose.

  • Tools and equipment cover

    If your tools are damaged, lost or stolen, it can be expensive to replace them. Tools and equipment cover can help pay for the replacement or repair of your essential equipment.

  • Personal accident and sickness cover – recommended for sole traders and employees

    May help to replace your income if you get hurt or sick and can’t work. Depending on the policy you choose, personal accident and sickness insurance can provide a weekly benefit, a capital benefit lump sum and business expenses coverage.

  • Compliant insurance for Victorian Plumbers

    The public liability insurance arranged by Marsh meets all the BPC (former VBA) requirements for licenced plumbers. Plumbers from Victoria, we’ve got you covered.

Cover we can arrange

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Public liability

  • Property damage caused during plumbing work.

  • Personal injury to customers or members of the public.

  • Legal defence costs and compensation claims.

  • Accidental damage to customer property.

  • Option for VIC plumbers Ministerial Order.

  • Same day issue of Certificate of Currency.

  • Errors and omissions cover up to $250,000.

  • Option for type B gas fitting work.

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Tools and equipment cover

  • Australia-wide accidental damage full replacement cover for damaged or stolen gear, including lasers, locators, cameras, and other expensive tools.

  • Can Include theft in ‘open air’ of tools on an incomplete site.

  • Broad cover (not limited to ‘defined events’, such as just fire, or just theft).

  • Water damage protection for equipment.

  • Full replacement value coverage.

  • Specialised equipment like drain cameras and locators.

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Personal accident and sickness insurance

  • Capital lump sum or weekly benefit for up to 104 weeks and up to 90% of income.

  • 24/7 illness and injury protection. You’re covered at work (reduced by workers compensation) and outside of work.

  • Can include business expenses during recovery.

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What isn’t typically covered

Specific insurance exclusions for any insurance cover vary depending on your policy. However, there are some general things that many insurance policies typically do not cover. These can include:
 

Exclusion category

Specific exclusions

Why it's excluded

Proposed mitigation

Intentional acts

Deliberate damage, fraud

Not accidental

None - avoid these activities

Business operations

Faulty workmanship, wear & tear

Business responsibility

Professional indemnity

Personal conduct

Under the influence, illegal activities

Negligent behaviour

None - maintain standards

Pre-existing issues

Known defects, previous damage

Not new occurrences

Disclose or repair first

Public liability exclusions:

  • Professional indemnity matters
  • Product liability for defective materials
  • Pollution incidents (except sudden/accidental)
  • Asbestos-related claims
  • Vehicle accidents (requires separate motor insurance)

Common plumbing insurance claims you plumbers should know about

Plumbing problems can lead to a variety of insurance claims, and it’s important to understand the most common ones.

Water damage claims:

  • Burst pipes are flooding customer properties
  • Incorrect installations are causing leaks
  • Hot water system failures
  • Sewer line blockages are causing backups

Personal injury claims:

  • Slips and falls on wet surfaces
  • Burns from hot water or steam
  • Tool-related injuries
  • Gas-related incidents

Property damage scenarios:

  • Accidentally damaging floors during pipe repairs
  • Breaking fixtures during installations
  • Damage to walls when accessing pipes
  • Electrical damage from water exposure

Choosing the right insurance broker

Working with a specialised insurance broker is key to getting the right coverage. They understand your specific risks—like negligence claims, stolen tools, or injury—and help you find the best protection. This way, you’re covered properly and can avoid costly surprises that could impact your livelihood.

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Why Marsh?

Why Australian plumbers choose Marsh

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Master plumber risk partner

For over 20 years, Marsh has partnered with Master Plumbers as a trusted risk and insurance broker, helping businesses of all sizes navigate their unique risks.

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Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) compliance

The public liability insurance meets all BPC requirements for licenced plumbers. Plumbers from Victoria, we’ve got you covered.

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Claims advocacy

Handling an insurance claim can take precious time away from running your business, at a time when you’re possibly scrambling to get things running smoothly again. We use our expertise to advocate on your behalf to the insurer where there is a dispute on coverage.

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Australian expertise, global capabilities

Our Australia-wide network of brokers have spent supporting business owners just like you. We understand your business, how you work, and your everyday challenges. Insurance shouldn’t be one of them.

Related insurance solutions for tradies

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Products and services

Business vehicle insurance

No doubt you’ve got a vehicle to move around jobs and carry your tools. Talk to us about your van, ute or other motor vehicle insurance. Cover for theft, damage, replacement, and more.

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Products and services

Workshop property insurance

If you have a workshop or premise you work from, we can arrange coverage for that too. Talk to us about property insurance cover for your premises. Cover for storm, fire, or malicious damage.

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Products and services

Business interruption cover

If your business is interrupted by storm, fire or flood, this cover is designed to keep your business running.

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Frequently asked questions

You bet. You’re working around water, pipes and fixtures all day. An unsecured pipe or leak can cause significant damage. If that happens because of something you’ve done (or haven’t done) it could mean legal action and the costs associated with that, as well as any damages that result.

Or worse, you could injure yourself or someone else. If you can’t work, your income could dry up, or you could face the stress (and costs) of legal action from another party.

Public liability is an industry standard. This insures you against damage to other people or property, including customers, passersby, or other people on site.

Tools and equipment insurance covers you against having your equipment or tools stolen from either your worksite, out of your van or ute, or if they get damaged.

Personal accident and illness insurance means that if you injure yourself, either while you’re working or enjoying the weekend, or if you’re permanently disabled and can’t work, you can have a weekly benefit reduced by workers compensation for a period of time to meet your financial obligations.

Some insurers will offer you only ‘defined events’ cover, which covers you for only those things you must specify, such as fire or collision damage. There’s often also an exclusion if your tools are stolen from a working site, unless they are locked away on that site.

Our insurance solutions can offer you full damage, full replacement Australia-wide cover, including water damage and theft in open air cover. So, if you leave your tools on a working site and they are stolen, you can be covered. It can also cover your expensive equipment, like your lasers and locators.

If you provide advice or design services to your clients, we strongly recommend you may want to considering professional indemnity insurance.

Professional indemnity insurance can cover your business for allegations of negligence involving a breach of professional duty. This is typically excluded under public liability insurance.

The cost of your cover depends on a variety of factors: the amount and type of cover you need, the size of your business and type of work you do. The fastest way to find out how much it might cost is to get an online quote.

Plumber insurance articles and resources

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A vital tool in the tool kit every plumber should have is insurance. We have compiled a comprehensive list of all the types of insurance a plumber may need.
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Stopping tool theft in your business

As a tradie, the tools of your trade are essential. Without them, you can’t run a business, which is why it’s critical to have security measures in place.
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This website contains general information, does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs and may not suit your personal circumstances.

Marsh Pty Ltd (ABN 86 004 651 512, AFSL 238 983) (“Marsh”) and Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 31 081 358 303, AFSL 238 369) (“MAI”) arrange the general insurance (i.e. not the Discretionary Trust Arrangement) and are not the insurer.

Discretionary Trust Arrangements are issued by the Trustee, JLT Group Services Pty Ltd (ABN 26 004 485 214, AFSL 417 964) (“JGS”). Any advice or dealing in relation to a Discretionary Trust Arrangement is provided by JLT Risk Solutions Pty Ltd (ABN 69 009 098 864, AFSL 226 827) (“JLT”). The cover provided by a Discretionary Trust Arrangement is subject to the Trustee’s discretion and/or the relevant policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers and before making any decision about whether to acquire a product, refer to the specific policy wordings and/or Product Disclosure Statements (PDSs) available from the relevant product issuer. Target Market Determinations (TMDs) are available here.

Marsh, MAI, JGS and JLT are all businesses of the Marsh group.

LCPA 25/1295