Additional insured evidence
Additional Insured: Ongoing Operations vs. Completed Operations
A request for additional-insured status may address work while it is being performed, liability after the work is finished, or both. Contractors should preserve that distinction when requesting and checking evidence.
By COI Workbench Editorial Team · Reviewed September 2026 · General U.S. guidance
Why the requirement separates two periods
“Ongoing operations” generally points to liability connected with work while operations are in progress. “Completed operations” generally points to liability connected with work after the relevant operations have been completed. Those are simplified orientation labels, not a coverage determination. The actual endorsement definitions, conditions, exclusions, contractual relationship, and facts matter.
A client may write “additional insured for ongoing and completed operations,” request two endorsement categories, or use form references. The contractor’s administrative task is to keep every word of that request intact and ask the licensed agent which current issued evidence responds. Do not shorten the request to “add client as AI,” because that can erase the time-period distinction.
| Requirement wording | Administrative interpretation | Evidence question |
|---|---|---|
| Additional insured — ongoing operations | The request identifies liability associated with work in progress. | Which issued policy provision or endorsement addresses the named parties and relationship during operations? |
| Additional insured — completed operations | The request identifies a post-completion exposure. | Which issued evidence addresses completed operations, and for what policy term and parties? |
| Ongoing and completed operations | Two distinct evidence questions appear in one sentence. | Has the agent confirmed both categories rather than answering only one? |
| Blanket additional insured | The request may be asking whether status applies through broader policy wording when conditions are met. | What written-contract and relationship conditions apply, and does the agent confirm they are satisfied? |
A six-step evidence workflow
- Copy the requirement exactly. Preserve named entities, operations, locations, duration, and any form references.
- Confirm the contracting chain. Identify the contractor, client, owner, general contractor, lender, landlord, or other requested parties without swapping roles.
- Send the complete request to the agent. Include the contract exhibit or current instruction, not a paraphrase.
- Ask for separate confirmation. Have the agent state which evidence addresses ongoing operations and which addresses completed operations.
- Match the policy term. Check that returned evidence belongs to the current policy and named insured.
- Build the outgoing package. Include the certificate and each specifically requested issued endorsement using the required delivery method.
Why the description box is not the answer
A certificate description may identify the project or repeat a request, but words typed there do not create policy rights. Texas regulators state that certificate language cannot go beyond the policy. New York regulators similarly distinguish a certificate from an endorsement that alters coverage. When endorsement copies are required, a sentence in the description field should not silently replace them.
Common contractor mistakes
- Requesting only “additional insured” and losing the ongoing/completed distinction.
- Assuming one endorsement necessarily answers every requested entity or relationship.
- Sending a prior-term endorsement with a renewed certificate.
- Treating the certificate holder as automatically being an additional insured.
- Assuming a client acceptance message explains how the policy will respond.
- Editing or annotating issued evidence instead of returning corrections to the authorized issuer.
Decode the request
Turn each phrase into a separate evidence question.
Select the exact concepts in the written requirement and build a client-and-agent question brief in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Does every project need completed-operations additional-insured evidence?
No. Use the current written requirement and professional guidance. Do not add or omit evidence from a generic checklist alone.
Can the contractor choose the endorsement?
The contractor can send the requirement, but the licensed agent and insurer determine what can be issued under the policy. Contract interpretation may require legal advice.
Does “blanket” mean every party is automatically covered?
Do not assume that. Blanket wording can contain written-contract, relationship, timing, or other conditions. Ask the agent to explain the applicable issued wording.
Primary sources and review boundary
- Texas Department of Insurance — Certificates of Insurance FAQs
- King County — Insurance Requirements
- California State University, Stanislaus — Certificate and Additional Insured Endorsement
- New York Department of Financial Services — Certificate and endorsement guidance
This guide explains an administrative workflow, not how a particular policy will respond. The current contract, complete policy, issued endorsements, facts, and applicable law control. Ask licensed insurance and legal professionals about individual circumstances.