CG 20 33 Endorsement
An ISO endorsement that automatically adds as additional insureds parties required by written contract, for ongoing operations only.
What It Is
The CG 20 33 is a blanket additional insured endorsement that automatically grants additional insured status to any person or organization the named insured has agreed in a written contract or written agreement to add. It applies to liability arising out of the named insured's ongoing operations performed for that party.
Unlike scheduled endorsements such as the CG 20 10, the CG 20 33 does not require listing each upstream party by name. This is operationally efficient for general contractors and trade contractors with dozens or hundreds of upstream relationships. However, the CG 20 33 has important limitations: it covers ongoing operations only and does not extend to completed operations, and the additional insured status is limited to liability caused in whole or in part by the named insured's acts or omissions.
For completed operations coverage on the same blanket basis, the CG 20 38 or CG 20 37 must be added. For sole negligence claims by the additional insured, the policy generally does not respond regardless of the form used.
Why It Matters for Brokers
The CG 20 33 is widely used because it is convenient, but its limitations are easy to miss. A general contractor who relies on CG 20 33 alone will discover after project completion that the upstream owner is no longer an additional insured for completed operations claims, which can surface years after substantial completion. Construction defect litigation, which is heavily focused on completed operations, then names the GC's policy without responding for the upstream party. This is a frequent E&O fact pattern in construction agencies.
Real-World Example
A site work subcontractor uses a CG 20 33 to grant additional insured status to its general contractor on a hospital project. Three years after substantial completion, water intrusion litigation names the hospital owner, the GC, and the subcontractor. The CG 20 33 does not respond because operations are completed, and the subcontractor never bound the CG 20 37 for completed operations status. The GC tenders to its own policy, then sues the subcontractor for contractual indemnification, and the agency faces an E&O claim for failing to advise on the gap.
Common Mistakes
- 1Relying on the CG 20 33 alone for construction accounts and missing the need for CG 20 37 or CG 20 38 to extend additional insured status into completed operations.
- 2Assuming blanket wording covers sole negligence claims by the additional insured, when in fact the form requires fault by the named insured.
- 3Failing to verify that the contract actually requires additional insured status in writing, since the CG 20 33 only triggers when a written contract demands it.
- 4Issuing a COI listing additional insureds individually based on CG 20 33 status without confirming the underlying contract terms support each listing.
How brokerageaudit.com Handles This
Policy Checker compares the CG 20 33 form attached to the policy against the project contract requirements and flags missing completed operations coverage. COI Tracker links each contract upload to the corresponding additional insured endorsements, ensuring certificate language matches actual policy terms.