A Certificate of Insurance (COI) is a one-page document. Most GCs glance at it and move on. That's a mistake that shows up later — when a framing crew worker gets injured on your site and the carrier denies the claim because the GC wasn't named as an additional insured.

This post covers exactly what a COI for a framing subcontractor in Florida must show before you allow them to mobilize. Each item has a specific threshold. None of them are optional.

Unoccupied jobsite trailer with abstract plans, dark laptop, blank clipboard, ruler, and hardhat on a worktable
Editorial illustrationA pre-mobilization planning table frames the document review where subcontract scope, policy limits, and legal entity details are aligned before site access.

What a Florida Framing Sub's COI Must Show

General liability: minimum limits for commercial framing

For commercial framing in Florida, the minimum acceptable general liability coverage is $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. Per-occurrence means any single event — a worker drops a beam, damages adjacent finished work, a third party is injured. Aggregate is the total the policy will pay in a policy year.

If the project contract value exceeds the aggregate limit, the policy doesn't cover you fully. On a $3M framing package, a $2M aggregate means your GC is exposed for the gap if a catastrophic claim wipes out the policy mid-project.

For projects over $5M, require an umbrella policy that extends the aggregate to match or exceed the contract value. An umbrella (also called excess liability) stacks on top of the underlying general liability. The framing sub's COI should list both the primary GL and the umbrella, with the combined limit visible.

Workers' compensation: the NCCI code problem

Florida workers' comp is administered through the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). Every trade classification has a specific NCCI code. Framing and rough carpentry falls under codes 5645 (carpentry — framing) or 5651 (carpentry — residential) for residential work, or 5403 (carpentry — commercial) for commercial.

The problem: some subs carry workers' comp under a generic construction code (5606, 5610) that has lower premiums — and specifically excludes roofing and carpentry operations. If a framing worker files a claim under a policy with the wrong NCCI code, the carrier can deny coverage.

On the COI, the workers' comp section should list the policy number and the name of the carrier. Call the carrier directly and verify that the NCCI code on the policy matches the actual work being performed. Do not trust what the sub tells you. Pull the endorsement.

Umbrella policy for projects over $5M

Umbrella coverage is not optional on large commercial framing packages. For any project where the framing subcontract exceeds $5M, require a $5M umbrella minimum. The COI should list the umbrella carrier separately, show the per-occurrence and aggregate limits, and confirm it's an occurrence-based policy (not claims-made).

Claims-made vs. occurrence: An occurrence policy covers incidents that happen during the policy period, even if the claim is filed years later. A claims-made policy only covers claims filed while the policy is active. For construction subcontractors where latent defect claims can surface 3-5 years post-completion, occurrence-based coverage is the only acceptable standard.

GC named as additional insured

The single most important line on a framing sub's COI: the GC must be listed as an additional insured on the general liability policy.

Additional insured status means that if a third party — including the framing sub's own worker — sues the GC for an incident caused by the framing sub, the sub's GL carrier defends the GC and pays the claim. Without additional insured status, the GC is defending that lawsuit with their own carrier and absorbing the deductible.

The COI must list the GC's full legal entity name — exactly as it appears in the subcontract. A COI that lists the wrong entity name (a related LLC, a trade name, a parent company) does not protect you. The carrier can deny the additional insured tender based on entity mismatch.

Require a COI that names your GC entity specifically in the additional insured box. If the sub uses a blanket additional insured endorsement, get a copy of the endorsement and confirm it extends to ongoing operations (not just completed operations).

Blank certificate sheet, binder, hardhat, clipboard, and metal framing samples on a contractor review table
Editorial illustrationCertificate-style paperwork and a qualification binder represent the dates, entity names, coverage limits, and endorsements that should stop mobilization when they do not match.

Red Flags That Should Stop Mobilization

Expired policy dates

Check the effective date and expiration date on every policy listed. If the expiration falls before your project's estimated completion, require a renewal certificate before that date arrives. Do not allow a framing crew on site under an expired COI — even for a day. Get the renewal certificate in hand before the expiration date, not after.

Wrong entity name

The sub's COI should list the exact legal entity that signed your subcontract. If the subcontract is with "Apex Framing LLC" but the COI lists "Apex Construction Group Inc," those are legally different entities. Stop. Get the corrected COI or confirm the entities are the same via DBPR lookup before proceeding.

Wrong NCCI code

As covered above: pull the endorsement, call the carrier, verify the code. A generic construction code on a framing crew's workers' comp policy is a coverage gap, not a technicality.

Policy limits below contract value

If the framing subcontract is $3.5M and the GL aggregate is $2M, you have an uncovered $1.5M. Require the sub to either increase their limits or provide an umbrella that closes the gap before they touch your project.

Blanket additional insured with no ongoing operations extension

Some carriers issue blanket additional insured endorsements that only cover completed operations — meaning the coverage kicks in after the sub leaves the site, not during active framing. You need ongoing operations coverage from day one. Verify the endorsement language explicitly.

How JK Prestige Handles COI Verification

JK Prestige's framing crews carry general liability at $2M per occurrence / $4M aggregate, workers' comp with verified NCCI codes for carpentry and roofing, and a $5M umbrella on all commercial projects. Every GC partner is named as additional insured on both GL and umbrella, with ongoing operations coverage active from mobilization day.

When JK crews work as a framing subcontractor for a GC partner, we provide the full COI, endorsement copies, and carrier contact information in advance. No back-and-forth on certificates.

Request our trade packet — licensing, insurance certs, and references

Blank document stacks, tablet, hardhat, safety glasses, and level on a worktable inside open wood framing
Editorial illustrationAn organized qualification packet beside open framing supports a repeatable checklist for verifying insurance records before any crew enters the site.

Pre-Mobilization COI Checklist

Before any framing sub sets foot on your Florida jobsite:

This checklist won't cover every scenario, but it closes the most common coverage gaps that surface after an incident. Build it into your pre-qualification process and run it for every framing sub, every project.

If you want to see how JK Prestige structures trade partnerships from COI to closeout, reach out before your next project scopes out.

Get a written estimate in 48 hours.

No call center. No coordinator. A JK principal reviews every inquiry and replies with a real number, not a range, not a follow-up form.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is not a Certificate of Insurance enough on its own to protect a general contractor?
A COI is only useful if you actually read what it says. The GC needs to be named as an additional insured on the framing sub's general liability policy specifically, using the GC's exact legal entity name, because without that status the GC's own carrier is the one defending a lawsuit and absorbing the deductible if the sub causes an incident.
What is the NCCI code problem with a framing subcontractor's workers' comp policy?
Some subs carry workers' compensation under a generic construction code that has lower premiums but specifically excludes carpentry and roofing operations, which means a real framing injury claim can get denied under the wrong code. Framing typically falls under codes 5645, 5651, or 5403 depending on the work, so it is worth calling the carrier directly to verify the code matches what the crew is actually doing, rather than trusting what the sub says.
When does a framing subcontractor need an umbrella policy on top of general liability?
On any project where the framing subcontract exceeds 5 million dollars, a 5 million dollar umbrella minimum should sit on top of the primary general liability policy, and it should be occurrence-based rather than claims-made. If the framing package is 3.5 million dollars and the GL aggregate is only 2 million dollars, there is a real coverage gap that needs to be closed with an umbrella before that crew mobilizes.