What Equipment Breakdown Insurance Requirements Apply in Michigan?

Michigan’s boiler code covers nonresidential locations, subject to article-specific exceptions. A boiler subject to the inspection article needs a valid certificate and cannot exceed its certificate pressure limit; work permits also have scope limits, including a city-population exclusion and a limited, board-approved license/permit exception for qualifying public utilities or industrial plants repairing their own boilers or making a similar replacement. These safety and work rules do not establish equipment-breakdown coverage, so check the policy separately.

What Is Equipment Breakdown Insurance?

Equipment-breakdown coverage can help repair covered machinery or building equipment after a mechanical or electrical failure. It fits businesses that depend on equipment to operate; check whether lost income, spoilage and utility failures are included. Read the national Equipment breakdown guide.

Michigan Equipment Breakdown Insurance Requirements

Requirement	Details
Boiler operation	A boiler subject to Michigan’s inspection article may not operate under pressure without a valid inspection certificate or above the maximum pressure stated on it. ²
Nonresidential installation, alteration or repair	LARA says the boiler code applies to nonresidential locations and requires a properly licensed person to obtain an approved permit before covered boiler or high-pressure boiler-piping work proceeds. Article 9 excludes cities with at least 600,000 residents and allows a limited license/permit exception for qualifying public utilities or industrial plants repairing their own boilers or making a similar replacement, only after board approval. ^3,⁴

Requirement

Details

Boiler operation

A boiler subject to Michigan’s inspection article may not operate under pressure without a valid inspection certificate or above the maximum pressure stated on it. ²

Nonresidential installation, alteration or repair

LARA says the boiler code applies to nonresidential locations and requires a properly licensed person to obtain an approved permit before covered boiler or high-pressure boiler-piping work proceeds. Article 9 excludes cities with at least 600,000 residents and allows a limited license/permit exception for qualifying public utilities or industrial plants repairing their own boilers or making a similar replacement, only after board approval. ^3,⁴

What to Watch for With Equipment Breakdown in Michigan

Match each covered boiler to its certificate and pressure rating
Michigan prohibits operating under pressure a boiler subject to article 9 without a valid inspection certificate or above the maximum pressure stated on it. At acquisition or renewal, match the certificate to the equipment nameplate and retain it with maintenance records. The certificate documents regulatory operation, not policy limits or claim payment. ²
Check the exact equipment and location before treating a boiler as exempt
Section 339.5915 excludes boilers under federal control, certain vehicle power plants, boilers used solely for agriculture, hobby steam or marine engines, farm mint-processing boilers and narrow-gauge hobby locomotives. Its residential exceptions also require specific pressure or temperature limits and a private residence or apartment building with fewer than six families. Check the unit against each condition; exclusion from this inspection article is not an insurance exclusion or proof of coverage. ¹
Check the permit path before scheduling boiler work
LARA describes the boiler code as applying outside residential locations. Article 9 also does not apply in cities with at least 600,000 residents; a public utility or industrial plant may qualify for a license/permit exception for repairing its own boilers or making a similar replacement only if it meets the statute’s conditions and receives board approval. After a breakdown, identify the site and repair arrangement before setting a work date; do not assume commercial status alone decides the permit requirement. ^3,⁴
Quote interruption losses separately from the boiler
A boiler certificate addresses safe operation; it does not say whether a policy covers the failed unit, lost income, extra expense, spoilage or utility interruption. Ask for the covered-equipment schedule and the trigger, deductible, waiting period, exclusions and limit for each loss component. ^2,¹

Which Equipment Breakdown Providers Have Michigan License Records?

No provider in our research has both a state license record and a listing for this coverage line. This does not establish that providers are unlicensed. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm availability with a provider when requesting a quote.

Who Regulates Insurance in Michigan?

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services

The Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services licenses agents, agencies and companies, supervises insurance business, and helps resolve complaints. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. ^5,^6,⁷

Website: Regulator website
License lookup: Search licensed producers
Complaints: File a complaint
Phone: 877-999-6442

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Michigan

Reported tax rate. 2.5% combined surplus-lines tax and regulatory fee on premium when Michigan is the insured's home state ^8,^9,¹⁰

Michigan's Property and Casualty Guaranty Association is funded by insurers authorized to transact in the state; an insurer procured solely under Chapter 19 is expressly not considered authorized for that chapter. The surplus-lines policy must carry a notice that the insurer is not Michigan-licensed and insolvency claim payment may not be guaranteed.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Equipment Breakdown in Michigan

Which boilers, electrical systems, production machines and refrigeration equipment are scheduled, and which breakdown causes does the form cover?
Do we have valid certificates and pressure limits for every boiler covered by Michigan’s inspection article?
Does the site fall within the nonresidential boiler-code scope, city exclusion or an approved utility/industrial-plant exception, and who will obtain required permits?
What separate limits and waiting periods apply to business income, extra expense, spoilage and utility-service interruption?

Equipment Breakdown Insurance in Michigan: Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Michigan boiler-law exemption mean my equipment is insured?

No. Section 339.5915 identifies boilers outside article 9; it does not promise equipment-breakdown coverage. Review the policy’s scheduled property, covered causes, exclusions and interruption terms. ^1,²

Can a contractor start covered boiler repair work before permit approval?

For work within the Boiler Section’s permitting rule, the permit must be issued and approved before covered installation, alteration or repair proceeds. Ask the contractor to confirm the site’s scope and permit schedule before work starts. ^3,⁴

Sources for Equipment Breakdown Insurance in Michigan

1
Michigan Compiled Laws § 339.5915, Article inapplicable to certain boilers. Michigan Legislature; Skilled Trades Regulation Act, art. 9, § 339.5915(a)–(h): federal, vehicle, agricultural, specifically bounded residential, hobby, farm mint-processing and narrow-gauge hobby locomotive exclusions. Current official compilation through PA 103 of 2026; accessed 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
2
Michigan Compiled Laws § 339.5946, Operation of boiler; valid inspection certificate required; pressure restrictions. Michigan Legislature; Skilled Trades Regulation Act, art. 9, § 339.5946(1)–(2): certificate and pressure limits for boilers subject to the article; added by 2020 PA 89, effective 2020-09-14. Current official compilation through PA 103 of 2026; accessed 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
3
Boiler Permit Information. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Construction Codes; Headings “The Boiler Law,” “What is the Boiler Code?” (nonresidential locations) and “Are boiler permits required?” (license, application and permit approval before work); page displays © 2026 State of Michigan but no review date; accessed 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
4
Michigan Compiled Laws § 339.5947, Applicability of article; failure to comply; revocation; audit. Michigan Legislature; Skilled Trades Regulation Act, art. 9, § 339.5947(1)–(3): article exclusion in cities with population 600,000 or more under the most recent decennial census; conditional own-work licensing/permit exception for qualifying public utilities or industrial plants; board approval required. Current official compilation through PA 103 of 2026; accessed 2026-09-29. Accessed 2026-09-29.
5
Department of Insurance and Financial Services. Department of Insurance and Financial Services; Official regulator and insurance oversight. Accessed 2026-09-28.
6
Insurance License Lookup. Department of Insurance and Financial Services; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28.
7
File an Insurance Complaint. Department of Insurance and Financial Services; State complaint process and contact. Accessed 2026-09-28.
8
Surplus Lines Licensee: Filing the Surplus Lines Taxes. Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services; DIFS current filing page: Michigan-home-state placements taxed at 2.5% combined tax and regulatory fee; separate fees charged to insured are not included in premium tax base. Accessed 2026-09-28.
9
Michigan Insurance Code, Chapter 500. Michigan Legislature; MCL 500.7911(1)-(2), 500.7921(b): association membership tied to insurer authorized to transact; insurer procured solely under Chapter 19 is expressly not authorized for guaranty chapter. Accessed 2026-09-28.
10
Michigan Insurance Code, Chapter 500. Michigan Legislature; MCL 500.1922 requires policy notice that insurer is not Michigan-licensed and insolvency claim payment may not be guaranteed. Accessed 2026-09-28.
11
Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
12
Licenses and Carriers. Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535. Accessed 2026-09-22.
13
Insurance Producer Licenses. Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown. Accessed 2026-09-28.
14
About Hiscox US Insurance. Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16.
15
Licenses. ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885. Accessed 2026-09-28.
16
Insurance Licenses by State. TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number. Accessed 2026-09-28.
17
Licenses. Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict. Accessed 2026-09-15.

What Equipment Breakdown Insurance Requirements Apply in Michigan?

What Is Equipment Breakdown Insurance?

Michigan Equipment Breakdown Insurance Requirements

What to Watch for With Equipment Breakdown in Michigan

Match each covered boiler to its certificate and pressure rating

Check the exact equipment and location before treating a boiler as exempt

Check the permit path before scheduling boiler work

Quote interruption losses separately from the boiler