Certificate of insurance, additional insured, and waiver of subrogation: three distinct instruments

One-line orientation

A certificate proves reported coverage. Additional-insured status gives a party limited rights under someone else’s policy. A waiver of subrogation limits an insurer’s right to recover from a protected party.

Key points

• Certificate of Insurance:

  • A document (not a policy) that confirms coverage is in place at a point in time, listing policy types, limits, and carrier.
  • The insurance broker can issue or transmit it directly to the requesting party (client, owner, contractor).
  • It is proof of coverage only — it does not create new rights, extend the policy, or add the requesting party to the policy.
  • AIA B101 obliges architects to provide certificates upon request.

• Additional Insured:

  • A party given limited coverage by another party’s policy language or endorsement. An additional insured is not the same as the policy’s named insured.
  • Relevant to architects: the architect may be named as an additional insured on the general contractor’s (or construction manager’s) CGL policy; the insurer will then defend the architect in addition to the contractor if a covered claim arises.
  • The additional insured gains rights under that other party’s policy, not their own.
  • The contractor’s CGL policy may defend the architect only when the additional-insured endorsement covers the claim.

• Waiver of Subrogation:

  • Subrogation = an insurer’s legal right, after paying a claim, to pursue the responsible third party to recover what it paid (stepping into the insured’s shoes).
  • A waiver of subrogation means the insurer gives up that recovery right against a specified party.
  • AIA A201-2017 Section 11.3 / 11.3.1: Mutually, the owner and contractor waive subrogation claims against each other and against the architect for losses covered by property insurance.
  • Practical effect: the owner’s property insurer cannot sue the architect even if the architect’s negligence contributed to the loss — the waiver shields the architect.

Confusions / comparison

Instrument	What it is	What it does	Who benefits
Certificate of insurance	A document confirming coverage exists	Proves the policy is in force; states types and limits	Requesting party (client, owner) gets assurance
Additional insured	A named party added to another’s policy	That party gains defense and coverage under the other party’s policy	The added party (e.g., architect on contractor’s CGL)
Waiver of subrogation	Contractual relinquishment of the insurer’s recovery right	Insurer cannot sue third parties after paying a claim	The party who would otherwise be sued by the insurer (e.g., architect protected from owner’s carrier)

Related

→ pp-insurance-types — the full portfolio including CGL (the policy most often at issue for additional insured status)
→ pp-claims-made-vs-occurrence — CGL is occurrence-based, relevant to additional insured timing
→ pp-surety-bonds — contractor’s bonds (distinct instruments; not insurance)