Property insurance covers the fire. It won't cover the machine that just failed.
When critical equipment fails without warning
Equipment Breakdown insurance — historically called Boiler & Machinery — covers sudden and accidental mechanical or electrical breakdown of the equipment your business depends on. Standard commercial property policies specifically exclude this kind of internal failure.
From an electrical arc that destroys a panel to a compressor that seizes, breakdowns rarely announce themselves. This coverage fills a gap most owners don't realize they have until something stops working.
What Equipment Breakdown Covers
Equipment Breakdown coverage typically responds to:
Equipment Repair & Replacement — the cost to fix or replace equipment damaged by a covered breakdown.
Business Interruption — lost income while critical equipment is down.
Spoilage — perishable stock or inventory lost when refrigeration or climate systems fail.
Expediting & Extra Expense — costs to speed repairs and keep operating.
Who Needs Equipment Breakdown
Equipment Breakdown coverage matters for virtually every business, especially:
Restaurants, grocers, and cold-storage operations
Manufacturers and processors
Property owners and multi-tenant buildings
Healthcare, hospitality, and technology-dependent businesses
The Coverage Property Insurance Leaves Out
Commercial property policies cover external perils — fire, wind, theft — but exclude the equipment's own breakdown. Equipment Breakdown is designed to sit alongside your property program and close that exclusion, covering the HVAC, electrical, production, and computer systems your operation can't run without.
Our Approach
At Cory Washington & Co., Equipment Breakdown coverage is never a checkbox. We evaluate how your business actually operates, review your contracts and exposures, and structure coverage to perform in the real world — not just to satisfy a minimum. Licensed in all 50 states, we place Equipment Breakdown coverage through admitted carriers and specialty markets that compete for your account, then explain the trade-offs in plain English so you can decide with confidence.
Related coverage: Commercial Property · Business Interruption · Business Owners Policy.
All insurance descriptions on this website are provided by Cory Washington & Co. LLC strictly for general informational purposes. They are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, legal, financial, or insurance advice. The information presented is general in nature and does not guarantee the availability, terms, conditions, or scope of any insurance coverage. Actual coverage is determined solely by the specific policy language issued by the insurer and remains subject to underwriting approval. Nothing on this website creates or implies an agent-client relationship, binds coverage, or alters any existing policy. Cory Washington & Co. LLC expressly disclaims any liability for actions taken, or not taken, based on the content provided here. For advice regarding your particular situation, please consult directly with a licensed insurance professional at Cory Washington & Co. LLC or another qualified insurance professional, and always review your policy documents in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get equipment breakdown (boiler & machinery) insurance through Cory Washington & Co.?
Request a quote or contact our team. We start with a short conversation about your operations, analyze your exposures, then negotiate equipment breakdown (boiler & machinery) insurance across multiple carriers that compete for your account and present options with the trade-offs explained. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
How are equipment breakdown (boiler & machinery) insurance premiums priced?
There is no flat rate. The cost of equipment breakdown (boiler & machinery) insurance reflects your industry, your size (payroll and revenue), your claims history, and the limits and deductibles you choose. We market your account to multiple carriers, compare the real quotes side by side, and explain what is driving each number so you can weigh coverage against price with confidence.
Is equipment breakdown (boiler & machinery) insurance mandatory?
Whether equipment breakdown (boiler & machinery) insurance is strictly required depends on your state, your contracts, and your lenders or clients. Even where it is not mandatory, going without it can leave serious financial gaps. We assess your exposure and any contractual requirements, then structure coverage that meets both.
What if another agency has already declined or non-renewed my coverage?
Difficult, specialty, and previously-declined placements are a core part of our work. We access excess & surplus (E&S) and specialty markets that many generalist agencies cannot, and we explain the trade-offs clearly so you can decide with confidence.
Available in all 50 states. See how requirements differ in California, Texas, Florida, New York, or choose your state.