Texas Master plumbing contractor general liability

Texas Plumbers General Liability

General Liability for Master Plumbers

Who needs Plumbers Insurance?

By nature, plumbers are ready for just about anything – from fixing leaks to installing pipes and keeping homes and businesses running smoothly. However, running a plumbing business, or even just being an employee of one, comes with certain risks and liabilities. That is why liability insurance for plumbers is vital for keeping your business afloat and successful for many years to come.

As a plumber, you provide specialized services to your customers, which means you face unique risks on a daily basis. We understand these risks and offer plumbing insurance that fits your specific needs. General liability insurance for plumbers may help protect your business from claims of bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury.

General Liability Insurance for Plumbers

General Liability Insurance, sometimes called Commercial General Liability (CGL), is recommended for plumbing professionals and may protect your business from another person or business’s claims of bodily injury, associated medical costs, and damage to property. These types of claims could arise if one of your customers is injured based on work that you have done in a residential home or commercial business. It could also come in handy if a client’s property is damaged by you or one of your employees during an installation job.

Here are some examples of what could go wrong and how it could be covered with liability insurance:

Bodily injury: You install a hot water heater, and the temperature control malfunctions. A person in the home is scalded, requiring medical attention for burns. The client claims you are responsible. You could be on the hook for medical costs, but your plumbing insurance policy could cover those costs, protecting you and your business.
Property damage: While installing a new sink, you neglected to properly tighten a connection and water leaks into your customer’s home overnight damaging their cabinets and new wood floors. A plumbing insurance policy could cover the costs associated with the property damage, thereby protecting your business.
Personal injury: One of your employees is at lunch. He talks to the owner of the shop about one of your clients in a false and unflattering way. The client learns of this discussion and sues for slander. We will cover the subsequent claim, up to your general liability policy's limits of liability, and pay for an attorney to defend you if necessary.

Situations like the ones above are very unfortunate, but they do happen. See how we can help you protect your business by requesting an insurance quote.

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Texas Master Plumber Requirements

Responsible Master Plumber

Eligibility Requirements
You may apply for the Responsible Master Plumber (RMP) Designation if:

you are currently licensed as a Master Plumber in Texas;
you are in good standing with the TSBPE; and
you have submitted proof that you have obtained a minimum of $300,000 of commercial liability insurance coverage

PLEASE NOTE: You may NOT receive the RMP Designation if you hold a Plumbing Inspector License.

How to Apply
The best way to apply for the RMP Designation is via your account in the Online Licensing System. Simply login, look for the Manage Your License Information section, click “<Choose Application>” next to your Master License number and then select “Add Responsible Master Plumber Designation with Required Certificate of Insurance” from the dropdown menu. The website will ask you to verify your contact information, upload the required Certificate of Insurance and then pay the $225 registration fee.

To apply for the RMP Designation in person or via US Mail, you must submit a completed application with all supporting documentation, a Certificate of Insurance (COI) signed by your insurance agent, and a $225 fee to the TSBPE. If you have unpaid administrative penalties, you will also have to pay those penalties to bring your license into good standing.
RMP Designation Application
Certificate of Insurance Form

Scope of Work Permitted
As the name suggests, a RMP is responsible for the general supervision and management of plumbing work performed under contracts secured under his or her license regardless of whether the individuals performing the work are employees or subcontractors. General supervision and management includes maintaining at least $300,000 of general commercial liability insurance; obtaining all necessary permits and requesting all inspections as required by applicable plumbing or building codes; ensuring that all individuals performing plumbing work hold a current license or registration; ensuring that a licensee is present and providing direct supervision at all job sites where one or more registrants are engaged in plumbing; and ensuring that all service vehicles display the company name and RMP’s license number. A RMP may act as the RMP of record for only one company at a time.

Fees
Initial Application Fee: $225*
Renewal Fee: $300
Late Renewal Fee (expired less than 90 days): $150
Late Renewal Fee (expired more than 90 days): $300

*If you apply for the RMP Designation during your renewal period, which opens 90 days before your expiration date, you are only required to pay the $300 renewal fee and do not have to pay the $225 initial application fee.

How to Drop the RMP Designation
If you no longer wish to act as a RMP, you must submit a signed and notarized Request to Relinquish RMP Designation Form to the TSBPE along with a $10 fee. A request submitted in person at the TSBPE headquarters does not need to be notarized; however, you will need to show a valid Texas photo I.D. If you submit the form with your regular license renewal form, you do not need to include the $10 fee.

Copied from https://tsbpe.texas.gov/license-types/responsible-master-plumber/ State of Texas