Building & Access
If you've never dealt with a certificate of insurance or a freight elevator reservation before, the terminology can be confusing. Here's what these actually mean and why NYC buildings require them.
A COI is a document from a contractor's insurance provider confirming they carry general liability coverage, sometimes naming the building or management company as an additional insured. It protects the building from liability if something goes wrong during the work.
Co-op and condo boards, along with rental building management, want assurance that any damage or injury during contractor work is covered by the contractor's insurance rather than the building's own policy.
Freight elevators are typically larger, more durable, and designed for moving equipment, furniture, and supplies without the wear and tear (or aesthetic concerns) of using a finished passenger elevator.
Most buildings require advance notice, sometimes 24-48 hours, to reserve a freight elevator window, coordinated through the building's management office or superintendent.
A contractor without a COI or without a freight reservation confirmed in advance can be turned away at the door, resulting in a rescheduled appointment and lost time.
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Certificates of insurance and freight elevator reservations are routine parts of getting cleaning work done in NYC buildings. Working with a company that already understands this system saves you from a rescheduled or turned-away appointment.
Questions?
No, this is something the cleaning company should provide as part of standard service in NYC buildings; you shouldn't need to chase this down.
This varies by building, but reservation windows are often an hour or two, enough time for equipment to come up and go back down.
Some smaller buildings don't formally require it, though most co-ops, condos, and larger rentals do.
This can require rescheduling, since passenger elevators typically aren't approved for contractor equipment.
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