Get Started

Equipment Breakdown Insurance in Washington

Washington inspects power boilers annually, both internally and externally off pressure and externally under pressure if possible. Low-pressure heating boilers and unfired pressure vessels subject to internal corrosion are inspected internally and externally every two years where construction permits. A certificate issued for an insured object inspected by a special inspector is not valid after that object stops being insured by a company authorized to carry the insurance. Spokane boiler permits and inspections moved to Labor & Industries on July 1, 2026. 1,6,8

What Is Equipment Breakdown?

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.

Washington Requirements

RequirementDetails
Power boilersAnnual internal and external inspection off pressure, and an annual external inspection under pressure if possible. 1
Low-pressure heating boilersInternal and external inspection every two years where construction permits. 1
Inspection certificateRequired to operate a covered boiler or unfired vessel under pressure. An insured object's special-inspector certificate ends when the insurance ends. 5,6

What to Watch for in Washington

  • Washington's Hot-Water Exemption Is Not a Btu Test

    The chapter does not apply to unfired vessels of 5 cubic feet or less when they are not in a place of public assembly, vessels designed for 15 psig or less, vessels under 1.5 cubic feet or under 6 inches in diameter, or domestic hot-water heaters under 1.5 cubic feet (11.25 gallons) with a safety-valve setting of 150 psig or less. Do not substitute another state's 200,000 Btu heater test. 2

  • Insured Inspections Avoid the State Inspection Fee

    On request of a company authorized to insure against explosion of boilers and unfired pressure vessels, the chief inspector issues special-inspector commissions. Those inspectors inspect objects their company insures, and the owner then does not pay the state inspection fee. The commission is not a mandate to buy equipment-breakdown coverage. 3,4

  • The Certificate Dies With the Insurance

    It is unlawful to operate a covered boiler or unfired pressure vessel under pressure without a valid inspection certificate. No certificate issued for an insured object inspected by a special inspector remains valid after the object ceases to be insured by a company authorized to carry that insurance. If you nonrenew, plan a new inspection route before the object is fired again. A two-month grace may apply to power boilers; for low-pressure heating boilers, not more than 26 months shall elapse between inspections. 5,6

  • A Rule Change Takes Effect October 2, 2026

    WAC 296-104-100, as displayed with WSR 26-18-075 filed September 1, 2026, shows power-boiler internals annually, with an owner-user program extension to seven years or one-half the remaining life, whichever is less; steam heating boilers internally and externally every two years; hot-water heating boilers externally every two years and internally every fourth year; and unfired vessels externally every two years. The history line says that text is effective October 2, 2026. Confirm whether the prior interval still controls until that date. 7

  • Spokane Boiler Permits Moved to the State

    The City of Spokane transferred boiler responsibilities to Labor & Industries effective July 1, 2026. L&I administers boiler permits, inspections, registrations, and related inquiries. The city still administers its boiler-operator licensing program. The transfer does not create an insurance requirement. 8

Who Regulates Insurance in Washington

Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner

The Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner administers Washington insurance laws, oversees insurers and insurance producers within its authority, and provides regulatory and consumer resources. You can use the department's complaint process to raise an insurance issue and its licensing resources to check insurance professionals. 9,10,11

Surplus-lines tax and stamping office

Reported tax rate: 2% of premium The NAIC's state chart lists a 2% of premium charge for surplus-lines coverage for Washington (the chart's state entries were reviewed in October 2025). Your broker may collect the applicable amount with the premium. Surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in the state and generally are outside state guaranty-association protection; ask your broker to explain the insurer's financial protections and any diligent-search requirement that applies to your placement. 12,13

Providers With Documented State Licenses

No provider in Spot’s research documents both a state license record and 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.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Washington

  1. Does each domestic water heater meet the 11.25-gallon and 150 psig safety-valve exemption, or is it in the chapter?
  2. If a special inspector issued the certificate, what happens to that certificate the day insurance ends?
  3. For an owner-user power boiler, does the seven-year internal extension in the October 2, 2026 rule apply yet?
  4. If the boiler is in Spokane, are permits now filed with L&I while operator licenses stay with the city?

Equipment Breakdown in Washington: FAQ

Does a Washington inspection certificate stay valid after boiler insurance ends? 6,5

No, if a special inspector inspected the insured object. That certificate is not valid after the object ceases to be insured by a company authorized to carry the insurance. Operating a covered object under pressure without a valid certificate is unlawful. 6,5

Who inspects boilers in Spokane now? 8

Labor & Industries, effective July 1, 2026. The city kept its boiler-operator licensing program. The transfer covers permits, inspections, and registrations. 8

Equipment Breakdown in Other States

Other Coverage in Washington

Sources

  1. RCW 70.79.240 Inspection frequency. Washington State Legislature; RCW 70.79.240(1)–(3). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  2. RCW 70.79.080 Exemptions. Washington State Legislature; RCW 70.79.080(5), (6), (12), and (13). Accessed 2026-09-29.
  3. RCW 70.79.130 Special inspectors. Washington State Legislature; Commission on request of an explosion insurer. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  4. RCW 70.79.150 Special inspectors — inspection fees. Washington State Legislature; Insured inspections exempt the owner from the state inspection fee. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  5. RCW 70.79.320 Operating without a certificate. Washington State Legislature; Unlawful to operate under pressure without a valid certificate. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  6. RCW 70.79.300 Certificate invalid when insurance ends. Washington State Legislature; Special-inspector certificate ends when insurance ends. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  7. WAC 296-104-100 Inspection frequency. Washington State Legislature; WSR 26-18-075, filed September 1, 2026, effective October 2, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  8. About the Boiler Program. Washington State Department of Labor & Industries; Spokane transfer effective July 1, 2026. Accessed 2026-09-29.
  9. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner; Official regulator website; insurance oversight and consumer/professional resources. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  10. Insurance Department Directory. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner entry; official contact and website listing. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  11. Surplus Lines Insurance Premium Taxes. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; WA row; state surplus-lines premium-tax rate reviewed October 2025. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  12. Guaranty Associations & Funds. National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Coverage of claims from insolvencies of insurers licensed in a state; surplus-lines insurers are nonadmitted. Accessed 2026-09-28.
  13. Licenses. At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21.
  14. 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.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. About Risklytics. Risklytics; What we do; Who we insure; Licensing; Agency licenses table dated 2026-09-10. Accessed 2026-09-16.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

Get Help With Insurance Buying and Renewals.

Get help buying coverage and managing renewals, with less paperwork for your team. Start with a free consultation.

Talk to Spot