CG 2010 vs CG 2037: Additional Insured Endorsements Explained for General Contractors
CG 2010 covers you while the sub is on site. CG 2037 covers you after the work is done — when most injury and property damage claims actually show up. If you only require one, you're half-protected.
These two ISO forms are the standard additional insured endorsements in commercial construction. This guide explains what each one does, why most GC subcontracts require both, and exactly what to look for when reviewing a sub's COI.
Updated May 2026 · 7 min read
The short answer
CG 2010 (CG 20 10)
Ongoing operations coverage
Protects the GC as an additional insured while the subcontractor is actively performing work on the project. Coverage ends when the sub's work is complete. Also called the "ongoing ops" endorsement.
CG 2037 (CG 20 37)
Completed operations coverage
Protects the GC as an additional insured for liability arising after the sub's work is finished — water intrusion discovered months later, structural defects, post-completion injuries. Also called the "comp ops" endorsement.
When a contract says "require 20/37" — it means both forms, together. That's the standard.
What is CG 2010?
CG 2010 is the ISO form number for Additional Insured — Owners, Lessees or Contractors — Scheduled Person or Organization (Ongoing Operations). It's a standard endorsement added to a subcontractor's commercial general liability (CGL) policy that extends additional insured status to the GC — and often the project owner — for claims arising from the sub's work while that work is in progress.
The current standard edition is CG 20 10 04 13 (ISO 2013). Older versions — CG 20 10 11 85 and CG 20 10 10 01 — had significantly broader language that covered both ongoing and completed operations in one form. The 2004 revision split the form in two, which is why both CG 2010 and CG 2037 are now required. If a sub's policy has a pre-2004 version of CG 2010, it may effectively cover completed operations as well — but you should verify this with the sub's broker rather than assume it.
Covers: Bodily injury and property damage claims that arise out of the sub's work while that work is ongoing on your project
Does not cover: Claims that arise after the sub's work is complete — that's CG 2037's job
On the COI: Description of Operations should reference "CG 20 10" or "ongoing operations" additional insured language
What is CG 2037?
CG 2037 is the ISO form number for Additional Insured — Owners, Lessees or Contractors — Completed Operations. It extends additional insured status to the GC for claims arising from the sub's work after that work has been completed and accepted — which is the phase when the majority of construction liability claims actually arise.
The current edition is CG 20 37 04 13. The completed operations period runs from project completion through the end of the policy's products-completed operations aggregate — typically one to three years, depending on the policy and contract requirements. Some contracts, particularly public projects, require the sub to maintain CG 2037 coverage for up to ten years after project completion.
Covers: Claims arising from the sub's completed work — faulty installation discovered at inspection, water intrusion months after roofing work, injuries from a completed structure
Does not cover: Claims that arise while the sub is still actively performing work — that requires CG 2010
On the COI: Description of Operations should reference "CG 20 37" or "completed operations" additional insured language — separately from CG 2010
Side-by-side comparison
| CG 2010 | CG 2037 | |
|---|---|---|
| Also called | Ongoing operations endorsement, "ongoing ops" | Completed operations endorsement, "comp ops" |
| ISO form number | CG 20 10 04 13 (current edition) | CG 20 37 04 13 (current edition) |
| When coverage applies | While sub is actively performing work on the project | After sub's work is complete and accepted |
| Coverage ends when | Sub's work on that project is complete | End of completed operations aggregate period (typically 1–3 years) |
| Typical claim examples | Worker injury on active job site, damage caused during work | Water intrusion after roofing, structural defect found at inspection, post-completion injury |
| Required in standard GC subcontracts? | Yes | Yes |
| Where to verify on COI | Description of Operations (Box 17) | Description of Operations (Box 17) — as a separate reference from CG 2010 |
Why most GC subcontracts require both
CG 2010 and CG 2037 were designed to cover the full lifecycle of a subcontract — not just one phase. Requiring only CG 2010 means your additional insured protection disappears the moment the sub completes their scope. Here's why each phase of the project needs its own endorsement:
During work: CG 2010 applies
A sub's worker falls from scaffolding and is injured. The injured worker's attorneys name the GC in the lawsuit — which is standard practice in construction litigation. CG 2010 means the sub's GL insurer defends the GC and covers any judgment, instead of the claim running through the GC's own policy.
After work is done: CG 2037 applies
A roofing sub completes their scope, passes inspection, and leaves the job site. Fourteen months later, the owner discovers water intrusion in three units — traced to a flashing defect in the sub's work. The GC is named in the owner's suit. If CG 2037 wasn't required, the GC's additional insured status ended when the sub left. With CG 2037, the sub's insurer still defends and indemnifies the GC.
The gap no one plans for
Most GCs do a reasonable job of collecting COIs during the project. But many fail to verify that CG 2037 is specifically listed — they accept any reference to "additional insured" and assume it covers the whole project lifecycle. When a completed-operations claim arrives, they discover the COI's Description of Operations only referenced CG 2010, and they have no coverage. The endorsement form number in Box 17 is the only reliable check.
How to verify both endorsements on a COI
The ACORD 25 form doesn't have separate fields for CG 2010 and CG 2037 — everything lives in Box 17 (Description of Operations). Here's exactly what to look for:
Read Box 17 — Description of Operations
Look for explicit references to both form numbers. Acceptable language: "[Your Company Name] is named as additional insured for ongoing and completed operations per CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 as required by written contract." A generic "additional insured as required by contract" without the form numbers is a red flag — you don't know which endorsement, if any, is actually on the policy.
Request the endorsement pages for high-value work
The Description of Operations is the agent's representation — it doesn't modify the policy. For projects where completed-operations exposure is significant (structural, roofing, mechanical), ask the sub's broker to attach actual copies of the CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 endorsement pages. These are one-page ISO forms that list the additional insured. The form's presence in the policy documents is the only proof that coverage actually exists.
Check the products-completed operations aggregate separately
On the ACORD 25, the Products-Completed Operations Aggregate is listed in the GL section. This is the limit available for completed operations claims. Some subs carry a lower comp-ops aggregate than their per-occurrence limit — confirm this matches your contract requirements. A sub who carries $1M per occurrence but only $1M comp-ops aggregate has less protection available than you may think if multiple completed-ops claims arise.
Verify primary and non-contributory covers both phases
Primary and non-contributory (P&NC) language should also explicitly apply to both ongoing and completed operations. Language like "primary and non-contributory for ongoing and completed operations" or simply "primary and non-contributory as required by written contract" — where the contract requires both CG 2010 and CG 2037 — is the standard. Without P&NC, the sub's insurer can seek contribution from your policy in a claim.
How CG 2010 and CG 2037 appear on the ACORD 25 form
The ACORD 25 (Certificate of Liability Insurance) is the form you receive when you request a COI from a sub. It doesn't have dedicated fields for CG 2010 or CG 2037 — you need to know where to look. Here's how each relevant element maps to the ACORD 25 layout:
This is the only field on the ACORD 25 where additional insured endorsements can be confirmed. The sub's broker types endorsement references here. For compliant 20/37 coverage, Box 17 should include something like:
In the Commercial General Liability row, two checkboxes appear: ADDL INSD (Additional Insured) and SUBR WVD (Subrogation Waived). The broker checks these to indicate the endorsements are present on the policy.
A checked ADDL INSD box is a necessary signal — but it's not sufficient. The box doesn't distinguish between CG 2010, CG 2037, a blanket endorsement, or a carrier-specific form. Box 17 must confirm the specific forms. Both boxes should be checked if your contract requires additional insured status and waiver of subrogation.
The GL section shows several limit fields. The one directly tied to CG 2037 claims is Products-Comp/Op Aggregate — this is the total limit available across all completed operations claims on the policy. Standard contracts require this to match the General Aggregate ($2M is common).
Some subs carry a lower Comp/Op Aggregate than their General Aggregate. A policy showing $2M General Aggregate / $1M Products-Comp/Op Aggregate provides less completed operations protection than a standard contract requires. Check both numbers, not just the headline GL limit.
The Certificate Holder box (bottom-right of the ACORD 25) contains your company name and address. Being listed as Certificate Holder means you receive the COI — it does not give you additional insured status or any coverage rights.
Additional insured status — the protection CG 2010 and CG 2037 provide — comes only from the endorsements referenced in Box 17 and attached to the sub's policy. A COI that lists you as Certificate Holder but has a blank Box 17 provides zero additional insured coverage.
Common mistakes GCs make with these endorsements
Accepting "additional insured per contract" without form numbers
Agents sometimes write vague additional insured language in Box 17 without specifying which endorsement form. This doesn't tell you whether CG 2010, CG 2037, or both are on the policy — or whether the carrier-specific form is equivalent to the ISO standard form.
Requiring only CG 2010 in the subcontract
Some older or informal subcontract templates only reference CG 2010. Without CG 2037 in the contract language, the sub's broker has no obligation to add it — and you have no leverage to demand it after the fact.
Assuming blanket additional insured endorsements are equivalent
Some carriers use a single "blanket additional insured" endorsement (such as CG 20 33) that covers whoever the sub is contractually required to add. These can be acceptable — but they may include limitations not present in the named CG 2010/CG 2037 forms. Check with your insurance broker before accepting a blanket form in place of the specified ISO forms.
Not tracking policy renewals for completed operations coverage
CG 2037 coverage is tied to the policy period. If the sub's policy renews and CG 2037 isn't renewed or the endorsement language changes, your completed operations coverage could lapse for work already done. For longer projects or high-risk trades, track the sub's annual renewals and require a fresh COI every year through the completed operations period.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CG 2010 endorsement?
What is the CG 2037 endorsement?
What is the difference between CG 2010 and CG 2037?
Do I need both CG 2010 and CG 2037?
How do I verify CG 2010 and CG 2037 on a COI?
What does "20/37" mean on a COI or in a contract?
Where do CG 2010 and CG 2037 appear on the ACORD 25 form?
What is the ACORD 27 form, and do GCs need it?
What is the difference between ACORD 25, ACORD 27, and ACORD 28?
ACORD 27 — Evidence of Property Insurance. Confirms a property insurance policy (builder's risk, commercial property) is in force. Requested by lenders and owners, not by GCs collecting sub COIs.
ACORD 28 — Evidence of Commercial Property Insurance. A more detailed version of ACORD 27 used for commercial property policies, often requested when a lender needs to be named as a loss payee.
For subcontractor compliance — COI collection, additional insured verification, coverage tracking — GCs work exclusively with the ACORD 25.
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