Decennial insurance for electricians: building electrical installations
A non-compliant concealed electrical installation can create a fire risk or make a home unfit for purpose. Building electricians are subject to the decennial guarantee. Lev Assurances helps you declare your activities and obtain a compliant certificate.
- New installations and renovation
- Low-voltage systems, ventilation, EV chargers
- Certificate to attach to your quotes
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Electrical activities to declare
- Indoor electrical installation
- Low-voltage systems (network, alarm)
- Ventilation systems
- EV charging points
- Solar PV (often separate)
Why electricians are concerned by decennial cover
A concealed electrical installation forms part of the building. If a defect makes it dangerous or unusable, the home may be considered unfit for purpose: the decennial guarantee then applies for ten years after handover.
Work must comply with current standards, in particular the French NF C 15-100 standard for low-voltage installations. A certificate of compliance approved by Consuel is mandatory before the installation is energised in the cases set by the French Energy Code, in particular for a new permanent installation connected to the public grid; for some partial renovations it may be optional. Following these rules greatly reduces the risk of claims.
Insurers distinguish general electrical work, low-voltage systems, ventilation, EV charging points and solar PV. The last two may require a qualification. Declare each activity: see covered activities and exclusions.
Complete your cover with professional liability for damage to third parties during the works. The decennial insurance cost depends on your activities and turnover.
More about decennial insurance
Construction insurance
Overview of construction insurance in France: decennial, dommages-ouvrage, professional liability.
Decennial liability (BTP)
Our main page on decennial insurance for construction professionals.
Decennial certificate
What the certificate must contain and when to give it to the client.
Covered activities and exclusions
Why declared activities determine what is covered.
Dommages-ouvrage insurance
The project owner’s insurance, complementary to decennial cover.
How we review your decennial insurance
Specify your electrical work
New installations, renovation, switchboards, low-voltage systems, EV chargers, home automation, solar: each activity must be declared.
Prove your experience as an electrician
Qualification (CAP or BP in electrical work) or proven experience, business registration, any certifications (IRVE for EV chargers), previous certificates.
Review cover and excesses
Limits, excesses and exclusions (for example undeclared solar or EV charger work) are reviewed with you.
Receive your certificate
If accepted and the policy is taken out, the certificate listing the insured activities must be attached to your quotes and invoices, in line with Article L. 243-2 of the French Insurance Code.
Let’s review your decennial insurance as an electrician
Describe your electrical work, your experience, your certifications and your turnover: Lev Assurances reviews your file and, if an insurer accepts it, supports you through to the certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Must an electrician take out decennial insurance?
Yes, for work on the structure (concealed installations, networks built into the building). Cover must be taken out before work starts.
Is an electrical fault after the works covered by decennial insurance?
A fault may fall under decennial liability if it affects a structure covered by that regime and makes it unfit for its purpose, for example by making the installation unusable or dangerous. For equipment installed during the original construction, the two-year proper-functioning guarantee may apply under Article 1792-3 of the French Civil Code. However, equipment added to or replaced in an existing building, where it is not itself a structure, is in principle governed by ordinary contractual liability.
Is EV charger installation covered?
Only if the activity is declared in the policy. In France, a charging point above 3.7 kW must be installed by an IRVE-qualified professional; the insurer may ask for this qualification.
Is Consuel approval compulsory?
Yes in the cases set by the French Energy Code, in particular for a new permanent installation connected to the public grid: the compliance certificate must be approved before the installation is energised. For some partial renovations it may be optional.
Decennial insurance suited to your trade
Decennial insurance is chosen according to the activities you actually carry out, your experience and your projects. Lev Assurances helps you declare the right activities and understand your contract — Lev Assurances, broker registered with ORIAS no. 24001858, supervised by the ACPR (French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority).