Risk Education Resources/Articles
3-Part Series ON architectural practice risk
Our promise: to help protect you and your practice
Handling a claim is a lot easier when you have us on your side
You Can’t Manage Risk if You Don’t Understand it
Risk Topics
Three Reasons to Have a Signed Contract
The absence of a properly executed agreement documenting the expectations of all parties is a risky proposition. Sal Knafo shares why architects will benefit from having a signed contract.
Navigating the Trade War: Nine Risk Management Strategies for Architects
Constantly shifting tariff threats and policy changes are creating instability in the construction industry. Leslie Parker, Senior Architect, Risk Services shares nine risk management strategies for architects to take note of.
Why Architects Should Not Hire Contractors for Investigative Work
Leslie Parker, Senior Architect, Risk Services shares the risks of engaging contractors for investigative work.
Are you Leaving your Practice Vulnerable to Roofing Water Ingress Claims?
Leslie Parker, Senior Architect, Risk Services digs deeper on roofing systems with “lifetime” manufacturer warranties, and shares four risk management recommendations.
Retaining Surveyors, Geotechnical and Hazardous Substances Specialists is Dangerous!
Clarification of professional liability insurance exclusions related to Geotechnical engineering and Surveying Services.
Architects are not Building Inspectors
Beware of Building Inspections being thrust on Architects by Municipalities during labour disputes.
Explaining the Technical Requirements Schedule and Water Ingress Coverage Requirements
Everything you need to know about Water Ingress coverage: The Technical Requirements Schedule explained.
Avoiding Personal Injury Claims
Pro-Demnity shares proven risk management strategies to help you avoid personal injury claims against your architectural practice.
Is your site review as good as you think?
Will your next site review lead to a claim? Sal Knafo shares twelve tips to enhance your site review process and improve your risk management system.
Will your architectural documents help (or hinder) your defense?
Leslie Parker, Architectural Risk Advisor, shares her perspectives on how claims might be avoided through a better risk management system.
For Whom the Litigation Tolls: Everything an Architect needs to know about Tolling Agreements
A tolling agreement could be presented by anyone who believes they may have a right to sue the architect, including subconsultants, contractors, or even end users of a project.
Why architects should use OAA contracts
There’s just ONE contract to rule them all, and it’s from the OAA. Here’s a litigator’s perspective on how OAA 600 and OAA 800 protect architects.
Why do lawsuits against architects take so long to resolve?
One of the best parts of my practice as a defence lawyer at Pro-Demnity are initial meetings with architects at the outset of a case. I find it fascinating to […]
How to manage your clients and minimize claims
Once you’ve decided to take on a client, it’s important to be risk-proactive.
My client was my friend, until they sued me
Fourteen guidelines for architects on how to deal with personal–
professional relationships.
Limitation Periods: Is an architect ever safe from litigation?
By the very nature of the profession, when an architect is sued, it has to do with a dispute centred on a building. Since most buildings are designed to last […]
What Architects need to know about 30.10 motions
Imagine this scenario: a busy architect is out making a site visit when it happens: their phone buzzes and an email pops up from a colleague alerting them that legal […]
Client Management as a Risk Management Strategy
Seven client-focused things architects can do to reduce liability claims.
Working together to keep water in its place
This is an abbreviated version of an article that was published in the Fall 2018 edition of Pushing the Envelope Canada, which is printed twice per year by Matrix Group […]
Sorry. Not Sorry.
The Apology Act is intended to make it possible for professionals, including architects, to apologize for errors, without necessarily Incurring liability. The word “necessarily” is important here, since there are critical exceptions. Danielle Muise discusses the Act as it applies to Ontario architects.
Eight Insurance Risk Trends to Watch
Bruce Palmer, President and CEO shares eight important trends that will affect insurance risks and claims.
5 things a Pro-Demnity lawyer doesn’t want to hear from an architect
John Little, Partner, Keel Cotrelle LLP Over the years, I have had a great many initial meetings with architects and Pro-Demnity Claims Managers as we start to learn more about […]
25 Things Within An Architect’s Control
Did you know there are at least 25 things that an architect can do to manage or mitigate practice and project risks? We first shared our list of “25 Things” at the 2021 OAA Virtual Conference. Read on and download this useful resource to start implementing or integrating any one (or all!) of these ideas in your practice.
Do your Fees Adequately Reflect Project Scope and Risk?
You’re bidding on an exciting new project and asked to pull together the fee proposal (dread). Too high a fee and your proposal may be rejected. Too low a fee […]
Planning for Risk
On Risk Life is risky. You don’t have to be an architect or a mountain climber to know that. U of T Professor Mark Kingwell puts it this way: “If […]
Six Ways to Reduce Risk
In architectural practice, risk takes many forms. It’s comforting to know that your Pro-Demnity policy protects you against the risks of error or unintentional neglect. The policy spells out the many things that are covered, as well those that aren’t. Bear in mind that a number of things aren’t specifically mentioned, simply because they aren’t responsibilities imposed by common law.
This is to say that, “A professional liability insurance policy is not an all-risk contract. It is rather a safety net, providing protective cover within specified limits.”
Client-authored Indemnification Clauses
The dangers of indemnification clauses have been addressed in numerous Pro-Demnity and OAA publications, and for good reason: Some of these clauses are so dangerous to architects that they have been dubbed “Murder Clauses.”
Dealing with Substitutions to Your Design
Recent research into claims arising against architects has confirmed that many involve substitutions to the systems and designs provided by the architect or its consultants. Although many substitutions factor in […]
Find out if there are gaps in your architectural risk knowledge.
Take the ARM/r test now.